Difference between revisions of "LGBTQ Rock Musicians"
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* [[Janis Joplin]], United States | * [[Janis Joplin]], United States | ||
* [[Laura Nyro]], United States | * [[Laura Nyro]], United States | ||
| + | * [[Billy Preston]], United States | ||
* [[Ma Rainey]], United States | * [[Ma Rainey]], United States | ||
* [[Dusty Springfield]], Great Britain | * [[Dusty Springfield]], Great Britain | ||
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* [[Jobriath]], solo | * [[Jobriath]], solo | ||
* [[Janis Joplin]], various bands | * [[Janis Joplin]], various bands | ||
| + | * [[Josh Kiszka]], Greta Van Fleet | ||
* [[Paul Masvidal]], Cynic | * [[Paul Masvidal]], Cynic | ||
* [[Bob Mould]], Sugar | * [[Bob Mould]], Sugar | ||
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* [[Kate Pierson]], B52s | * [[Kate Pierson]], B52s | ||
* [[Doug Pinnick]], King's X | * [[Doug Pinnick]], King's X | ||
| + | * [[Billy Preston]], solo musician | ||
* [[Johnnie Ray]], solo | * [[Johnnie Ray]], solo | ||
* [[Joel Reader]], Pansy Division | * [[Joel Reader]], Pansy Division | ||
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* [[Celebrated LGBTQ Pianists]] | * [[Celebrated LGBTQ Pianists]] | ||
* [[Rhythm & Blues and the LGBTQ Community]] | * [[Rhythm & Blues and the LGBTQ Community]] | ||
| + | * [[Creative LGBTQ Management of Symphony Orchestras]] | ||
==Further Reading/Research== | ==Further Reading/Research== | ||
Latest revision as of 22:31, 3 February 2024
There was a time when declaring your homosexuality as a rock musician was a big no-no if you wanted to get ahead in the music industry. In fact, this situation is what prompted the founders of the all-gay rock band Pansy Division to create their group in 1991. John Ginoli, one of those founders, argues they were the first publicly out all-gay rock group (see his biography for a link to the story).
There are a few mentors in the industry that have paved the way for today's out generation and are prominent LGBTQ activists in their own right. Notable among these are Chuck Panozzo and Rob Halford.
Today, there is a significant number of publicly out LGBTQ rock musicians from numerous countries around the world. The groups these musicians belong to are often familiar - The Styx, Savage Garden, REM, Sleater-Kinney, Placebo, Scissor Sisters, The Smiths, Grizzly Bear, Primal Scream, Vampire Weekend, The Pogues, and many more. But do you know the LGBTQ individuals?
The following LGBTQ individuals have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:
- Clive Davis, United States
- David Lawrence Geffen, United States
- Elton John, Great Britain
- Janis Joplin, United States
- Laura Nyro, United States
- Billy Preston, United States
- Ma Rainey, United States
- Dusty Springfield, Great Britain
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe, United States
- Jann Wenner, United States
We have identified a large number of LGBTQ rock musicians. They hail from Brazil, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Lebanon, Uruguay, Iceland, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. (Of course, 'rock' is a fluid definition, and we have excluded other LGBTQ musicians that more accurately fit the pop, synthetic, or folk category - albeit, a subjective assessment, but you can find them by searching for their biographies by name.) The times have changed and being an out and proud LGBTQ rock musician is no longer a barrier to a successful career.
Argentina
- Frederico Moura, Virus
Australia
- Cris Bonacci, Girlschool
- Darren Hayes, Savage Garden
Belgium
- Brian Molko, Placebo
Brazil
- Cazuza, Barao Vermelho
- Cassia Eller, solo
- Renato Russo, Urban Legion
Canada
- Lucas Silveira, The Cliks
- Reg Vermue, Gentleman Reg
France
Germany
- Bill Kaulitz, Tokio Hotel
Great Britain
- Romy Madley Croft, The xx
- Debbie Googe, Primal Scream
- Rob Halford, Judas Priest
- Joe Jackson, solo
- Jez Kerr, A Certain Ratio (ACR)
- Steven Patrick Morrissey, The Smiths
- Dee Palmer, Jethro Tull (formerly David Palmer)
- Dusty Springfield, solo
- Michael Stipe, REM
Iceland
- Jonsi, Sigur Ros
Ireland
- Philip Chevron, The Pogues
Lebanon
- Hamed Sinno, Mashrou’ Leila
New Zealand
- Ladyhawke, solo
Norway
- Gaahl, Gorgoroth/God Seed/Wardruna
Sweden
- Maja Ivarsson, The Sounds
- Stefan Olsdal, Placebo
Ukraine
United States
- Rostam Batmanglij, Vampire Weekend
- Roddy Bottum, Faith No More
- Carrie Brownstein, Sleater-Kinney and Wild Flag
- Mina Caputo, Life of Agony (formerly Keith Caputo)
- Jayne County, solo
- Ed Droste, Grizzly Bear
- Melissa Etheridge, solo
- Melissa Ferrick, solo
- Chris Freeman, Pansy Division
- John Ginoli, Pansy Division
- Tyler Glenn, Neon Trees
- Laura Jane Grace, Against Me!
- Brian Grillo, Extra Fancy
- Scott Hoffman, Scissor Sisters
- Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, Liturgy
- Jana Hunter, Lower Dens
- Luis Illades, Pansy Division
- Jobriath, solo
- Janis Joplin, various bands
- Josh Kiszka, Greta Van Fleet
- Paul Masvidal, Cynic
- Bob Mould, Sugar
- Kele Okereke, Bloc Party
- Angel Olsen,solo
- Chuck Panozzo, Styx
- Linda Perry, Deep Dark Robots/4 Non-Blondes
- Kate Pierson, B52s
- Doug Pinnick, King's X
- Billy Preston, solo musician
- Johnnie Ray, solo
- Joel Reader, Pansy Division
- Sean Reinert, Cynic
- Patty Schemel, Hole
- Fred Schneider, B52s
- Will Schwartz, Imperial Teen
- Jake Shears, Scissor Sisters
- Justin Tranter, Semi-Precious Weapons
- Corin Tucker, Sleater-Kinney, and Corin Tucker Band
- Justin Utley, solo
- Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance
- Leah Wellbaum, Slothrust
- Lenny Zenith, RZA and Tenterhooks
Uruguay
- Martin Sorrondeguy, Limp Wrist
See Also
- Transgender Singers, Musicians and Composers
- LGBTQ Country & Western Singers
- LGBTQ Classical Music Composers
- Boy Band Members Who Are Out As Gay, Bisexual or Queer
- LGBTQ Opera Singers
- LGBTQ Folk Music Singers
- Christian Singers Who Identify as LGBTQ
- Electronic and Synthetic Music Performers Who Identify as LGBTQ
- Celebrated LGBTQ Pianists
- Rhythm & Blues and the LGBTQ Community
- Creative LGBTQ Management of Symphony Orchestras
