San Francisco's Pansy Division, the seminal queercore band, has been a trailblazer in the punk scene since their inception. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album Deflowered, the band is hitting the road for a series of West Coast shows, including an appearance at John Waters’ Mosswood Meltdown Festival on July 6th. The tour, which kicked off back in Birmingham, AL, on April 4th, and saw the band revisiting classic tracks from their storied discography.
Released in 1994 on Lookout! Records, Deflowered is often hailed as Pansy Division’s magnum opus. The album's blend of irreverence and poignancy was epitomized by tracks like the playful “Groovy Underwear” and the biting “Negative Queen.” All Music Guide praised the album as “wry, silly, and heartfelt,” a testament to the band’s ability to blend humor with earnestness in a genre that often leans heavily on bravado.
“Last year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of our first album, Undressed, and played a lot of songs from that album on tour,” says bassist and vocalist Chris Freeman. “This year, we'll be celebrating Deflowered and revisiting a lot of the songs from that album. It's such an honor to have people still interested in seeing us live after all these years, and we are grateful to still be able to give them a great show!”
Co-founder Jon Ginoli (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) reflects on the album's impact in a recent video, touching on its “dirty and sweet” lyrical balance, and the inclusion of a support group directory for LGBTQ+ youth in the liner notes. The band’s live performances, often featuring interpolations of Hanson’s “MMMBop” and Cher’s “Believe” into “Groovy Underwear,” highlight their playful yet poignant approach to queercore.
Pansy Division's legacy is marked by their unapologetic, sex-positive messaging and their commitment to queer visibility in punk rock. Their influence extends beyond their fanbase, inspiring artists like Rob Halford of Judas Priest and earning them a spot supporting Green Day on the Dookie tour in 1994.
Reflecting on the band’s journey, Jon notes, “There is so much queer visibility in music now that it’s almost dizzying. If more people had been out then, especially in rock, we might not have felt the need to start this band. But there wasn’t, so we did, and being so open, unapologetic, blunt, and fun about it means that it still resonates today.”
With Chris Freeman (bass, vocals), Jon Ginoli (vocals, rhythm guitar), Luis Illades (drums), and Joel Reader (guitar, vocals), Pansy Division continues to champion the queercore movement. Their upcoming tour is not just a celebration of Deflowered but a testament to their enduring impact on punk and queer music scenes alike.
NEW INTERVIEW:
July 5 – LOS ANGELES, CA The Lodge Room
July 6 – OAKLAND, CA Mosswood Meltdown Festival, hosted by John Waters
