Rolling Stone Talks w/ Queercore Luminaries Pansy Division + Political Single "Blame The Bible", 9th Studio LP Out Sept. 9
Discuss 25th Anniversary, Continuing Political Punk Dialogue +
Reveal 2nd Single “Blame The Bible” with Rolling Stone Today
9th Studio Album Quite Contrary Out 9/9
on Alternative Tentacles + National Fall Tour
Legendary queercore punk band Pansy Division have returned after seven years to celebrate their 25 year anniversary with their 9th studio album Quite Contrary, out September 9 on Alternative Tentacles. Revered for challenging gay rights issues, “Blame The Bible” is strapped with a catchy melody and politically pungent lyrics pointed at the current Presidential election. A follow up to the the driving alt-punk guitar fuzz of lead single “He’s Trouble”, the band reveals “Blame The Bible” alongside a Rolling Stone feature out today.
Pansy Division was founded in San Francisco in 1991 by guitarist/singer Jon Ginoli who is joined by bassist/singer Chris Freeman, guitarist/singer Joel Reader and drummer Luis Illades. The first group to be so open with their sexuality, not only did their music and stance defy stereotypic norms of rock musicians being openly gay, they also broke gay cultural stereotypes that rock wouldn’t interest gay people. Raised on a diet of 60s pop and 70s punk, their sound was suitably crunchy and catchy as hell. The fourteen tracks on Quite Contrary feature the group’s signature tongue-in-cheek lyrics and infectious melodies woven with profound and topical discussions.
Beginning in 1993, they put out an album a year for six years on Lookout Records. Their music caught the attention of former Lookout labelmates Green Day, who took Pansy Division out on tour in 1994 at the height of the mania surrounding their breakthrough album Dookie. 2009 saw the release of the band’s last album That’s So Gay, which was raucous and raunchy as ever, a documentary film about the band,Pansy Division: Life In A Gay Rock Band, which played numerous film festivals worldwide, and Jon’s memoir Deflowered: My Life In Pansy Division, of his stories and experiences in the band.
Catch Pansy Division on tour this fall! Full list of dates below or click HERE.
9/20: Somerville, MA @ ONCE Ballroom
9/21: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
9/22: Washington, DC @ Hill Country Live DC
9/23: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
9/24: Brooklyn, NY @ Sunnyvale
11/4: San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
11/5: Long Beach, CA @ Alex’s Bar
11/6: Palm Springs, CA @ Pride Festival
11/9: Seattle, WA @ Funhouse
11/10: Portland, OR @ Dante’s
11/11: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
11/12: Los Angeles, CA @ Viper Room
Photo Credit: Martin Meyers
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