Go to a Queers show.
Kidding, but seriously, the subgenre of queercore usually attracts said people. Fun shows, too.
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Gay Musicians
- Thread starter celticafro
- Start date
Go to a Queers show.
Kidding, but seriously, the subgenre of queercore usually attracts said people. Fun shows, too.
You might take it for granted, I don't make the assumption.
...and see above.
Seriously, see the post of mine you quoted. Stating what you think I wouldn't mind isn't really a good way to go here. It's kinda like trying to hit a pinata in a gymnasium while blind folded. Sure, you might hit it, but chances are pretty good you're just going to wander around swinging.
What I stated was that I don't use my sexuality to identify with my bandmates or other musicians. The previous singer in our band was gay. Not a big deal. It wasn't even a subject until he brought it up much later. He tried out, fit the style and direction of the band and was in. The end. As far as the group went, I identified more with him than the others because we were in a cover band and he and I agreed on virtually every song suggestion. In that situation, that is far more important to me.
Mike
Well, Im a bisexual bassist into funk and jazz who is sort of 'out'.
Ive never discussed my sexuality with my bandmates really, and I have a girlfriend, so Im sure they all presume Im straight, but if it were to ever come up I would have no problem with telling them so.
Im not really out with my parents, not that it would be a big deal or anything, for a time when I was younger I think they thought I might be gay.
My girlfriend, who is also bi, was the first person I really came out to. It was relieving, especially knowing that she understood that part of me. We're completely monogamous, so either of our sexualities hasnt been a problem for us.
I have a lot of both gay & straight friends, some of them are aware of my sexuality, others probably are not, but like I said before, unless it is a concern of someone's I dont feel the need to make my sexuality be known. If you want to talk to me about it I will admit so openly, but I feel people make judgements enough, theres no need to add in one more irrelevant label for people to make more assumptions on.
Ive never discussed my sexuality with my bandmates really, and I have a girlfriend, so Im sure they all presume Im straight, but if it were to ever come up I would have no problem with telling them so.
Im not really out with my parents, not that it would be a big deal or anything, for a time when I was younger I think they thought I might be gay.
My girlfriend, who is also bi, was the first person I really came out to. It was relieving, especially knowing that she understood that part of me. We're completely monogamous, so either of our sexualities hasnt been a problem for us.
I have a lot of both gay & straight friends, some of them are aware of my sexuality, others probably are not, but like I said before, unless it is a concern of someone's I dont feel the need to make my sexuality be known. If you want to talk to me about it I will admit so openly, but I feel people make judgements enough, theres no need to add in one more irrelevant label for people to make more assumptions on.
"I even have some gay friends"....is the new...."I even have some black friends".
What's next? I even have some schizophrenic friends?
Why the emphasis on labels?
What's next? I even have some schizophrenic friends?
Why the emphasis on labels?
Sounds like a deeply closeted sausage-fest to me.
There used to be a time where it was dangerous for gay men and women to meet with anybody other than fellow queer people. Obviously that's changing now, especially with younger gay people, but you can't discount the history of what was once a targeted minority. When the mainstream rejects you, you go underground and stick with your own.
I've always suspected scales in the Phrygian mode were sorta gay - and don't get me started about those Locrian scales... (half-diminished, puhleeze)!
I personally have never had a problem playing 'em, though. I'll take those scales up two octaves in one position and do those arpeggios in all their various inversions, baby! No fear here!
And I've got black friends who play in all... wait... what were we talking about again?
I personally have never had a problem playing 'em, though. I'll take those scales up two octaves in one position and do those arpeggios in all their various inversions, baby! No fear here!
And I've got black friends who play in all... wait... what were we talking about again?
It's not about labels. It's about common experience.
Sometimes when I'm hanging out with my straight friends, one of them will accidentally drop a "fag" or calls something "gay" when they mean stupid. They all know I'm cool with it, and I let them know, but suddenly everyone feels self-conscious or about it.
Imagine if you only ever hung out with ladies. Would you eventually want to just bro down with some guys? It's kind of like that.
I'm an openly bisexual bassist. I'm mainly into groovy/funky psychedelic rock and related music. Haven't met any local gay or bi bassists that I'm aware of. Met one gay drummer just recently; seems like a really cool guy and he's into some similar music.
What a well-mannered thread! Strangely, sexuality has never memorably come up in any of my musical groups. I've played with people of all different orientations- it's just never been an issue for me or the people I've played with. Well, there may have been a sub job or two with some guys that did the constant gay joke stuff, which I find rather annoying. I just don't feel the need to overcompensate that much, or whatever their motivations are for that behavior.
I'm glad the people here aren't all overworked about it. I'd chalk that up to the generally chill nature of us bassists.
I'm glad the people here aren't all overworked about it. I'd chalk that up to the generally chill nature of us bassists.
Sounds like a deeply closeted sausage-fest to me.
There used to be a time where it was dangerous for gay men and women to meet with anybody other than fellow queer people. Obviously that's changing now, especially with younger gay people, but you can't discount the history of what was once a targeted minority. When the mainstream rejects you, you go underground and stick with your own.
Gays, Lesbians, persecution today.
Just because the mode is gay doesn't mean it can't rock! That's an old stereotype.
Just to add to the discussion, I realize being gay or bisexual doesn't effect your sound or playing style, but it could very easily effect your interactions with the music community or the way the community treats you. Not saying that it does in every case or that it has to, but it is a possibility. So why not have a thread about it? There are plenty of other threads on TB that discuss matters which don't effect your playing or your sound in anyway. What about all the threads about bassists from different states or christian bassists? They're all just groups that can generate their own interesting discussion about topics relevant to themselves. Just saying.
Why not?
This is a thread about it.
In some circles it can affect the work you get. It can be another hurdle to overcome.
Unless you're going to argue to me that the Western world should dismantle Islamic Sharia law in the Middle East, I don't know what the point of posting both of those stories was - this thread isn't a global problems seminar. First, I've read dozens of articles on both of those incidents. Second, I'm well-aware of the levels of persecution queer people face in Muslim nations - no self-respecting gay man isn't.
Third, life for gay folks in the US - which is what I was referencing - is better now than it's ever been before, and getting better. Not perfect yet, but how often is life perfect for anybody?Back on topic, if you're gay and people discriminate against you in your chosen music scene because of it, **** 'em. Find a new crowd.
I've had two of the most creative and rewarding 'projects' when I partnered (as a writer) with gay guys who also happened to be close friends.
While the fact that these guys were gay probably impacted what we did far less than the fact that we were friends and of a like mind on the music we wanted to create, it also probably did open up creative points of view that were, for lack of a better way to say it, interesting and probably would have been overlooked or not even considered had there not been a gay participant in the process.
Since both projects were focused on producing solid foundation material for pop/rock/alt and even a little fusion and jazz - and involved lyrics and story-telling and dealt with common song themes of love, pursuit, relationship, etc... the fact that there was a 'gay factor' and a 'straight factor' caused us to explore interesting ways of expressing things that were not 'gender-specific' and could be taken 'as is' by the listener.
Another thing that (in retrospect) was probably influenced by the 'gay factor' was a willingness to explore presentation styles that might otherwise get passed by due to their perceived 'feminine' touch or sound.
I know for a fact that we were always aware of the 'gay/straight' aspect of things - in the music, in life, in general. The fact that we were working together on a creative project almost demanded that we pay attention to such things - for lots of really good reasons.
I know for a fact that in my other bands where there were no gay players we rarely ever wrote a song that had a 'feminine' flavor. If it was a ballad, it was a 'male sounding' ballad - like that... If someone wrote something that sounded 'gay' - it'd probably get 'straightened' mostly since no one in the band wanted to put out the perception of being gay - whereas in the other project, it'd have stood as-is.
Because of my relationship with gay musicians, I learned to really dig David Bowie, Adam Ant, The Smiths, Brian Ferry and so on - from more than simply a musical angle. The androgyny factor - straight men in makeup - how to create shock and intrigue - how to be risque - and again, all of this is not 'gay-specific' - plenty of straight people discover eclectic, androgynous stuff too - but in my experience, it was my gay friends who turned me on to these things.
Now I've also explored writing 'feminine' sounding material with straight people too - so it's not exclusively a gay or straight thing - mostly just the willingness of the participants to express themselves that way - but in my experience the sexual preference of my co-writers and band mates most definitely had an impact on how we played.
And yes, some arpeggios in the right context, can sound quite gay! Just listen to 98% of what driving 'house music' and tell me there's no such thing as a gay arpeggio!
While the fact that these guys were gay probably impacted what we did far less than the fact that we were friends and of a like mind on the music we wanted to create, it also probably did open up creative points of view that were, for lack of a better way to say it, interesting and probably would have been overlooked or not even considered had there not been a gay participant in the process.
Since both projects were focused on producing solid foundation material for pop/rock/alt and even a little fusion and jazz - and involved lyrics and story-telling and dealt with common song themes of love, pursuit, relationship, etc... the fact that there was a 'gay factor' and a 'straight factor' caused us to explore interesting ways of expressing things that were not 'gender-specific' and could be taken 'as is' by the listener.
Another thing that (in retrospect) was probably influenced by the 'gay factor' was a willingness to explore presentation styles that might otherwise get passed by due to their perceived 'feminine' touch or sound.
I know for a fact that we were always aware of the 'gay/straight' aspect of things - in the music, in life, in general. The fact that we were working together on a creative project almost demanded that we pay attention to such things - for lots of really good reasons.
I know for a fact that in my other bands where there were no gay players we rarely ever wrote a song that had a 'feminine' flavor. If it was a ballad, it was a 'male sounding' ballad - like that... If someone wrote something that sounded 'gay' - it'd probably get 'straightened' mostly since no one in the band wanted to put out the perception of being gay - whereas in the other project, it'd have stood as-is.
Because of my relationship with gay musicians, I learned to really dig David Bowie, Adam Ant, The Smiths, Brian Ferry and so on - from more than simply a musical angle. The androgyny factor - straight men in makeup - how to create shock and intrigue - how to be risque - and again, all of this is not 'gay-specific' - plenty of straight people discover eclectic, androgynous stuff too - but in my experience, it was my gay friends who turned me on to these things.
Now I've also explored writing 'feminine' sounding material with straight people too - so it's not exclusively a gay or straight thing - mostly just the willingness of the participants to express themselves that way - but in my experience the sexual preference of my co-writers and band mates most definitely had an impact on how we played.
And yes, some arpeggios in the right context, can sound quite gay! Just listen to 98% of what driving 'house music' and tell me there's no such thing as a gay arpeggio!
