Pansy Division
Encyclopedia
Pansy Division is an American
punk rock
band that formed in San Francisco
, California
in 1991. Featuring primarily gay
musicians and focusing mostly on gay-related themes, Pansy Division is one of the more melodic-oriented bands to emerge from the "queercore
" movement that began in the 1980s.
formed Pansy Division (the name itself a pun on Panzer Division
and the word "pansy
") in San Francisco
in early 1991. The intent of the band was to defy the common stereotypes
towards gay men, particularly that they were more or less limited to enjoying and/or performing disco and showtunes, and that rock was strictly heterosexual territory. Originally a solo act on guitar, Ginoli eventually recruited bassist Chris Freeman
and drummer Jay Paget, forming the first openly all-gay rock band.
Pansy Division's sound was heavily influenced by 1960s pop
and 1970s punk rock
, most notably bands such as the Ramones
, the Buzzcocks
and early Beatles
: short, catchy pop punk
numbers with humorous, in-your-face lyrics that dealt with various aspects of both gay life and life in general. Most of their early repertoire featured explicit and near-pornographic (though firmly tongue-in-cheek
) lyrical depictions of gay sex, though some songs focused on more universal, unisex topics such as loneliness, friendship and attraction.
In 1993, following extensive Californian touring, several 7" singles and compilation appearances, Pansy Division was signed to Lookout! Records
, released their first album, Undressed
, and embarked their first national tour.
and an appearance on Outpunk's
seminal compilation Outpunk Dance Party, the band had proven themselves to be one of the more prolific and well-known artists to spring from the budding queercore
movement. Also catching the wave of pop punk's
mainstream explosion, Pansy Division were selected to tour with Green Day
on the band’s Dookie
tour, thus introducing the group and queercore to a much larger audience.
While signed to Lookout!, the band continued to release an album a year: 1995's Pile Up
(notable for its various cover songs, including Ned Sublette's
"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other
" and Nirvana's
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (covered as "Smells Like Queer Spirit")), 1996's Wish I'd Taken Pictures
(featuring the single "I Really Wanted You", whose music video played once on MTV
) and the 1997 B-sides compilation More Lovin' From Our Oven
.
Pansy Division also toured prolifically during these years, both nationally and internationally, touring with such alternative rock and punk bands as Chixdiggit, the Groovie Ghoulies, cub
and Servotron
, God Is My Co-Pilot
and Team Dresch
, while often sharing the stage with such bands as Rancid
, The Vandals
, New Bomb Turks
, Jimmy Eat World
, Supergrass
and The Supersuckers
.
During this time, Pansy Division primarily performed as a trio, with Freeman and Ginoli being the only constant members amid a slew of perpetually rotating drummers, both gay and straight. In 1996, the band finally found a permanent gay drummer in the form of Luis Illades and became a quartet in 1997 with the addition of lead guitarist Patrick Goodwin.
, which was a departure from earlier Pansy work, featuring less humorous, more introspective lyrics and a darker, two-guitar layered alternative rock
sound. Although fans regard the album as perhaps the band's best work, it was their least-selling album and curbed their six year long touring and recording streak.
In 2001, Pansy Division was finally ready to record another album, but the lack of support from Lookout! caused the band to leave their long-time label and sign with Alternative Tentacles
later that year. What resulted was 2003's Total Entertainment!
, an album that the band described as a meeting point between the lighthearted humor of their early work and the introspective rock of their previous album. Goodwin left the band the following year, being temporarily replaced by Bernard Yin and then by former Mr. T Experience member Joel Reader.
In 2006, Alternative Tentacles released The Essential Pansy Division
, a comprehensive 'best-of' compilation featuring thirty tracks hand-picked by Ginoli and a DVD of various video footage.
, whose current line-up features both Illades and Reader.
In 2008, the band became the subject of a documentary film entitled Pansy Division: Life in a Gay Rock Band, directed by Michael Carmona. The film has been touring internationally, playing at various LGBT film festivals, and was released on DVD in 2009.
Recently, Ginoli announced on Pansy Division's official website that 2009 would see the release of their seventh studio album, titled That’s So Gay, a live DVD, another national tour, and his memoirs, a biography of the band entitled Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division.
In February 2009, the band released a vinyl 7" of "Average Men," their first single from the album. The B-Side is a cover of "Coming Clean" by Green Day.
Both Reader and Illades are members of the reformed San Francisco punk rock band The Avengers
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band that formed in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1991. Featuring primarily gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
musicians and focusing mostly on gay-related themes, Pansy Division is one of the more melodic-oriented bands to emerge from the "queercore
Queercore
Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by being discontent with society in general and its rejection of the disapproval of the gay, bisexual, and lesbian communities and their "oppressive agenda"...
" movement that began in the 1980s.
Early days
Frustrated by the lack of openly gay musicians in independent rock, Jon GinoliJon Ginoli
Jon Latimer Ginoli is an American guitarist. He is best known as a member of the band Pansy Division, which was founded by Ginoli and Chris Freeman in 1991. Pansy Division is known as one of the founding examples of the queercore genre of punk rock...
formed Pansy Division (the name itself a pun on Panzer Division
Panzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
and the word "pansy
Pansy
The Pansy is a large group of hybrid plants cultivated as garden flowers. Pansies are derived from Viola species Viola tricolor hybridized with other viola species, these hybrids are referred to as Viola × wittrockiana or less commonly Viola tricolor hortensis...
") in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in early 1991. The intent of the band was to defy the common stereotypes
LGBT stereotypes
Stereotypes about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are conventional, formulaic generalizations, opinions, or images about persons based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Stereotypes and homophobia are a learned outlook, i.e...
towards gay men, particularly that they were more or less limited to enjoying and/or performing disco and showtunes, and that rock was strictly heterosexual territory. Originally a solo act on guitar, Ginoli eventually recruited bassist Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman (musician)
Chris Freeman is an American bassist. He is best known as a member of the band Pansy Division, which was founded by Freeman and Jon Ginoli in 1991. Pansy Division is known as one of the founding examples of the queercore genre of punk rock...
and drummer Jay Paget, forming the first openly all-gay rock band.
Pansy Division's sound was heavily influenced by 1960s pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and 1970s punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, most notably bands such as the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, the Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
and early Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
: short, catchy pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
numbers with humorous, in-your-face lyrics that dealt with various aspects of both gay life and life in general. Most of their early repertoire featured explicit and near-pornographic (though firmly tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
) lyrical depictions of gay sex, though some songs focused on more universal, unisex topics such as loneliness, friendship and attraction.
In 1993, following extensive Californian touring, several 7" singles and compilation appearances, Pansy Division was signed to Lookout! Records
Lookout! Records
-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
, released their first album, Undressed
Undressed (album)
-Track listing:#"Versatile" – 3:01#"Fem in a Black Leather Jacket" – 2:04#"Bunnies" – 2:03#"Boyfriend Wanted" – 2:52#"The Story So Far" – 2:47#"Hippy Dude" – 3:02#"Curvature" – 2:17#"The Cocksucker Club" – 2:20#"Crabby Day" – 2:46#"Luck of the Draw" – 2:25...
, and embarked their first national tour.
Mainstream recognition
In 1994, with the release of their second album DefloweredDeflowered
Deflowered is the second album by queercore band Pansy Division.The cover features a photograph of Mark Ewert and Moon Trent , taken by Marc Gellar.-Track listing:#"Reciprocate" – 2:52#"Groovy Underwear" – 3:38#"Anonymous" – 2:55...
and an appearance on Outpunk's
Outpunk
Outpunk enjoys the distinction of being the first record label entirely devoted to queer punk bands.The label was run out of San Francisco and began as an extension of Matt Wobensmith's fanzine, Outpunk. Outpunk ran for seven issues, from 1992 till 1997, with contributions from queer punks such as...
seminal compilation Outpunk Dance Party, the band had proven themselves to be one of the more prolific and well-known artists to spring from the budding queercore
Queercore
Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by being discontent with society in general and its rejection of the disapproval of the gay, bisexual, and lesbian communities and their "oppressive agenda"...
movement. Also catching the wave of pop punk's
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
mainstream explosion, Pansy Division were selected to tour with Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
on the band’s Dookie
Dookie
Dookie is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on February 1, 1994 through Reprise Records. It was the band's first collaboration with producer Rob Cavallo and its major record label debut. Dookie became a worldwide commercial success, peaking at number...
tour, thus introducing the group and queercore to a much larger audience.
While signed to Lookout!, the band continued to release an album a year: 1995's Pile Up
Pile Up
Pile Up is a compilation of singles, B-sides, and rarities by queercore band Pansy Division.The album includes numerous cover songs including "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other", "Real Men", "Jack U Off", and "Smells Like Queer Spirit" .-Track listing:#"I Can't Sleep" – 1:31#"Ring...
(notable for its various cover songs, including Ned Sublette's
Ned Sublette
Ned Sublette is an American composer, musician, record producer and musicologist. Sublette studied Spanish Classical Guitar with Hector Garcia at the University of New Mexico and with Emilio Pujol in Spain. He studied composition with Kenneth Gaburo at the University of California, San Diego...
"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other
Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other
"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" is, according to Gene Tyranny, "the famous gay cowboy song" by Latin country musician Ned Sublette, whose music, according to Howard Cohen, features a, "lilting West Texas waltz feel"...
" and Nirvana's
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (covered as "Smells Like Queer Spirit")), 1996's Wish I'd Taken Pictures
Wish I'd Taken Pictures
Wish I'd Taken Pictures is the fourth album by queercore band Pansy Division.The front and back covers feature photographs of Mark Ewert and Moon Trent, taken by Marc Geller.-Track listing:#"Horny In the Morning" – 1:35#"Vanilla" – 2:08...
(featuring the single "I Really Wanted You", whose music video played once on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
) and the 1997 B-sides compilation More Lovin' From Our Oven
More Lovin' From Our Oven
More Lovin' From Our Oven is a compilation of singles, unreleased tracks, demos and other rare songs by queercore band Pansy Division.-Track listing:#"I'm Gonna Be A Slut"#"Manada"#"Pretty Boy "#"Hockey Hair"#"Headbanger"...
.
Pansy Division also toured prolifically during these years, both nationally and internationally, touring with such alternative rock and punk bands as Chixdiggit, the Groovie Ghoulies, cub
Cub (band)
Cub was an indie rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia that formed in 1992 and disbanded in 1997. They played a melodic, jangly form of pop punk that was dubbed "cuddlecore" by some music critics...
and Servotron
Servotron
Servotron was a science fiction-influenced rock band active from 1995 to 1999. Members portrayed a collective of robots whose chosen medium for dissemination of ideas was music...
, God Is My Co-Pilot
God Is My Co-Pilot (band)
God Is My Co-Pilot is a queercore band from New York City that's been recording and playing music since 1991. The two main members of God is My Co-Pilot are vocalist Sharon Topper and guitarist Craig Flanagin...
and Team Dresch
Team Dresch
Team Dresch is an American punk band from Portland, Oregon, originally formed in Olympia, Washington, which was initially active from 1993 until 1998. The band made a significant impression on the do-it-yourself movement queercore, which gave voice through zines and music to the passions and...
, while often sharing the stage with such bands as Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
, The Vandals
The Vandals
The Vandals are an American rock band established in 1980 in Huntington Beach, California. They have released ten full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured the world extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour...
, New Bomb Turks
New Bomb Turks
The New Bomb Turks are an American punk rock band formed at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio in 1990. The founding members are Jim Weber, Eric Davidson, Bill Randt, and Matt Reber. Sam Brown replaced Bill Randt on drums in 1999. Early on their inspiration came from the Devil Dogs, Lazy...
, Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, Supergrass
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
and The Supersuckers
The Supersuckers
Supersuckers are an American rock band. They are the self-proclaimed "Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World." Following the relative success of their 1997 foray into country music with the release of Must've Been High, they have also been known to play country shows under various names,...
.
During this time, Pansy Division primarily performed as a trio, with Freeman and Ginoli being the only constant members amid a slew of perpetually rotating drummers, both gay and straight. In 1996, the band finally found a permanent gay drummer in the form of Luis Illades and became a quartet in 1997 with the addition of lead guitarist Patrick Goodwin.
New direction and label
1998 saw the release of their fifth studio album Absurd Pop Song RomanceAbsurd Pop Song Romance
Absurd Pop Song Romance is an album by queercore band Pansy Division.-Track listing:# # "February 17"# "Sweet Insecurity"# "It'll Never Be the Same"# "Better Off Just Friends"# "Too Beautiful"# # "Luv Luv Luv"#...
, which was a departure from earlier Pansy work, featuring less humorous, more introspective lyrics and a darker, two-guitar layered alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
sound. Although fans regard the album as perhaps the band's best work, it was their least-selling album and curbed their six year long touring and recording streak.
In 2001, Pansy Division was finally ready to record another album, but the lack of support from Lookout! caused the band to leave their long-time label and sign with Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
later that year. What resulted was 2003's Total Entertainment!
Total Entertainment!
-Track listing:#"Who Treats You Right?" – 2:20#"Blurry Down Below" – 2:19#"When He Comes Home" – 2:59#"Too Many Hoops" – 2:54#"Spiral" – 3:09#"Saddest Song" – 3:13#"No Protection" – 3:59#"Alpine Skiing" – 3:14#"Not Good Enough" – 1:20...
, an album that the band described as a meeting point between the lighthearted humor of their early work and the introspective rock of their previous album. Goodwin left the band the following year, being temporarily replaced by Bernard Yin and then by former Mr. T Experience member Joel Reader.
In 2006, Alternative Tentacles released The Essential Pansy Division
The Essential Pansy Division
The Essential Pansy Division is a compilation album by queercore band Pansy Division.-CD:#"Who Treats You Right" – 2:21#"Fem In A Black Leather Jacket" – 2:03#"Anthem" – 2:24#"I'm Gonna Be A Slut" – 2:09#"Horny In The Morning" – 1:35...
, a comprehensive 'best-of' compilation featuring thirty tracks hand-picked by Ginoli and a DVD of various video footage.
Recent activity
Following the release of Total Entertainment, Pansy Division's active touring and recording schedule declined as most of the members relocated to different parts of the country. The band continued to perform sporadically, usually at various gay pride festivals or local shows in San Francisco. In 2007, Pansy Division launched their first national tour since 2003 with reformed San Francisco punk band The AvengersThe Avengers (band)
The Avengers are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in San Francisco, California. Penelope Houston, who has also been a folk musician, is their singer.-Original history:...
, whose current line-up features both Illades and Reader.
In 2008, the band became the subject of a documentary film entitled Pansy Division: Life in a Gay Rock Band, directed by Michael Carmona. The film has been touring internationally, playing at various LGBT film festivals, and was released on DVD in 2009.
Recently, Ginoli announced on Pansy Division's official website that 2009 would see the release of their seventh studio album, titled That’s So Gay, a live DVD, another national tour, and his memoirs, a biography of the band entitled Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division.
In February 2009, the band released a vinyl 7" of "Average Men," their first single from the album. The B-Side is a cover of "Coming Clean" by Green Day.
Current members
- Jon GinoliJon GinoliJon Latimer Ginoli is an American guitarist. He is best known as a member of the band Pansy Division, which was founded by Ginoli and Chris Freeman in 1991. Pansy Division is known as one of the founding examples of the queercore genre of punk rock...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
/guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1991–present) - Chris FreemanChris Freeman (musician)Chris Freeman is an American bassist. He is best known as a member of the band Pansy Division, which was founded by Freeman and Jon Ginoli in 1991. Pansy Division is known as one of the founding examples of the queercore genre of punk rock...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/vocals (1991–present) - Joel Reader - lead guitar/vocals (2004–present)
- Formerly of The Mr. T ExperienceThe Mr. T ExperienceThe Mr. T Experience is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California and currently recording for Lookout! Records. They have released ten full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationally...
and The Plus Ones
- Formerly of The Mr. T Experience
- Luis Illades - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1996–present)
Both Reader and Illades are members of the reformed San Francisco punk rock band The Avengers
The Avengers (band)
The Avengers are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in San Francisco, California. Penelope Houston, who has also been a folk musician, is their singer.-Original history:...
.
Former members
- Jay Paget - drums (1991–1992)
- Now of Thinking Fellers Union Local 282Thinking Fellers Union Local 282Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 is an experimental indie rock group formed in 1986 in San Francisco, California, though half of its members are from Iowa. Their albums combine lo-fi noise rock and ambient sounds with tightly constructed rock and pop songs. The band has a small but intensely loyal...
- Now of Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
- David WardDavid WardDavid Ward may refer to:*David Jenkins Ward, American politician*David Ward *David Ward , British Liberal Democrat politician, MP for Bradford East*David S...
- drums (1992–1994) - Liam Hart - drums (1994)
- David AyerDavid AyerDavid Ayer is an American screenwriter, film producer and film director.-Early life:David Ayer was born in Champaign, Illinois in 1968. He grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota and Bethesda, Maryland, where he was kicked out of his house by his parents as a teenager...
- drums (1994) - Patrick Hawley - drums (1995)
- Dustin Donaldson - drums (1995–1996)
- Now of I Am SpoonbenderI Am SpoonbenderI Am Spoonbender is an American/Canadian multimedia group formed in San Francisco in early 1997 by composer/multi-instrumentalist/producer Dustin Donaldson, with Brian Jackson and cub guitarist Robynn Iwata I Am Spoonbender is an American/Canadian multimedia group formed in San Francisco in early...
- Now of I Am Spoonbender
- Patrick Goodwin - lead guitar (1997–2004)
- Now of Hammers of misfortuneHammers of MisfortuneHammers of Misfortune is a progressive heavy metal band from San Francisco, California. The band's style has varied from album to album, at times incorporating different elements of folk metal, doom metal, NWOBHM, black metal, '70s rock, and thrash metal...
and Dirty Power
- Now of Hammers of misfortune
- Bernard Yin - lead guitar (2004)
- Now of Astra HeightsAstra HeightsAstra Heights is an Alternative rock band originally from Houston, Texas. They now live and work in Los Angeles. In 2007 they released a full-length album, Good Problems, on iTunes through Universal Records.-History:...
- Now of Astra Heights
Albums
- UndressedUndressed (album)-Track listing:#"Versatile" – 3:01#"Fem in a Black Leather Jacket" – 2:04#"Bunnies" – 2:03#"Boyfriend Wanted" – 2:52#"The Story So Far" – 2:47#"Hippy Dude" – 3:02#"Curvature" – 2:17#"The Cocksucker Club" – 2:20#"Crabby Day" – 2:46#"Luck of the Draw" – 2:25...
on Lookout! RecordsLookout! Records-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
(1993) - DefloweredDefloweredDeflowered is the second album by queercore band Pansy Division.The cover features a photograph of Mark Ewert and Moon Trent , taken by Marc Gellar.-Track listing:#"Reciprocate" – 2:52#"Groovy Underwear" – 3:38#"Anonymous" – 2:55...
on Lookout! Records (1994) - Wish I'd Taken PicturesWish I'd Taken PicturesWish I'd Taken Pictures is the fourth album by queercore band Pansy Division.The front and back covers feature photographs of Mark Ewert and Moon Trent, taken by Marc Geller.-Track listing:#"Horny In the Morning" – 1:35#"Vanilla" – 2:08...
on Mint RecordsMint RecordsMint Records is a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based independent record label founded in January 1991, by friends and campus radio enthusiasts Randy Iwata and Bill Baker....
(1996) - Absurd Pop Song RomanceAbsurd Pop Song RomanceAbsurd Pop Song Romance is an album by queercore band Pansy Division.-Track listing:# # "February 17"# "Sweet Insecurity"# "It'll Never Be the Same"# "Better Off Just Friends"# "Too Beautiful"# # "Luv Luv Luv"#...
on Lookout! Records (1998) - Total Entertainment!Total Entertainment!-Track listing:#"Who Treats You Right?" – 2:20#"Blurry Down Below" – 2:19#"When He Comes Home" – 2:59#"Too Many Hoops" – 2:54#"Spiral" – 3:09#"Saddest Song" – 3:13#"No Protection" – 3:59#"Alpine Skiing" – 3:14#"Not Good Enough" – 1:20...
on Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
(2003) - That's So GayThat's So GayThat's So Gay is an album by queercore band Pansy Division.-Track listing:#"Twinkie Twinkie Little Star" - 2:15#"Average Men" - 3:24#*Guest Vocalist: Jello Biafra#"Ride Baby" - 3:24#"Some Of My Best Friends" - 3:40#"That's So Gay" - 2:28...
on Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
(2009)
Compilation albums
- Pile UpPile UpPile Up is a compilation of singles, B-sides, and rarities by queercore band Pansy Division.The album includes numerous cover songs including "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other", "Real Men", "Jack U Off", and "Smells Like Queer Spirit" .-Track listing:#"I Can't Sleep" – 1:31#"Ring...
on Lookout! Records (1995) - More Lovin' From Our OvenMore Lovin' From Our OvenMore Lovin' From Our Oven is a compilation of singles, unreleased tracks, demos and other rare songs by queercore band Pansy Division.-Track listing:#"I'm Gonna Be A Slut"#"Manada"#"Pretty Boy "#"Hockey Hair"#"Headbanger"...
on Lookout! Records (1997) - The Essential Pansy DivisionThe Essential Pansy DivisionThe Essential Pansy Division is a compilation album by queercore band Pansy Division.-CD:#"Who Treats You Right" – 2:21#"Fem In A Black Leather Jacket" – 2:03#"Anthem" – 2:24#"I'm Gonna Be A Slut" – 2:09#"Horny In The Morning" – 1:35...
on Alternative Tentacles (2006) - Lost Gems & Rare TracksLost Gems & Rare TracksLost Gems & Rare Tracks is a compilation of singles, unreleased tracks, demos and other rare songs by queercore band Pansy Division. It was released exclusively on itunes in 2010...
exclusively on iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
(2010)
7" singles
- "Meer"
- "Fem In A Black Leather Jacket" b/w "Homo Christmas" & "Smells Like Queer Spirit" (Lookout! Records, 1992)
- "Bill & Ted's Homosexual Adventure" b/w "Big Bottom" (Outpunk, 1993)
- "Touch My Joe Camel" b/w "Homosapien" & "Trash" (Lookout! Records, 1993) (cover art by Anonymous BoyAnonymous BoyAnonymous Boy is the pen name of Tony Arena, an artist, writer and filmmaker who resides in New York City. Anonymous Boy is also the title of his self-published comics zine.- Comics and Artistic Work :...
) - "Nine Inch Males" EP: "Fuck Buddy", "Cry for a Shadow" & "The Biggest Lie" (Lookout! Records, 1994)
- "Jack U Off" b/w "Strip You Down" (Empty Records, 1994)
- "Jackson" b/w "I Really Wanted You" (K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
, 1994) (Collaboration with Calvin Johnson) - "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond Of Each Other", on 'Stop Homophobia' compilation with Fagbash, Happy FlowersHappy FlowersThe musical group, Happy Flowers, was formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, in 1983 by two members of the Landlords, John Beers and Charlie Kramer , both students at the University of Virginia...
and Black Angel's Death Song (Turkey Baster Records, 1994) - "James Bondage" b/w "Flower", "Real Men" & "Denny (Naked)" (Lookout! Records, 1995)
- "Gay Pride" split EP, with Chumbawumba and SpdfghSpdfghSpdfgh were an all-female rock band from Sydney, Australia in the 1990s. The founding members were* Kim Bowers * Liz Payne...
, (Rugger Bugger Records, 1995) - "Valentine's Day" b/w "He Could Be The One" & "Pretty Boy (What's Your Name?)" (Lookout! Records, 1996)
- "For Those About to Suck Cock" EP: "Headbanger", "Sweet Pain" & "Breaking the Law" (Lookout! Records, 1996)
- "Manada" b/w "One Night Stand", "Hockey Hair", "Manada (Version Quebecois)" (Mint Records, 1997)
- "Queer to the Core" EP: "Political Asshole", "Two Way Ass" & "Expiration Date" (Lookout! Records, 1997)
- "Scutter Fanzine presents 'Tummy Shaking'" split EP, with BisBISBis is a prefix or suffix designating the second instance of a thing, thus preceding ter.Bis can also refer to:* Bis , a Scottish pop band* Bis , a high-teens' magazine published by Kobunsha of Japan...
, Sourtooth & OzmaOzmaOzma may refer to:* Ozma of Oz, a 1907 and third book in the Oz series* Ozma , a 1989 album by the Melvins* Ozma , a rock band from Pasadena, California* Ozma Wars, a 1979 arcade game...
(Scutter Records, 1998) - "Dirty Queers Don't Come Cheap" split EP w/ Skinjobs: "Your Loss" & "I Know Your Type" (Mint Records, 2004)
- "Average Man" b/w "Coming Clean" (Green DayGreen DayGreen Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
cover) (Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
, 2009)
Compilation appearances
- "I Can't Sleep" on Outpunk Dance Party (Outpunk Records, 1992)
- "Homo Christmas" on Punk Rock Christmas (Rhino Records, 1995)
- "Ring of Joy" on A Slice Of Lemon (Lookout! RecordsLookout! Records-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
, 1996) - "Jackson" on Project: Echo (K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
, 1996) - "Bunnies" on Stars Kill RockStars Kill RockStars Kill Rock is a 1993 album by various artists and was released on the Kill Rock Stars label.-Track listing:# Tiger Trap - "Supreme Nothing"# Godheadsilo - "Nutritious Treat"# Frumpies - "Fuck Kitty"# Jack Acid - "Cheap Tragedies"...
(Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, 1996) - "Pillow Talk" on Team Mint (Mint RecordsMint RecordsMint Records is a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based independent record label founded in January 1991, by friends and campus radio enthusiasts Randy Iwata and Bill Baker....
, 1996) - "The Summer You Let Your Hair Grow Out" on Heide Sez Lookout! (Lookout! Records, 1996)
- "Can't Make Love" (with Tré CoolTre CoolFrank Edwin Wright III, a.k.a. Tré Cool, is an American drummer, best known as the drummer for the punk rock band Green Day. He replaced the group's former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990...
) on Generations, Vol 1: A Punk Look at Human Rights (Ark 21 RecordsArk 21 RecordsArk 21 Records is a record label established by Miles Copeland & Stewart Copeland. The record label is based out of Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California.-Artists:* Ragheb Alamah* Beats Antique* The Badlees* Farrah* Faudel* The Human League* Hakim...
, 1997) - "Loose" on We Will Fall: The Iggy PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
Tribute (Royalty RecordsRoyalty RecordsRoyalty Records is a Canadian country music record label and distributor established in 1974.-Royalty artists:* Roy Acuff* After Tuesday* Colin Amey* Sharon Anderson* Eddy Arnold* Gord Bamford* Tommy Banks* Bobby Bare* Barnes/Hampton* Eli Barsi...
, 1997) - "Political Asshole" on The Last Great Thing You Did (Lookout! Records, 1997)
- "Expiration Date" on Milkshake - A CD to Benefit the Harvey Milk Institute, (timmi-kat ReCoRDSTimmi-kat ReCoRDSTimmi-kat ReCoRDS is a micro-label based in Denair, California. It is owned by David Cole and Moon Trent. In 1998 they released "Milkshake - A CD to Benefit the Harvey Milk Institute". Featuring 15 unreleased tracks from fifteen bands, this indie label took a year to produce enough copies of this...
, 1998) - "Musclehead" on Forward 'Til Death: A Sampler Compilation (Lookout! Records, 1999)
- "Hockey Hair" on Puck Rock, Vol. 2 (Sudden Death RecordsSudden Death RecordsSudden Death Records is a Vancouver, British Columbia based record label run by Joe "Shithead" Keithley.Sudden Death Records arrived in Canada's burgeoning punk scene in 1978. It was only a part-time label until 1998, when they began to expand further into punk rock music...
, 2000) - "The Summer You Let Your Hair Grow Out (Live)" on Songs for Summer (Oglio RecordsOglio RecordsOglio Records is an American record company started in 1993 by Carl Caprioglio. They are well-known for issuing compilations of rare 1980's modern rock and New Wave songs, many of which were previously unreleased on CD...
, 2000) - "Used to Turn Me On (Demo)" on Lookout! Freakout (Lookout Records!, 2000)
- "Luv Luv Luv" on Bi the People: A Compilation of Bisexual Artists & Friends (Violent Yodel Records, 2003)
- "Luv Luv Luv" on Queer Stock Queer Soup (Queer Stock, 2003)
- "I Can Make You A Man" on The Rocky Horror Punk Rock ShowThe Rocky Horror Punk Rock ShowThe Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show is an album featuring the soundtrack of the 1975 cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show as performed by modern punk rock bands...
(Springman RecordsSpringman RecordsSpringman Records is an independent record label founded in 1998 by Avi Ehrlich that was run out of his parent's garage in Cupertino, California until late 2005, when Ehrlich moved the label to Sacramento...
, 2004) - "Musclehead" on Plea for Peace, Vol. 2' (Asian Man RecordsAsian Man RecordsAsian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
, 2007)
Soundtrack appearances
- "Deep Water" in Angus, directed by Patrick Read Johnson (1995)
- Queercore: A Punk-U-Mentary, directed by Scott TreleavenScott TreleavenScott Treleaven is a Canadian artist whose work employs a variety of media including collage, film, video, drawing, photography and installation.-Artwork:...
(1996) - Skin & Bone, directed by Everett LewisEverett LewisEverett Lewis is an American director, screenwriter and producer. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California...
(1996) - "Sweet Insecurity" and "Luv Luv Luv", LusterLuster (film)Luster also known as Muse is a 2002 gay-themed drama film written and directed by Everett Lewis. The film is about a weekend in the lives of a group of friends in the Los Angeles queer punk scene. Lewis sought to "infuse queerness" into the film as much as he could, so he cast a number of...
, directed by Everett Lewis (2002) - "First Betrayal" in Hellbent, directed by Paul Etheredge-Ouzts (2005)
- Pansy Division: Life In A Gay Rock Band (2008)
External links
- The Official Pansy Division Website
- Pansy Division’s page on their label, Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
website. - Pansy Division on MySpace