Gays and Prog Rock

Hi there, everyone! I'm new here to the Prog Archives and the forum. I tried a search for this topic but did not find this discussed...

I am curious to know if progressive rock has any openly gay musicians (gay, lesbian, transgendered...) among the roster of artists that are covered on this Prog Archives. I follow many styles of music and know of musicians who are out-of-the-closet  in pop, jazz, electronic, country, etc. With progressive rock being so wildly imaginative I would think it would attract people from many walks of life, and hellllOOO... not to mention some of the outfits worn by prog bands in the 70's!

also...

If there are any gay forum members what is the appeal to progressive rock to you, besides just loving it because it's great music. For me I found the appeal of progressive rock in that it was a refuge from some of the more flamboyantly macho rock bands on the FM dial. I like that progressive rock isn't afraid to explore territory that could be classified as having a "feminized" sound or qualities (i.e, flute solos, men singing in higher registers, songs about unicorns, whatever). For example, Wind and Wuthering is my favorite Genesis album and I remember Tony Banks once describing it as being a feminine album. In other bands I like the dynamics in prog music between agressive passages and meditative ones.

I'm a gay guy myself, but not a musician. btw.

Freddie Mercury is the only guy I can think of, but that's not even that proggy...

Hmmmm... I really can't think of anyone else that comes to mind!

EDIT: Above poster beat me to it...

P.S. welcome to the site!


Edited by OzzProg - May 27 2009 at 20:46

catfood03 wrote: For me I found the appeal of progressive rock in that it was a refuge from some of the more flamboyantly macho rock bands on the FM dial. I like that progressive rock isn't afraid to explore territory that could be classified as having a "feminized" sound or qualities (i.e, flute solos, men singing in higher registers, songs about unicorns, whatever).

You must not like much prog metal then.

I kind of see your point about the femininity though, especially with the more whimsical and romantic symphonic prog (especially Italian prog... nothing more romantic and emotional then that, imho). I like music that worries more about intellectuality than anything else. I'm not quite sure why but prog seems overall a very male dominated community, though... I can't think of a single female I personally know who would claim that their favorite music is prog rock. But my mom certainly likes most of the seventies stuff, especially Yes and Rush, even some prog metal like Symphony X, Royal Hunt, and DT, but she's the only female I know who listens to any prog at all.

Basically I'm not so sure if prog really has any gender applications, really.

To answer your original question, though, I can't think of any artists off hand who have proclaimed to be of the more unconventional sexuality... I think it's not usually something musicians overall worry much about, really. We care about how good you play and sound, period. The jazz movements in America certainly helped spur this mentality, for most black and white musicians really didn't care about any of that stuff... music, in a sense, is the universal equalizer! Please anyone feel free to correct me if I'm off on a point.

Isa wrote: You must not like much prog metal then.

Actually, I quite do! I love the new Mastodon CD and a fan of Mike Patton's more prog-metal oriented stuff (Fantomas and Mr.Bungle) to name a couple.

Isa wrote: We care about how good you play and sound, period.

Amen!

Isa wrote: Please anyone feel free to correct me if I'm off on a point.

Nope, sounds like a good statement to me.

As I was searching for a name in the back of my mind I remembered that Doug Pinnick, singer for the band King's X (who is covered on this site), came out as gay and has been open about it for many years now.

Interesting to read about his decision to come out, considering his band was very popular in Christian Rock circles in their heyday.

hmmm I struggle to think of any.I think many have their doubts about Phil Collins though lol.

Is there no wikipedia page entitled homosexual prog rock musicians? If not we should make one.

Pete Townshend...and Bowie.
All I can think of.


Edited by zachfive - May 27 2009 at 22:44

Tchaikovsky is prog right? More prog than Queen anyway. :P

King Crimson776 wrote: Tchaikovsky is prog right? More prog than Queen anyway. :P

I read somewhere that Bowie was something of a 'closet heterosexual' and was mostly just fascinated by bisexual culture when he 'came out'... might have been wiki though, which isnt always 100% accurate