The Underground Rebel Bingo Club Founder Calls L.A. 'Trashy,' Just Like Him

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We let you in on a little secret last Wednesday, and now we're digging even further into the underground phenomenon scarcely known as The Underground Rebel Bingo Club. Clad in our undercover best, we tracked down founder Freddie Fortune, also known as Freddie Sorensen, and probed his mutant form of bingo that has descended upon Los Angeles.

Just how drunk were you and your companions when you invented Rebel Bingo?
Quite drunk but not hammer drunk. There's an optimal level of drunk to be at when you play Rebel Bingo - like just drunk enough to open your mind and lower your inhibitions, but not so drunk that you don't know who you are anymore and you're just annoying. It's a game of skill. You need to be on the ball.

How does one play Rebel Bingo?
Well, the rules are a bit confusing - like we're not always sure what they are. We do call out numbers, and you should probably try to dab them off. But they won't ultimately win you stuff. It's more about your attitude. The more enthusiastic you are, the more chance you have of winning. It's hard to explain, but it all makes perfect sense on the night.

Why is Rebel Bingo wrong?
The old school bingo community doesn't like what we've done to their game. We've messed with tradition. Some people don't like change. Traditional "bingo" is all quiet. With a sense of order. It's serious. It's about gambling. Rebel Bingo isn't like that. It's loud and emotional. The numbers don't really mean anything. It's silly. It's not about winning or losing. It's more of an experience. It's a party. It's a way of life. Some people say it leads people astray. It probably does. That's why the old school bingo people think it's wrong - because it's different. They don't like us. We don't see why we can't all live together in harmony, but some people just aren't as accepting as us.

Why did you select L.A. as one of your party cities?
We never had a plan. People would write to us from other cities outside London and say, "You need to bring this to our town," so we did. Then suddenly we were all over England. One day someone wrote to us and said "You need to bring this to L.A.", so we did. We're really glad we did though. We like it here and we like the people - they're much friendlier than in London. And it's always sunny. This city is pretty ridiculous. It's a bit like living in a movie. Like stuff that happens in movies actually happens here. Like life imitating art or something. It's nuts. And it's kinda trashy - like us.

What's the most important thing virgin Rebel Bingo players should know before attending The Underground Rebel Bingo Club in L.A.?
The cover story. Because of our persecution by the old school bingo traditionalists, all of our parties have cunning cover stories so we can hide from the haters. So if your grandma asks you where you're going, don't say "The Underground Rebel Bingo Club," say you're going to a motivational seminar to learn how to be a better person. That's been one of our disguises before. Shhhh!

What do you want L.A. to know about Rebel Bingo?
There are no seats. That seems to surprise some people. Don't expect to sit down. This is not bingo. It's Rebel Bingo. It's a party, not a casino.

Can you tell us anything about the "big, hardcore prizes" rewarded during Rebel Bingo?
Some of them are big. Like you can win a big panda. Or a big inflatable swimming pool sometimes. I don't know why we wrote "hardcore" - we don't give away bondage gear or guns or anything. The prizes are kinda silly stuff that you don't think you'll want, but when you're there, you will want them so bad you will scream for them, and they will change your life.

Do you chastise partygoers who fail to follow the eight club rules?
Not really. They're more kinda guidelines. Just don't be a dick. That's the main rule.

What makes the Rebel Bingo party dress code "dangerous"?
I'm not sure why we wrote that either. What the hell are dangerous clothes anyway? Studs and metal spikes could be dangerous I guess. There isn't a dress code. Be who you wanna be.

What do you expect will happen once the "old skool bingo community" wages war against Rebel Bingo?
It will look a bit like the final battle scene in "Lord of the Rings." But more of a dance-off.

Interested in testing your ~~bingo~~ party skills? The next local installment of The Underground Rebel Bingo Club is this Friday, February 17, "somewhere in east Hollywood." Check out our previous story here for the details. Also, follow The Underground Rebel Bingo Club on Twitter for updates.