Pansy Division is a band that has come up with some songs that I feel are pretty cool and that I enjoy listening to. I can't discourse at length about the mechanics and merits of their music because that's not me. I can't do that for any particular song or band. However, I do know what I like and I like what I hear. I also tend to like to find out about the history of bands, singers and musicians that interest me; for some reason I find that immensely fascinating. Those are the basic reasons of why I jumped at the chance to review Jon's memoir, Deflowered - My Life in Pansy Division.
You can read or listen to dozens of interviews and you can scour fan sites and official band sites but the ultimate source of band history for me is in book form; preferably by someone in the band itself. The inside story, one on one; which is what Deflowered is. And in this particular case it’s a very significant memoir because it's the story of the first openly gay pop-punk band; told by the front man himself.
One of my most frequent regrets is that I've never had the nerve to go to a Pansy Division concert. I always wondered what it was like; being in the closet can really hold a guy back from enjoying life. By the time I was Out and comfortable with myself, Pansy Division wasn't touring anywhere near me. So, it was interesting and neat to read about all those missed opportunities. Sounds kind of weird but I took great delight in reading Jon's accounts of these tours and concerts that were either too far to go to or too close for comfort.
The story starts out with an interesting prologue before moving on to the beginning of Jon's life and journey as a musician, and of course moves on through the years of high and low points of forming and maintaining the band. The story is told partially through what I considered fairly detailed recollections as well as tour diary entries. This made for an interesting blend in narrative I thought. Although I've always thought that it must be a tough life being an indie musician, Deflowered certainly confirmed it and gave me an even greater appreciation for Pansy Division and other indie bands. The book also gave me a better insight into how a lot of bands and labels operate.
I think the best part about this book is that it was indeed written by Jon. If Deflowered had been a biography, it just wouldn't have had that personal touch that you need for such a story. I think Jon has managed to paint a pretty good self-portrait of himself his band and its history. Deflowered - My Life in Pansy Division is a good book for anyone who loves unabashedly 'queer music' and a must for any Pansy Division fan.
You can find out more and order Deflowered from Amazon or directly from Cleis Press.
Related Link: Pansy Division's Site
Related Posts:
- Jon Ginoli on His Memoir
- Featured Music Video from Pansy Division
