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In this age of book burning, let’s share queer history!
Rock Music Has Always Been Queer
Celebrating what’s new and old in this queer old world
All I really need to say is Little Richard. We were fortunate to have his queer self, shouting “Wop Bop A Loo Bop…” for decades even if he decided to embrace something different towards his end, a veritable come-to-Jesus life moment.
I am a fortunate man to have lived my life in the entirety of the Rock and Roll (and by this I mean to embrace R&B, Folk, Country, Soul, and then all the branches springing from the big river) era. One of my old friends says repeatedly that we’ve lived in the time of the greatest music, and while I agree — since it’s the only time I’ve known consciously — I do recognize that previous generations loved what they listened to, even if it was only what was on the radio or an old victrola, or simply at barn dances and house parties way out in the rural world so close to you and me, actually.
My old friend likely doesn’t care for today’s music, though, and when we talk he usually extols the virtues of older acts like Traffic, The Allman Brothers, Santana or maybe Jethro Tull. Not that I don’t like the classic rock of my teen years, sure I do. But — and this is no surprise if you’ve followed me for even a…
