Clive Barker, what's his deal?

He's been HIV positive for years and the drugs have affected his looks. I also think he must have been on steroids over the years. If you look at his early bio pics hes very slender but at some point he bulked up and cultivated a kind of leather daddy look.

Wasn’t there rumors he engaged in some unprotected sex without informing his partners of his status? And there was something very sketchy about his choice of partners too?

Interesting, R1 & R2!

The lawsuit was dismissed eventually because the ex didn't produce more evidence, but it doesn't sound so far-fetched to me to be honest, based on how Barker looks now...

[Quote] Emilian David Armstrong says in the suit ... he met Barker in early 1996, and they quickly moved in together. Armstrong had a daughter from a previous heterosexual relationship. She also moved in.

[Quote] Armstrong says in November, 1996, he was diagnosed with HIV. The suit claims Barker had tested positive and had urged Armstrong to get tested. Armstrong is convinced -- Barker gave him HIV.

[Quote] Armstrong says Barker confessed he had previously engaged in a sexual relationship with his own cousin, who had AIDS -- and also engaged in sadomasochism in prior relationships that involved syringes.

[Quote] As for why Armstrong waited 16 years to file a lawsuit -- Armstrong says he and Barker tried to work out their relationship and battle the virus together ... but things started to go south in 2003.

[Quote] According to the lawsuit, that's when Barker became addicted to prescription painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet, Demerol, and Oxycodone. Armstrong claims Barker would mix these drugs with alcohol, cocaine, and/or crystal meth and use them for recreation.

[Quote] But Armstrong says he still didn't give up on the relationship -- and tried to help Barker through his drug problems ... but they only got worse. Armstrong says Barker started throwing drug-fueled parties with young men ranging in age from 19 to early 20's.

[Quote] The suit claims in 2009, Barker kicked Armstrong out of his house -- along with Armstrong's daughter -- and left them destitute.

One of the interviews I watched: a younger Barker in 1992...

Did LA ruin him?

That’s a crazy story about his partner. It sad he went the drugs route. If he looked after himself after a diagnosis he would have been a more responsible person too I imagine.

I think Clive Barker is amazing. For sure one of the best horror writers ever, his imagination is absolutely incredible.

I'm pretty sure he's been into all kinds of hedonistic shit in his life, and why the fuck not?

I posted on some other thread about him that, years ago, I knocked around with one of his ex-lovers. He told me Barker had been into some fairly dark stuff. Bondage and complete immobilisation, but roped so tightly the circulation to limbs is cut off. Kind of a necrophiliacs tinge to it. Also that he was terrified of ageing and obsessed with surgery or anything else that might keep gravity and inevitability at bay.

The man had truly out there ideas and I guess not all of it came out just in the work.