Pansy Division

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pansy Division
Origin San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genre(s) Queercore
Years active 1991 – present
Label(s) Outpunk
Alternative Tentacles
Mint Records
Lookout! Records
Associated acts I Am Spoonbender
Members
Chris Freeman
Jon Ginoli
Joel Reader
Luis Illades
Former members
Dustin Donaldson
Patrick Goodwin

Pansy Division is a rock band that was a founding example of the queercore genre. The band formed in San Francisco, California in 1991.

Their first appearance came with the release of the Outpunk Records compilation Outpunk Dance Party, to which they contributed the song "I Can't Sleep". They have released many singles and LPs, mainly on the independent record label Lookout! Records and on Alternative Tentacles.

Their current lineup consists of:
Chris Freeman (bass/vocals)
Jon Ginoli (guitar/vocals)
Joel Reader (guitar/vocals) *also see The Mr. T Experience and The Plus Ones
Luis Illades (drums)

Luis Illades and Joel Reader are also members of the reformed punk rock band The Avengers (band)

Former drummer Dustin Donaldson left to form his own band I Am Spoonbender in 1994. Former lead guitarist Patrick Goodwin left the band in 2003 and is now a member of Hammers Of Misfortune and Dirty Power handling vocal and guitar duties for both bands.

The band brought queercore into the spotlight when they were chosen by Green Day to open for them during a national tour of the U.S.

Most of Pansy Division's songs focus on various aspects of gay life, especially sex, usually in a humorous way. Pansy Division have also covered some songs by other artists, including Ned Sublette's "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other", Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit (as Smells like Queer Spirit), Ramones (Rock 'n' Roll Queer Bar) and Prince's "Jack U Off". Also Covered Was The Song Jackson Written By Jerry Leiber And Billy Edd Wheeler, Big Bottom By Spinal Tap And Femme Fatale By The Velvet Underground.

Jon Ginoli and Chris Freeman appear in the documentary movie Queercore: A Punk-u-mentary by Scott Treleaven, and discuss being in a queer band. Pansy Division also performs live in the film.

The Massachusetts band Pre Basso Continuo recorded a song called "You Don't Have To Be Gay To Like Pansy Division (But It Helps)" which is available on Pansy Division's website.

The name Pansy Division is a pun combining "Panzer Division" with the slang term "pansy", meaning an effeminate or homosexual male.

[edit] Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Meer"
  • "Fem In A Black Leather Jacket"
  • "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond Of Each Other" on Stop Homophobia 7" compilation EP with Fagbash, Happy Flowers, Black Angel's Death Song; Turkey Baster Records (1994)
  • "Jack U Off" 7" on Empty Records (1994)
  • "James Bondage" 7"
  • "Valentine's Day" 7"
  • "The Nine Inch Males" 7" EP on Lookout! Records (1994)
  • Scutter Fanzine presents Tummy Shaking Double 7" split EP with Bis, Sourtooth, Ozma on Scutter Records (1998)
  • Dirty Queers Don't Come Cheap 7" Split EP with Skinjobs on Mint Records (2004)

Compilations

  • "Bunnies" on Stars Kill Rock, Kill Rock Stars (1996)
  • "Expiration Date" on Milkshake - A CD to Benefit the Harvey Milk Institute, timmi-kat ReCoRDS (1998)

[edit] Soundtracks

  • Queercore: A Punk-U-Mentary, directed by Scott Treleaven, 1996
  • Skin & Bone, directed by Everett Lewis, 1996
  • Angus, directed by Patrick Read Johnson, 1995
  • Hellbent, directed by Paul Etheredge-Ouzts, 2005

[edit] External links