So the singer guitarist of Against Me! has come out as a transsexual and is beginning transition. This band was huge for me years ago, and still one of my favorites. They are one of the most respected bands in the scene. I think this is a pretty big deal. See link below. Maybe this will help inspire me to stop ignoring my own issues..
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-gabel-of-against-me-comes-out-as-transgender-20120508 (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-gabel-of-against-me-comes-out-as-transgender-20120508)
I've heard of these guys, couldn't name a single song of theirs though. Good for her!!!
first? no i think you would find that woukd be jayne county , she was doing this back in the early 70s
well she wont be short on money for FFS and all the other stuff hahah
Quote from: Laura91 on May 09, 2012, 02:01:35 AM
I was thinking the same thing. I stick to the old bands so I have no idea about any new punk/hardcore bands.
ahaah me too the majority of music i listen to is from the 70s and 80s
looks very female but are those reallly tattooed legs?
Quote from: lilacwoman on May 09, 2012, 02:14:56 AM
looks very female but are those reallly tattooed legs?
yea its just black bands tattoed on , sort of tribal i guess
Yeah, I heard about this on Tumblr <3
Though there's always that theory that Kurt Cobain was a repressed trans woman-hey, it's more likely than the theory that Courtney Love killed him/her!
I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but what about Jayne County (aka Wayne County, aka Wayne Rogers)?
See "Wayne County and the Electric Chairs" - pioneer punk rockers
I wonder if she'll use a female voice to sing... For some reason, I was thinking about this situation about a week ago. Not this exact event, but a similar situation. How awesome of her to make it public! This will definitely inspire some and maybe make others more accepting!
Quote from: mementomori on May 09, 2012, 02:00:53 AM
well she wont be short on money for FFS and all the other stuff hahah
Marissa Martinez is going to be so jealous. ;)
Also let's not forget Wendy Carlos...
Quote: Gabel only told a handful of family and friends about her plan to transition before talking to Rolling Stone. Because this is the first time a major rock star has come out as transgender
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-gabel-of-against-me-comes-out-as-transgender-20120508#ixzz1uPPAg12s (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-gabel-of-against-me-comes-out-as-transgender-20120508#ixzz1uPPAg12s)
What bull! there are loads of rock stars who came out as transgender! what about Marcie (Mark) Free? now that was mega!
and as Jamie says there was Jayne County (aka Wayne County) who was one of the first punk rock transitions to be widely publicized in the late 1970's.
By the way I'd never heard of Against Me until today!
I've been a fan of Against Me for about 10 years, although I don't really follow their newer music. I was so happy and excited to hear about this! Definitely one of the bands that inspired me a lot as I was figuring out a lot of stuff in my own life. Can't wait to read the full article.
Quote from: jxpx on May 10, 2012, 12:09:27 PM
I've been a fan of Against Me for about 10 years, although I don't really follow their newer music. I was so happy and excited to hear about this! Definitely one of the bands that inspired me a lot as I was figuring out a lot of stuff in my own life. Can't wait to read the full article.
You should listen to the solo album that the frontman (well, in this case woman) made.
In my opinion, it's pretty badass.
It all depends on your age and musical tastes. I liked Against Me! in the late 90's early 2000's. Loud, heartfelt punk, they didn't get lumped in the emo box much back in the day, but Against Me! means more to a lot of people <30 than Marci Free or Jayne County (they have no clue who they are). Tom Gable was the epitome of a frontman in a punk band, but had a sensitivity about him that I related too, like I did a lot of other bands at the time (Texas is the Reason, Promise Ring, Mineral, Gloria Record...look them up on youtube). It just goes to show, you can't judge a book by it's cover, right? Punk rock lead guy, nooooo way he could identify as female. Yeah, I can relate to that feeling, lol.
this is all anyone posts about on fb now. and the slew of tom gabel jokes is ridiculous.
on one hand its helped me see how some people view the whole matter without having to confront them.
but overall its dont nothing but make me feel like a joke to my friends. I'll wait for it to become old news.
good for her though really. although the money wont be an issue as it is with many of us coming out as a famous person is hard in the way that you are the focus of everyone attention.
Quote from: Ekuryua on May 11, 2012, 06:24:00 AM
this is all anyone posts about on fb now. and the slew of tom gabel jokes is ridiculous.
on one hand its helped me see how some people view the whole matter without having to confront them.
but overall its dont nothing but make me feel like a joke to my friends. I'll wait for it to become old news.
good for her though really. although the money wont be an issue as it is with many of us coming out as a famous person is hard in the way that you are the focus of everyone attention.
I first saw this on Facebook. With the 300+ people that I'm friends with on there, maybe 50 or 60 commented on it and it was for the most part all positive. There were a lot who surprised me and I never thought they would have been supportive of this. I had a few that started spouting off stuff about god, sin, and going to hell. They got de-freinded pretty fast.
Best of luck Laura!! nice choice of last name ;) "Grace" is what the G after mine is :)
There seems to be an uncomfortable "back story" brewing about this person, I hope its just rumors but there are multiple sources bringing it up.
This is one of the reasons I haven't "gone public" yet...I'm sure it would be all over my male dominated industry magazines as well :( slowly getting to the point that I don't really care if it does actually...I just want to be a happier "me"!!
sometimes it sux to be well known
Quote from: MeghanAndrews on May 11, 2012, 01:29:28 AM
It all depends on your age and musical tastes. I liked Against Me! in the late 90's early 2000's. Loud, heartfelt punk, they didn't get lumped in the emo box much back in the day, but Against Me! means more to a lot of people <30 than Marci Free or Jayne County (they have no clue who they are). Tom Gable was the epitome of a frontman in a punk band, but had a sensitivity about him that I related too, like I did a lot of other bands at the time (Texas is the Reason, Promise Ring, Mineral, Gloria Record...look them up on youtube). It just goes to show, you can't judge a book by it's cover, right? Punk rock lead guy, nooooo way he could identify as female. Yeah, I can relate to that feeling, lol.
There is probably a huge age difference as I'd never heard of 'Against Me' until this thread came up. But I am very familiar with Marcie Free and Jayne County who were very big in their respective era's (Marcie Free in the 1990's with King Cobra and Unruly Child and Jayne County in the late 1970's with the Electric Chairs).
Did 'against me' have any hit records? I am from the U.K which is probably why I hadn't heard of Against Me. I also thought punk rock died out in 1979 and wasn't aware that now 33 years later there's a punk revival? I'm guessing I probably wouldn't like their music as I didn't like punk rock the first time around!
Against Me! was a well-known band in punk circles but those circles aren't, or weren't until recently, really the majority of music listeners. Punk never stopped existing after 1979 it just morphed into No Wave, New Wave, Post Punk, Emo, Screamo, Gutter Punk, Riot Grrrl, etc. In male-dominated punk circles that Against Me! was pretty much a part of, they were pretty big. This is their most popular song. I forgot how much I liked them. The song after it is a song by them from this year called "Transexual Dysphoria Blues." It reminds me of my own transition a little, going from the person people view as the guy in that band to the more sensitive type, longer hair, etc.
Against Me! - "Thrash Unreal"
Against Me! - Thrash Unreal (Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzJ21OpFnZ0&ob=av2e#)
Against Me! - "Transgender Dysphoria Blues"
Tom Gabel - Transgender Dysphoria Blues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMh4DclBNJg#)
I think its really cool what she is doing. I did read about it on one of the UK news sites, (daily mail).
After reading it and thinking 'Aww, thats so cute they are happy together" I made the mistake of reading through the comments, some were positive, but there are a load on there that are like this:
"freak!"
"thats disgusting"
"that poor kid, having a ->-bleeped-<- dad"
Anyway, the one comment that got me thinking was the one about the kid. Poor kid... really? Two parents who love each other and there child, are staying together, have an interesting life, and a nice income. The only thing thats going to be bad is the way the people that are making those comments in the first place act!
I had two hetero 'normal' parents, and it did'nt work out well for me, I was abused and neglected, and ended up in hospital and almost died. Its bad people that should'nt be parents, not people who are gay or TG or whatever! They are basically saying gay or TG people should'nt have kids, when the only issue i can see is that bigoted people don't keep their mouths shut.
Sorry for the rant, i just got wound up and had to vent!
Quote from: MeghanAndrews on May 12, 2012, 10:34:39 AM
Against Me! was a well-known band in punk circles but those circles aren't, or weren't until recently, really the majority of music listeners. Punk never stopped existing after 1979 it just morphed into No Wave, New Wave, Post Punk, Emo, Screamo, Gutter Punk, Riot Grrrl, etc. In male-dominated punk circles that Against Me! was pretty much a part of, they were pretty big. This is their most popular song. I forgot how much I liked them. The song after it is a song by them from this year called "Transexual Dysphoria Blues." It reminds me of my own transition a little, going from the person people view as the guy in that band to the more sensitive type, longer hair, etc.
Against Me! - "Thrash Unreal"
Against Me! - Thrash Unreal (Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzJ21OpFnZ0&ob=av2e#)
Against Me! - "Transgender Dysphoria Blues"
Tom Gabel - Transgender Dysphoria Blues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMh4DclBNJg#)
I played the clips and they sound absolutely nothing like punk rock! they are really good and remind me a little of Nickleback! I prefer the first song better than the second.
Lol, the definition of punk has changed over the years. Nickelback, lol, that's funny. I think you almost have to know their significance in the genre to appreciate who they are as a band. It's not Sex Pistols, Sham 69, British stuff of the 70's, a lot different but a lot of the same kind of message: "I'm going to do what I'm going to do, have my tats, wear what I want and I don't care what you say!" A lot of the later stuff into the mid - late 80's became more personal and less politically charged, more like, hmm, to quote one of my main bands of my youth, Rites of Spring, which to me, kind of personifies the movement toward the personal from political in punk music (1985-ish) in their song "Theme":
Cruelty is the better part of your honesty
And when you're so direct its just for yourself to protect
And if I started crying, would you start crying?
Now I started crying - why are you not crying?
Sometimes--when I--see a world inside
Sometimes--when I--I try--I really try
And hope's just another rope to hang myself with
To tie me down till something real comes around
And if I started crying would you start crying?
And if I started crying why are you not crying?"
I think with Against Me! it's the same kind of principal. Their earlier work was very much political and focused on the business of music, but in the mid to late 2000's they got a lot more personal with their lyrics like this:
"Because of the shame I associate with vulnerability
I am numbing myself completely.
Can you hear me right now?
I watched your mother bury you today, with tears in her eyes.
It wasn't her words that shook me, it was the resemblance you shared.
Don't it feel so detached and unreal? Don't it seem so far away?
Like the past never happened, or like nothings ever changed.
With your casket open in front of me,
your eyes closed and your lips silent.
With my name tattoo'd into your skin."
I dunno, I can't listen to Nickelback and hear Against Me! but it might just be because I'm really in tune with the genre. You know, where's Tekla? I figured I'd be hearing some Tekla thoughts on this one. TEKLA! Where are you???
Punk Music to me means... The Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Misfits, Black Flag, Social Distortion, NOFX, Rancid... and most famous currently today Green Day.
Many would say GD are no longer punk as they are "too mainstream"... but I still like like em. And BillieJoe is a cutie. :icon_yes:
Punk is dead! >:-) >:-)
That is so awesome! See, things are changing! Hopefully someday soon, I can start putting my comics out there, where a few of my main characters are trans superheroes still in the early stages of transition. I honestly know of only one trans superhero and even she/he isn't all that clear cut. They're more... well, genderqueer, I guess. The other I know of is a shapeshifting skrull, who is a male scrull - genetically - but prefers to be in female human form. These cases are almost like beating around the bush of trans theory and concept in comic books. Meanwhile, there are plenty of openly gay and lesbian comic book characters. Meh...
All in due time, I suppose. Sorry to go off topic. :P
Quote from: JennX on May 15, 2012, 07:08:28 AM
Punk Music to me means... The Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Misfits, Black Flag, Social Distortion, NOFX, Rancid... and most famous currently today Green Day.
Many would say GD are no longer punk as they are "too mainstream"... but I still like like em. And BillieJoe is a cutie. :icon_yes:
Punk really originated in the USA in 1974 with the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop. It was then taken and re-packaged in the U.K by the Sex Pistols and the Clash etc in 1976 - 1977. Punk then developed into new wave at the end of the 1970's and early 80's.
The pictures I've seen of the guy from 'Against me' wouldn't immediately make me think he had gender dysphoria. From what I remember both Wayne County and Mark Free appeared feminine and were pushing their femininity long before their transitions.
Has anyone read the Rolling Stone article? Someone left the issue in the lunchroom at work today. I grabbed it because it was about Game of Thrones and didn't even notice the headline until later in the day. I immediately picked it up and started reading. It's interesting and familiar, all at once. Didn't get to finish it yet, though.
I went and got that issue today..the story was touching, funny, and very familiar. When I was younger I didnt really get punk, it wasnt until the last few years that I started liking it and against me was one of my fav newer bands. I would always listen to them on my way to "meetings" in the early days of my transition and never would have guessed at the implications...best wishes to her!
I read the Rolling Stone article just recently but she is not the first well known "transgender" musician, there have been many. She might be the first transsexual MtF rocker though.
Link to article (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-secret-life-of-transgender-rocker-tom-gabel-20120531)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.rollingstone.com%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fstory%2Fthe-secret-life-of-transgender-rocker-tom-gabel-20120531%2F1000x306%2Fmain.jpg&hash=d22835b27259c264f44f2c41a21db273502a9921)
Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on November 03, 2012, 10:07:53 PM
I read the Rolling Stone article just recently but she is not the first well known "transgender" musician, there have been many. She might be the first transsexual MtF rocker though.
Link to article (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-secret-life-of-transgender-rocker-tom-gabel-20120531)
Jayne County was the first well known punk rock transgendered transsexual over 30 year ago!
I'm old enough to remember punk from the first time and can assure you it certainly isn't dead.Visit the Rebellion punk festival a 4 day event in Blackpool in early August and see for yourself.I went to 3 of the last 4 no trouble no transphobia no attitude lost my voice stiff as a board lost my hearing it was great!
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on May 16, 2012, 06:19:32 AM
Punk really originated in the USA in 1974 with the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop. It was then taken and re-packaged in the U.K by the Sex Pistols and the Clash etc in 1976 - 1977. Punk then developed into new wave at the end of the 1970's and early 80's.
The pictures I've seen of the guy from 'Against me' wouldn't immediately make me think he had gender dysphoria. From what I remember both Wayne County and Mark Free appeared feminine and were pushing their femininity long before their transitions.
i wouldn't quite call the following band punk, but they're interesting to hear
Q 65 - You're the victor ( rare live 1966) Dutch freakbeat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ely2_vKrX5w#)
i'm sure you're already familiar with punk's roots in garage music, but something about this particular track is just really punk
you can hear some of the sound on unused portions from the sessions of miles davis' on the corner, although i can't find the relevant tracks on youtube