Gay Musicians

[Morning Beer]

I can see where the op is coming from, if i was looking to start an all gay or hetero band, but its about music. I have no idea what sexuality has to do with playing. I've played with gays, straights, men, women, and every color you can imagine.

Currently I'm playing in a Dub/Punk band, One of the guys is Muslim, one a Catholic, and myself and another guy are atheists.

Between conversing on bands, music, beer, everyday life, our backgrounds never really come into picture.

It's hard enough to find people that are into the type of music you want to play and can actually play it, then think about what they do or who they pray to when outside the band world.

I personally feel its a non issue, especially after you get married, life partner....whatever.
(Your not getting any anyway after that gay or straight ) I think there are way more interesting things in life to think/worry/talk /celebrate, then who your attracted to.
If your looking for Gay people to talk to thier everywhere, if your looking for musicians to talk to, that's a lot harder.

 

[MIJ-VI]

1) Unless you're going to argue to me that the Western world should dismantle Islamic Sharia law in the Middle East, 2) I don't know what the point of posting both of those stories was - 3) this thread isn't a global problems seminar. First, I've read dozens of articles on both of those incidents. Second, 4) 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, f*** 'em. Find a new crowd.

1) No.
2) One story + links to several more.
3) True.
4) Your previous statements indicated that you may not have been aware of said persecution.
5) At least they are getting better in part.
6) Good to know!

Sounds like a deeply closeted sausage-fest to me.



4) 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.

Right, things are hardly perfect, but 5) at least they're getting better, for the most part. 6) Gay men in the U.S. don't face prison terms for having sex with their lovers anymore.

 

[MIJ-VI]

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!

Seriously though. Artistic dimension triangulated from divergent perceptions. Hmm...

Yep. You sir are an artist!

 

[Kuoxasar]

For you gay and bi TBers, does it ever bother you when an artist seems to come out for the sake of getting attention?

Lady Gaga came out and according to Wikipedia:

"She later regretted disclosing her orientation, saying, 'I don't like to be seen as somebody who is using the gay community to look edgy. I'm a free sexual woman and I like what I like. I don't want people to write that about me because I feel like it looks like I'm saying it because I'm trying to be edgy or underground.'"

 

[MIJ-VI]

Pendulum...

 

[MIJ-VI]

If you're a gay (and/or ) lesbian musician who plans on touring...

LGBT rights by country or territory


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Yeay CANADA!!! We're #1! We're #1! We're #1!

 

[SwamiRob]

That's ALOT of brown, red, orange and yellow What's that U.S. state in the midwest where gay marriage is legal by the way?

Don't think I've come across many gay people round here though, quite alot of bis and people like me that just ACT really gay sometimes, mostly after a few drinks and another gig with hardly any women there...

I'm curious as to where you see openly gay men in the punk scene? been my experience you have a better chance of being a black man in a klan rally than an openly gay man in an Anti-Heros show. kinda off topic a bit but that caught me by suprise to see that atleast in the states Ive played in.

Dunno about that, maybe in the more old school circles but with alot of modern punk there seems to be alot of gay and bi followers of the whole Fat Wreck and Epitaph kinda scene. Hardcore punk you'd struggle to NOT find a gay or bi girl or guy at a show, well actually to be fair you'd struggle to find any girl of any description of alot of them, doesn't stop them from being very pro-gay rights and pro-feminism though There are two pretty popular queer hardcore covers bands called Gayrilla Biscuits and Black Fag who are awesome and really funny too, worth checking out.

 

[MIJ-VI]

That's ALOT of brown, red, orange and yellow What's that U.S. state in the midwest where gay marriage is legal by the way?

Don't think I've come across many gay people round here though, quite alot of bis and people like me that just ACT really gay sometimes, mostly after a few drinks and another gig with hardly any women there...



Dunno about that, maybe in the more old school circles but with alot of modern punk there seems to be alot of gay and bi followers of the whole Fat Wreck and Epitaph kinda scene. Hardcore punk you'd struggle to NOT find a gay or bi girl or guy at a show, well actually to be fair you'd struggle to find any girl of any description of alot of them, doesn't stop them from being very pro-gay rights and pro-feminism though There are two pretty popular queer hardcore covers bands called Gayrilla Biscuits and Black Fag who are awesome and really funny too, worth checking out.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed], Iowa.

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EDIT: A link to Gayrilla Biscuits and Black Fag and other related artists.

 

[FromTheBassMent]

I think it would be a blast to be able to date or be partnered with someone who shares the same interest musicaly and share your time together jamming!

This is so true no matter your sexual orientation. I was married for fourteen years to a woman who didn't "get" why I was so into music. We were mismatched on a lot of other levels, but that was a huge sticking point in our disastrous marriage.

Now I'm married to a woman who I perform in a band with, and I could not be happier! I definitely fell in love with her singing voice first, and the rest of her after! It's so cool that making music together is such an integral part of our relationship. I feel truly blessed.

I'm not saying that musicians can't be happily partnered with non-musicians. But my own personal experience is that when it does come together with a like-minded musician, it's about the best thing in life.

 

[mellowgerman]

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.

I agree. It just sounded to me like some TBers were questioning whether this thread is necessary because it doesn't directly effect your sound or technique.
I think it's a great thread!

 

[SwamiRob]

I thought your lifestyles would effect your technique pretty profoundly

 

[MIJ-VI]

You blokes never disappoint! ^

 

[your idol]

Just because the mode is gay doesn't mean it can't rock! That's an old stereotype.

and anyone who thinks any different has got another thing comin

...couldnt resist

 

[Ubersheist]

Alex it would be really cool if you could find some gay dudes that play and share your same musical interest. I think it would be a blast to be able to date or be partnered with someone who shares the same interest musicaly and share your time together jamming ! I think I would be into daiting a guitarist, it would be fun having guitar shop dates and going home together to jam. I better go out and find myself a inteligent,sweet,hot guitarist !

Just remember, don't dip your 'pen' into the band inkwell.. Straight or gay, it's NEVER a good idea!

 

[jmercer91]

sorry, but OP's post is riddled with assuptions to the point of being ridiculous! and btw, i played in San Francisco for 25years. i certainly don't live in a box.

as⋅sump⋅tion   [uh-suhmp-shuhn]
–noun
1.something taken for granted; a supposition: a correct assumption.
2.the act of taking for granted or supposing.
3.the act of taking to or upon oneself.
4.the act of taking possession of something: the assumption of power.
5.arrogance; presumption.
6.the taking over of another\'s debts

It's funny how after looking up the word in the dictionary you still can't even spell it right.

 

[Ubersheist]

I suppose it [homosexuality] could influence the way you look and your mannerisms. Perhaps it would make you choose a pink Lakland.

Pfft... Hardly. Have you looked at how all those straight dudes dressed in the '80s?!?!? Lots and lots of totally straight (or at least I understand them to be straight) musicians dress as flamboyant as possible. Look at Bootsy Collins... Look at that crazy sparkly bass he's always playin'! Also, if he wasn't in P-Funk, you'd be DAMNED sure that he's gay. That reminds me... what about Prince and his crazy guitar? Pretty sure he's straight.

As many of y'all know, I have a pretty darn crazy, flamboyant bass with a frilly pink strap... Sexuality didn't even cross my mind when I put that thing together or bought the strap...

 

[somegeezer]

I've never really thought first thing "Is this musician gay?". But I've known a lot of people into music that I found out were gay. They play everything just as any musician. What does it really matter though? It's music we have in common, not who we want to sleep with.

 

[Ubersheist]

Lady Gaga came out and according to Wikipedia:

She actually did the opposite... she regretted stating that she had a boyfriend and was heterosexual since she was getting a lot of PR about her being androgynous. She later tried to regain some of her androgyny by stating that she found women beautiful and fantasized about them, but wasn't actually attracted to them sexually.

Please don't ask me why I know so much about Lady Gaga. Please....

 

[Tim C.]

Please don't ask me why I know so much about Lady Gaga. Please....

So, why do you know so much about Lady Gaga?

 

[JimmyM]

being gay sounds fun. i'd probably like the lifestyle if only it wasn't for that having sex with guys thing.