Richard Gifford is my closest friend in ROCKY HORROR.
He is my main collaborative ROCKY HORROR partner, and has been for nearly 30 years.
Richard is one of the most creative persons I've ever known.
Richard is by definition "A Handyman". His abilities as a fixer are second to none.
His personality is very much like Riff-Raff's, and the girls usually go nuts for him.
With the exception of Richard O'Brien, nobody did Riff-Raff like Richard Gifford.
Richard is Riff-Raff.

I first met Richard at the UA Cinema in Riverside CA in August of 1979.
He was wearing a Transylvanian tailcoat, and a top-hat that was signed by Dr. Demento.
We were both trying to scam the same girl. He succeeded. I did not.
Richard was a pioneer in "The Art Of Having Sex In The Movie Theater During Rocky Horror".

Richard had put together a "London Frank" costume to try out on the crowd.
Our friend Joe mentioned to Richard that the panties he was wearing looked pretty skimpy.
He suggested to Richard that he wear another pair.
Richard simply replied, "If I don't wear these panties, the chicks can't see my balls."

On July 20, 1980, we attended the Second Annual Transylvanian Convention at the Holiday Inn in Hollywood.
Richard made a point of pinching every girls ass that he encountered.
The crowd adored him. He took first prize in the costume contest.

RICHARD GIFFORD
WINNER - "BEST RIFF-RAFF"
Second Annual Transylvanian Convention - Hollywood CA - 1980

After EROTIC NIGHTMARES split up, Richard & I went on to become part of the Tiffany Theater cast.
He appeared as Rif-Raff for the next 2 years, and he worked at the Tiffany until ROCKY HORROR left in 1983.
We appeared in Rick Slone's "Invasion Of The Garter Belts". His look towards the camera is priceless.

In 1989, Richard went to a costume contest at Bull & Mouth in Riverside.
Since the only costume he had was Riff-Raff, he had no choice but to wear it.
The crowd went nuts for him...and once again, he took First Prize without even trying.

RICHARD GIFFORD & STEVE CARTOON - 1989


RICHARD GIFFORD - 1989

In 1991, we went to the Nuart, and we were tripping on some really good LSD.
("Don't piss, Troy!...You'll waste your fry!")
Richard went across the street to get something to eat, and he came back to the theater.
All I could see was Riff-Raff crossing the street. Not Richard dressed as Riff-Raff, but RIFF-RAFF.