Probably one of the more interesting periods of underground
rock music culturally had been the early 1990s.
Previously a mostly straight white male domain, it was challenged on its
biases by the Riot Grrrl movement’s infusing feminist thought into punk and
adding a woman’s perspective as well as by the Latin punk scene singing in
Spanish often about topics relating to their community. Then there’s queercore,
a punk rock subgenre
where gay lesbian and transgender/transsexual artists proceeded to make their
voices heard in the underground and offer their experiences. Amongst the leading
lights of the queercore
movement was the first openly gay rock band, Pansy Division.
Pansy Division: Life
in a Gay Rock Band tells the story of this band and their surprising
journey. Started by guitarist/vocalist
Jon Ginoli and bassist Chris Freeman in 1991, they believed their appeal would
only be a handful of their friends in San
Francisco.
Instead they put a simmering movement into hyperdrive. Playing melodic
(almost to the point of pop)
songs with an admittedly out and in your face perspective, the band ended up
creating a collection of songs that won over people alienated by mainstream
music and seeking more in punk and indie circles regardless of sexual
orientation (FULL DISCLOSURE: Pansy
Division has been the most interviewed band in the history of TTWN. Ed).
This documentary uses interviews (both of band members and
people close to the band over the years), music videos, and live footage to
tell a story not just of the reaction both pro (reactions to reading letters
from closeted kids who hid their records from homophobic parents) and con (such
as the band’s fears they’d be killed during their first tour and dealing with
jock fans when opening for Green Day in 1994).
It also details some universal band issues such as lineup changes (the
revolving drummer lineup in the first six or so years, expanding the lineup to
a quartet, etc) and dealing with record label politics. Told in a basic, straight
ahead style, Life in a Gay Rock Band manages to both
show how a band made music (and even cultural) history at a time when the LGBT
community was far less accepted than it is now as well as the universality of
band dynamics and the pressures it can bring to a band under any circumstances.
In
the end though, this documentary tells a story of a band
who managed to endure and survive in a constantly changing artistic climate
(Pansy Division remains the last band standing from the early 90s queercore
scene) as well as how friendships can sometimes survive situations as fragile
as a band (ask any musician about how hard this is). Not for everybody but openminded
music fans
would do well to see this doc and be surprised.
The second disc of this two DVD set features footage of live
concerts as well as an unplugged TV appearance from the bands early years. Musically,
it shows the band at its out and
proud glory, both rockin’ out, a bit rough around the edges, and fun. The
only downside is the lack of footage from
the later years. Still, it’s a must
watch to see why Pansy Division managed to still stick around after nearly 19
years.
They may not have
intended to change the boundaries of who
could play rock music, but we all can be grateful for the fact that they did
so. See both the doc and the live
footage.
-
Boone
Available from Alternative Tentacles (the band's current label) or via from the official Pansy Division
website.
