Glam rock: GayC/DC tribute band grew up listening to the likes of AC/DC. Photo: GayC/DC Facebook
We’ve all loved the camp bitchiness of RuPaul’s Drag Race and danced our way through Kylie’s latest ‘country’ phase, but how about a bit of gay heavy metal? Just for balance, like.
Don’t worry if you haven’t got any Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath in your playlist yet, because gay tribute rock fellas GayC/DC are hoping to fill that gap.
GayC/DC: Heavy metal gets a fab makeover. Photo: GayC/DC Facebook
Yep, they’re a gay tribute act to AC/DC, possibly the most heterosexual rock band ever to hit the airwaves. And they’re taking the 70s rock band’s music and giving it a totally fabulous gay twist.
AC/DC hit Problem Child is renamed Bottom Child, by the gay tribute act. Whole Lotta Rosie is reinvented as Whole Lotta Jose and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is reworked as Dirty Dudes Done Dirty Cheap.
The question is, why has a group of older gay men in Los Angeles decided to take on the gods of hetero heavy metal?
Band grew up listening to heavy metal
‘I grew up listening to AC/DC, they’re part of my DNA,’ said drummer Brian Welch in an interview with heavy rock news site Loudersound.com.
‘But that whole ‘boy/girl/boy bangs girl’ thing wasn’t something I could relate to. I wanted the songs to speak to me and that’s a big reason we started this band. Now, those iconic songs can speak to others who felt the way I did’, he told the rock music website.
‘And who can resist taking it to the most fabulous extreme? We love AC/DC. That’s why we do the music spot on, but have a bit of cheeky fun changing the lyrics around’.
Old rockers: Original band AC/DC still draws huge crowds. Photo: ACDC.com
GayC/DC’s singer Chris Freeman told the site he also felt drawn to the straight band. ‘For me, the whole experience of AC/DC is dripping with macho heterosexuality, and that part was hard for me to relate to. But I loved the music, that part I could relate to.’
The gay tribute group got together four years ago and according to Louder.com has been going from strength to strength. It’s popularity has been boosted by a video of them playing at LA infamous Viper Room.
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Who GayC/DC would makeover if they did Queer Eye
The band was asked if it were to film a programme in the style of A Queer Eye, but about ageing rockers, which rock star would you pick, and why?
‘Robert Plant: a nice hot oil treatment would do wonders!’ Said drummer Welch. ‘Ozzy: why has Sharon not done something about those split ends?
‘But in all honesty, hats off to anyone over the age of 45 who’s out on stage, giving it their all every night. Because we are too. We certainly do salute you!’
And we salute GayC/DC. Now where’s that old leather jacket…
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