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Although
Rock Music
has been closely associated with freedom of expression and rebelliousness,
it has frequently been hostile to gay and lesbian performers. |
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Joan Jett |
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Andy Bell (b.
1964) is a
singer and lyricist, and
half of the synth-pop
duo Erasure. Bell is one of the few openly gay, high-profile rock
musicians. |
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David Bowie (b.
1947), also
known as "The Dame," became a leading light in 1970s "glam rock," going
on to enjoy international superstar status, but his relationship to
queer culture is deeply contradictory. |
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 Ani DiFranco
(b. 1970) is
an openly bisexual singer who has been described as "the thinking
person's acoustic punk feminist." She has drawn on an eclectic mixture
of musical traditions to create a distinctive style. |
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Brian Epstein
(1934-1967)
created the public image and oversaw the career of the world's most
famous rock group, the Beatles. At the peak of his success he suffered
acute anxiety that his homosexuality might be exposed. |
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Melissa Etheridge
(b. 1961) is an award-winning rock singer and songwriter who has
not only managed to carve out a spectacularly successful career as a
popular mainstream performer, but has also become a lesbian icon and
activist for gay and lesbian causes. |
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David Geffen
(b. 1943) is a
controversial entertainment mogul and philanthropist who transformed
himself into one of the most successful people in the entertainment
industry; his 1992 declaration of his homosexuality only increased his
stature. |
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Boy George (b.
1961) is a pop
icon with a rich soulful voice who fronted the band Culture Club in the
1980s. The performer has survived homophobia, drug addiction, and his
own success. |
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Joan Jett
(b. 1960) is an
aggressive, punk-influenced guitarist and singer associated with the
"riot grrrl" phenomenon. Jett remains vital as a musician, producer,
and actor and has attracted a sizeable lesbian following. |
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Sir Elton John
(b. 1947)
is a pop superstar whose combination of melodic skills, dynamic
charisma, and raucous performance style have made him a remarkably
popular musical artist. |
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Janis Joplin
(1943-1970)
was as troubled as she was talented. The 1960s rock star and blues
singer created an enduring musical legacy that crosses barriers of
gender, race, and class. Though she never identified as bisexual, she
had affairs with both men and women. |
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Rock Music Part 1 is the first half of a two-part series.
Click here
to view Rock Music Part 2.
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Photo
Credits: The image of Joan Jett courtesy Blackheart Records.
The image of Ani DiFranco is a detail from a photograph by Danny Clin
courtesy Righteous Babe Records. |
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