Smells Like Queer Spirit
I’m not a musician. Even in the punk sense that “anyone” can make music, it just isn’t in my blood. Sure, as a faggot I have a better sense of rhythm than your average straight white boy, and in the rare event that the spirit moves me, I can belt out a show tune like a drag diva. But that’ll only take you so far.
But if I was a musician, I’d want to be a member of Pansy Division. Queer. Punk. Horny.
So you can imagine how excited I was when the world’s punkest queer band played a concert here in puritan West Michigan. They were touring as the opening act with Green Day, who were themselves pretty “fringe” at the time, and local ska legends Mustard Plug (also still at it these days) filled the With Special Guest slot.
Ordinarily I do all the lettering work on the JAQrabbit Tales, because 1) I can, 2) it’s free, 3) it gives me the freedom to revise the dialog to work better with the finished art, and 4) it gives some visual consistency to the series. But Jonathan said he wanted to integrate the lyrics into the art, and the result is a great example of why lettering is an art form and not just a matter of typing.
Of course before we could do that, we needed permission. Borrowing a title for a story (something I’ve done on other Tales) or quoting a line or two from a song as “background music” is one thing, but two whole pages of the song lyrics as the full text of the story … that needed the OK of the folks that created it. I contacted Pansy Division co-founders Jon Ginoli and Chris Freeman (figuring either of the two could give us clearance), and each of them gave their OK.
Pansy Division’s multi-faceted, queer-attitude, sex-celebrating music has been a big inspiration to me over the years, and definitely contributed to me producing this whole comix series, so I’m glad to have the chance to pay tribute to that with this Tale.
1994 I had just turned 40! Tom Robinson had performed GAY POWER at NYC Pride and scared the gentrified gay boys in the Village. But Pansy Division had played CBGBS and walloped the punk scene. Such great music and my rock n roll cred seemed to make my age a non-issue. Or maybe it was my pot? Lulz. So much great music!
Pot can bring people together like nothing else can.
I would’ve loved to have seen that Tom Robinson performance (but I was living a sheltered life in the Midwest).
Going one on one, guys won’t accept your touuuuuch. But they will gladly take it wheeeen, it’s anonymouuuuus.
How I miss the 90’s. It’s a shame too that there are so few bands carrying Pansy Division’s torch.
The Pansies are still active, but not so much as in olden days. And yeah: the world would be a better place with more queercore.
I read Jon Ginoli’s book “Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division” and LOVED it! I felt like I was on tour with the band. These guys never made much money but had such passion for their music and their mission. It’s a really good story and a great read.
I love this celebration of Pansy Division. I hope people read this and find out more about them. What they were doing back in the 90s was so exciting and fearless. These guys should always be remembered as heroes in our movement.
Aside for that, I loved this episode. Great art and and exciting story. I love the magic of meeting a stranger and then sharing something intimate and warm. It’s exciting and life-affirming. This story seems to be about two people who left the other just a little happier than they were before they met. That’s a beautiful thing.
Yes, he had a beautiful thing. So did we.
And I even got a cool hat out of it!
Oh god. Mustard Plug and an old theater. I think I had sudden flashback to every concert at the State I ever went to.
The State Theater is also a wonderful place.
MUSTARD PLUG. yes.
Yes!