Lola Rocknrolla on Dean Johnson: '80s Genderf*ck Icon, Mysterious Death
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess Rothschild
4.7 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 19 January 2026
⏱️ ? minutes
Summary
Jess welcomes LOLA ROCKNROLLA, filmmaker of the brand-new documentary THE BIG JOHNSON, exploring the life and eerie death of DEAN JOHNSON: the 6'6", genderf*cky, rollicking rock-star frontman who helped define 1980s–90s East Village nightlife. Topics — the still-unsettled details around Dean's 2007 death, his bands Dean & the Weenies and The Velvet Mafia, being an HIV+ party promoter & more!
"The Big Johnson" screens at NYC's Quad Cinema January 23–29, streaming avail in February
⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @lolarocknrolla13
⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul
⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island
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