Fagatron
Fagatron was a short-lived but influential punk rock band in the Queercore movement which gained a small cult following for its emphasis on radical politics and queer identity.[1] It was formed in 1996 by Abe Miner and Jeromy Ogg of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Fagatron | |
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Origin | Lincoln, Nebraska |
Genres | |
Years active | 1996-1998, 2002-2007 |
Labels | Agitprop! Records |
Past members |
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History
Fagatron was formed in 1996 by seventeen-year-olds Jeromy Ogg and Abe Miner, inspired by British anarcho-punk, noise rock and hardcore punk.[2] The band was named by combining the reclaimed slur fag and the name of the powerviolence band Armortron.[3] After a tour in the Midwest United States, the band went on a hiatus from 1998 to 2002.[4]
They released their self-titled full-length record, 17 minutes in length and with 13 songs, on Agitprop! Records in 2002. Fagatron's music, composed of bass guitar, drums, and vocals, focused on themes such as gay culture, individualism, and contemporary US society.[5] Their music was featured in two compilation albums focused on the queercore genre. Asskickatron and Punk You are both in the 2000 compilation CD Homocore Minneapolis: Live And Loud released by Lefty Records, alongside queercore bands like Tribe 8 and The Butchies. Asskickatron is on an Agitprop! compilation CD as well, Stand Up and Fucking Fight for it! Queers In Hardcore And Punk.[6]
Reception
Though much of their activity was underground, Fagatron received some media attention due to their intensity. Curran Nault in Queercore: Queer Punk Media Subculture described Fagatron's anthem "Asskickatron" as "the melding of confrontational queer politics and abrasive punk aesthetics made manifest".[7] Their lyrics, according to Dave White of The Advocate, are "goofily witty and vigorous."[5]
References
- Ciminelli, David; Knox, Ken (2005). Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock. Alyson Books. ISBN 978-1-55583-855-3.
- Wenz, John (April 19, 2011). ""Asskickatron" by Fagatron - Echoes". Hear Nebraska. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- "Meet Plack Blague: Industrial-Dance "Leather Band" Endorsed by Rob Halford". Revolver. June 27, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- Wiedlack, Katharina (2015). Queer-feminist punk : an anti-social history. Zaglossus. p. 66. ISBN 978-3-902902-27-6. OCLC 940421663.
- White, Dave (October 1, 2002). "Screamers". The Advocate. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- Stand Up and Fucking Fight for It: Queers in Hardcore and Punk - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved August 26, 2021
- Nault, Curran (August 7, 2017). Queercore: Queer Punk Media Subculture. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-315-31784-7.