Guns and Roses

If you only watch one Guns and Roses video this year, let it be this one.



I never saw them live, but I did see one of their concerts on MTV. Axel Rose didn't sing quite as well as he did in the above video.

Seriously.

Still waiting for that new Axel Rose solo CD to come out. Should be any year now.

Super Junior's Supper Happy Gay Video

Update:

Perhaps I was too quick to pronounce Dong Bang Shin Gi as the brightest flamers in the K-pop world. An alert reader made me aware of this you tube video. Watch it with someone you love.

Original Post

Since there doesn't seem to be much in the news these days over here in Korea, I thought it would be a good time to update my loyal viewers on the latest happenings in the Korean Pop world.

The new single from Super Junior that you all have been waiting for is finally out. It's called  행복. The obvious English translation for that word is 'happiness', but of all the English words that share that meaning, the word 'gay' might have been a better choice to capture all the major themes in the video.

This video (click here to see it) is great because it just shows the Super Juniors as real people, not some big shot egotistical music stars. Just like your normal Korean male teenagers, they wake up in the morning, put on their hot pink pants one leg at a time, spend several hours getting their hair primped  and their lipstick, eye-liner and rouge just right, go to the gym and play all sorts of giggly-fun games with each other and sneak in a little kiss on the cheek every now and then if they feel a bit saucy.  See here for more Super Junior fun.

Yeah, the kids are alright.

For those of you who read this blog who are not familiar with Korea, this is a very fair representation of the average male Korean teenager. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  Oh sure, they all wear their school uniforms in public, but when they get home they all head straight for their pink shirts and make up and take turns doing each other's hair. Every single one of them. No exceptions. Not one.

If by chance you think the Super Juniors have what it takes to replace Dong Bang Shin Gi as the Big Kahuna's of the Korean Gay Wave, I present this video from the Dong Bangers for your consideration. Warning: not work safe, nor is it particularly 'home safe' either (not the kind of video you want your family or friends to catch you watching).

The real entertainment begins when you read the comments below the clip and see their fans try to deny that there is anything gay about that video. Ah, got to love the cute little innocents.

A question for all of you to ponder. Why is that Asian girls get off on gay guy love while their western counterparts would vomit profusely if forced to watch these kinds of videos? What are the long term ramifications of a whole generation of young Asian girls attracted to boys who look more feminine than they do? Are these not questions that demand answers? 

Selected Comments from Previous Blog

Comments

Whackin' that gay hornet's nest again, I see.

Posted by: jag | July 27, 2007 at 04:50 AM

Ryan Seacrest just said "Holy shit that's gay!"

Posted by: iheartblueballs | July 29, 2007 at 02:29 AM

I wish SES made videos like that. I'd be all over Bada and Eugene touching each other and making goo-goo eyes at one another.

Posted by: Brian | July 30, 2007 at 01:51 AM

More Crudder! More Cru...oh wait. Wrong blog.

Posted by: Hugh | July 30, 2007 at 07:41 PM

Blueballs: Ryan Seacrest is not gay. It was Simon Cowell who sucked off Ryan, not the other way around, so stop with the slander.

PS. Get a blog already. I'm tired of having to scroll down for your comments over at Marmot's Hole. Otherwise, I'm considering cutting and pasting your comments over at Marmot's on to my blog and claiming them as my own.

Brian: Considering the levels of slutitude female Korean pop singers are already lowering themselves to, your wish may soon be granted.

Hugh: To be confused, even temporarily, with the great Ed Crudder is indeed an honor. The man is a model for all expats in Korea.

Posted by: partypooper | August 01, 2007 at 01:05 AM

I correctly predicted that the guy shaving would kiss the other guy and leave some shaving cream on his cheek. Do I get a prize?

Posted by: Brian | August 01, 2007 at 05:20 AM

That video is fag-tastic.

Bum-suk: "I'm going to shower"

So-hung: "You wanna me to wash your back?"

Bum-suk: "No, I wanna you to do a dirty sanchez, felch, teabag, and rusty trombone on me. Then we lucky pierre with Yu-suk."

Posted by: Yes, It's a Gigantic Panda | August 02, 2007 at 05:58 AM

Even the fat guy is gay-pretty now.

Posted by: Paul | August 02, 2007 at 08:49 AM

I often read your blog and am entertained by your hilarious exaagerations, but then I ran across this. You are not exaagerating one bit here nad it scares me.

Those guys do not qualify for penises. I want to find them and use a machete to do their transgender surgery. I would just be worried they would try to hit on me.

The danger of having an entire generation of girls grow up in love with guys gayer than them, is that they will enter college, realize that they want a real man and find someone outside of Asia. Sorry all you Korean men.

No wonder these male she-bands are so scared and try everything to get out of military duty. I can only imagine the ass-whipping they get from real men in the military. Imagine if one of these fags was your tae-kwon-do partner. You would bust him up.

I can only say amen to the commenter above who wrote: "I wish SES made videos like that. I'd be all over Bada and Eugene touching each other and making goo-goo eyes at one another." I loved SES before they broke up. This producer needs to get SES together and produce their videos again. I would go for a free hug from Eugene or Pada.

Posted by: Faggots Gather Here! | August 02, 2007 at 05:53 PM

"Imagine if one of these fags was your tae-kwon-do partner. You would bust him up."

Just so you know 2 members of Super Junior - Sungmin and Hankyung know martial arts. lol It'll be sad day when a gay man beats -your- ass.

Posted by: Huzzah | August 02, 2007 at 07:30 PM

OMFG !!!!
ARE YOU HUMANS ???
OH NO !!
YOU PEOPLE MUST
GO TO HELL !!!!
OMFG !!!!
ARE YOU HUMANS ???
OH NO !!
YOU PEOPLE MUST
GO TO HELL !!!!

[original comment repeats the same message about 50 times. That's just how angry little polly is]

Posted by: polly | August 03, 2007 at 05:06 AM

On a more serious note, I find this whole "jupki" gay-joke thing to be pretty offensive in light of the fact that if any one of those guys actually did come out and say he was gay the same fans who laugh and giggle at his gay-streak now would no doubt toss him aside like a bad piece of meat.

Just like Hong Suk-chon, it's OK to act gay for laughs... but hell comes down on anyone who actually is gay.

Posted by: Brian | August 03, 2007 at 06:06 PM

Polly, Polly, Polly. Although I'm not human (I'm a Giant Panda) I could still split you like cordwood and make you squeal for more. So don't swear at us if we make fun of fairy Korean guys with too much makeup.

Posted by: Ultra-Suave Panda | August 04, 2007 at 03:14 AM

I'm TVXQ and SuJu fan but I'm deeply amused with your writing :D ... Lol actually I'm one of the fan that ........really hopes that they're really gay ahahahaha~ XDDDDDDD

Please write more. Wanna see those immature fans react about this things... LOL

Posted by: Amused | August 07, 2007 at 08:32 AM

i think you have a death wish.

Posted by: sheesh | September 01, 2007 at 01:58 AM

First of all, Asia has a very different outlook on life than the West. They value delicacy and feminism in all genders. What is right and normal? It depends on the person who views it. Just because most people in America do not view it in the same way because of their upcoming does not mean this type of outlook is wrong. Is getting steroid-pumped muscles the right perspective? Why can't people respect each other's cultures? Why is there a need to force our opinions on others?

Posted by: Why? | September 04, 2007 at 06:11 PM

What you see in these videos is NOT how are Asian men and culture. These boy bands are simply gay. I don't know what's wrong with their fans that they can't see that.

Posted by: sentosa | September 05, 2007 at 09:41 PM

Don't you know? Gay guys are the new 'in' thing. Don't bash them just because they get more than you.

Posted by: lol | September 08, 2007 at 03:54 PM

These videos are parodies on their own fame. Artists like TVXQ and SuJu know how they're portrayed to the general public and play up to it because the fans like it.

Posted by: idek | September 08, 2007 at 04:00 PM

I am so glad I found this lol You are very very wise. That video was gay in so many ways...It seemed like the song didn't quite match up so I made this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I10GyYzawss

Posted by: Anrui | September 16, 2007 at 09:47 PM

Stop! Stop! You're making me horny........................

Posted by: Leone | October 02, 2007 at 02:02 PM

People, you're missing something extremely key here: these guys don't control their own images. They didn't form a band to express any kind of identity. They are treated like marketable products, trained and owned by their management companies. These groups are chosen when they are teenagers and their images are dictated to them by their management company, SM. Everything they do is overseen by their company, which is specifically packaging them for a female audience.

Now let's think of girls (and women) in Korea and the kinds of men they are used to seeing. Times may be changing, but there are still a lot of misogynist men in Korea. These "pretty boys" are the polar opposite of the militarized, soju-drinking, room-salon-frequenting men who spit all over the streets. Girls are drawn to them for this reason, and that is why SM portrays the boys this way. These guys may hate doing these things, for all we know. But they have no control over it. We need to recognize that their images may not reflect who they really are at all.

The DBSK video comes from a 1-hour drama in which part of the plot involves Jaejoong mistakenly thinking that Yunho likes him. Jaejoong freaks out every time Yunho touches him. And of course the writers put in lots of moments of them touching each other partly because it's funny to watch Jaejoong squirm and partly because the fans go crazy over it. At the end of the drama, it turns out that it's all a misunderstanding and everyone is straight. But this means that the fans get to watch the boys touch each other for an hour. It's called fanservice. So this video doesn't indicate anything about whether there are gay people in Korea. (Although I'm sure there are gay guys who enjoy it.) These boy bands are marketed to girls, so if it says anything, it is about what SM thinks will attract girls. And it seems to be working.

Now, about the difference between Asian girls' attraction to this gay image and Western girls' repulsion to it, I think it's because of the idea (from Japanese manga) that gay relationships are more "pure" because they are loving each other despite societal pressures, not because of them. Whereas in the West (and I think in actual Japanese gay culture), gay culture has developed to be overtly sexual, these portrayals of male-male relationships, which are marketed to women, focus more on love. That's a big difference from common Western portrayals of gay men.

Don't quote me on this; I'm not an expert yet. But this is my perception given what I know so far.

Posted by: huncamunca | November 19, 2007 at 09:40 PM

^ Yes, it's called "fan service" in short. The idea is that some gay time on screen gets the girls to go crazy, and it ought to be familiar to those who watch stuff like anime.

DBSK aren't gay. Some of them, in truth, are more muscular, and taller too, than the average expat calling them flamers.

Posted by: bluesblue | November 20, 2007 at 10:26 AM

So if being tall and muscular can be seen as evidence that a band isn't flamingly gay, then where does that leave the Village People?

Posted by: fanservice | November 20, 2007 at 12:30 PM

I'm a little upset about the insinuated gay-bashing present throughout both the youtube comments of the videos and in this discussion. What's wrong with acting gay? Or being gay? It doesn't make you any less of a man. And acting like a girl doesn't equal being gay. And being gay doesn't mean it's all about sex. I'm gay and I love emotional gay love stories.

I echo what Brian had to say, the real sad thing is that it's alright to pretend to be gay but not to be really gay. Thankfully those attitudes are changing though.

Posted by: Terhi | December 27, 2007 at 03:53 AM

Rain US Tour Cancelled

A bit of mysterious trouble for our favorite 'World Star' Rain. Several weeks ago his Honolulu concert was canceled just a few days before scheduled date. Rain didn't show up to a press meeting, which ended up being used by his promoters to announce that the concert was off. No reason was given for the cancellation and ticket holders were told they could get refunds for their tickets.

The final sentence in that article:

Promoters would not say how many tickets were sold. The venue would have been set up to hold a crowd of 20,000 to 25,000.

Oh what a mystery! The concert is abruptly canceled without any reason
and promoters are not willing to say how many tickets were sold. Local promoters have apparently filed a lawsuit.

A Rain concert in Toronto which was to be held a few months ago was also canceled, and promoters were unable to give refunds. This is from the first link above:

Jay
Lee, South Korean representative for the promoter of a Toronto concert
that was also canceled, said at the press conference that he has not
been able to refund money to Canadian ticket-buyers, since he has not
yet been reimbursed for his $250,000 deposit.

"And it's been 40 days since the cancellation," said Lee.

Translation: You've all been screwed. Thanks for participating in the Korean Wave.

And why was the Toronto show canceled so suddenly? Apparently there was no official explanation given. Five minutes of intensive Internet searching didn't come up with any solid information, but I did stumble on a blog which claims that Rain canceled the show because the stage was too small. I guess they didn't figure this out until after the venue had been booked and tickets were sold. That could happen...I guess...

The San Francisco, New York and Atlanta concerts were canceled because they faced a copyright challenge in Nevada (There is another band in the States called Rain). However, that was thrown out of court last month and there isn't any word on rescheduling those concerts.

And now the LA concert has been canceled as well just a few days before the scheduled event. The reason this time?

The Saturday night show at the Staples Center
was called off "due to issues related to the show's production,"
according to a statement from Rain's promoter, V2B Global, posted on
the Staples Center Web site.

'Issues related to the show's production'...what could that possibly mean? Why so vague?

So basically the entire North American tour has been canceled for various excuses reasons.

Hey, and didn't Rain's manager just quit suddenly about a month ago without giving any specific reasons?  Hmmm.......

That's just a bit too much coincidence. I've come up with several theories that could possibly explain this strange series of events.

A. Rain's management is profoundly incompetent.

B. 'World Star' Rain isn't even popular enough among Asian-Americans to sell enough tickets to have a concert outside of Asia. 

C. Rain injured his wrist in a jogging accident several months ago, but will be back to his full strength sometime...soon...

D. This is all a part of a greater conspiracy to keep the Korean super-mega star down.

I don't even have to check the Naver discussion boards for this, the answer is clearly D. What would happen to the North American music industry if it got out that there is an Asian singer who can imitate such legendary acts as Justin Timberlake and Usher? How could the West handle the painful truth that no matter what kinds of acts we produce, 1-3 years later Asians can come up with their own version that is kind of almost as good (sort of)?

Comments from previous blog


Comments

Hey! You wouldn't make fun of Bi if he was an American performer like Carrot Top or Wayne Newton, you racist! You ex-pat ESL burger flippers are just jealous of Bi's talents! Like wearing one glove and walking backward! Name one U.S. performer who ever did that!

Posted by: Pawi Komerican Super Han Man | July 02, 2007 at 10:20 PM

I wore one glove and walked backward many times. But I'm not going to tell you my name, because you might be a stalker.

Posted by: One U.S. Performer | July 03, 2007 at 12:52 AM

"Hey! You wouldn't make fun of Bi if he was an American performer like Carrot Top or Wayne Newton, you racist! You ex-pat ESL burger flippers are just jealous of Bi's talents! Like wearing one glove and walking backward! Name one U.S. performer who ever did that!"

LMAO!

Posted by: littlebrownasian | July 04, 2007 at 04:29 AM

Toronto promoter's statement of how they got ripped is here, Hawaii tells a similar story:
http://rainscoming.ca

In L.A. the concert was actually canceled just before show time with fans waiting outside the Staples Center.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-rain3jul03,1,317437.story?ctrack=3&cset=true

Lots of good reading here in the comments section:
http://popseoul.com/2007/07/01/rains-la-concert-cancelled/

Posted by: rainedout | July 05, 2007 at 03:34 PM

I live in Hawaii (leeward Oahu) and the local talk radio station covered this for a few minutes, er seconds. According to the station (AM830) only about 1,500 to 2,000 tickets were sold. Not sure how many were the $300 (for crying out loud!) variety.

Posted by: Matt | July 07, 2007 at 09:48 PM

I sat next to a guy on the plan last week who was one of the guys who picked Rain up from the airport in Los Angeles and had something to do with his entourage.
The fans were told that he was sick. Truth was that the venue was less than half sold-out, and he didn't want to perform to a small audience.

Posted by: joe | July 09, 2007 at 03:49 AM

The fans were told the L.A. Fire Marshal or some inspector shut down the show at the Staples Center because some of his stage equipment wasn't certified under U.S. safety standards.

Basically Rain's tour promoters from Korea have been running this schtick on the North American tour of getting paid the fee from the local promoters, then right before the concert they complain that the local promoters' are not doing an adequate job of getting the staging just right etc. Then they cancel out and refuse to refund the fee to the local promoter.

Posted by: rainedout | July 09, 2007 at 01:14 PM

Sweet. Bi will remain the thousands of miles away from me the way he should be.

Posted by: Angel Wings | July 09, 2007 at 04:57 PM

Carrot Top, Wayne Newton, and Rain: the Bi-list.

Posted by: Brat | July 12, 2007 at 07:54 AM

haha.
people remember,
just becuz you dont like them doesnt mean asia doesnt like him.
if you hate him so much then stop reading about him.
sheesh.

Posted by: park hae man | May 01, 2008 at 10:09 AM

FUCK RAIN! i bought 3 tickets for the toronto show, and its been more than a year now, i still havent got my money back!! he is nothing but a son of a bitch that robs money! i want my money back, my money doesnt fall outta the sky! fuck him!

Posted by: k | May 20, 2008 at 10:16 PM

I didn't get my refund back either! I'm so mad! And I cannot find the promoters anywhere. I'm sure they are lurking around somewhere in Toronto. They totally ditched their office and the site is down too. I would never buy from these promoters or from Rain again! It may not be his fault but I'm sure he should know how bad the concert management has been.

Posted by: A | June 01, 2008 at 09:19 AM

K-netizen Come-uppance

In the previous post I discussed the ongoing Time Magazine Internet Poll allowing people to vote their choice for the 'most influential person of the year.'

Predictably, the Korean Netizens responded to such polls they way they always do and Rain zoomed to the top. With the poll still open, the Korean media jumped on the story to see to it that all good citizens rallied for this noble cause.  'Is Rain more famous than Bill Gates?' the good reporters ask. 'The World Recognizes Rain's Global Stardom' was the headline of this morning's 'Focus' paper (one of those free papers they give out on the subways).

Barf bag, please.

However, the story took a turn when Thailand citizens realized their own good king Bhumibal was in the running and they responded with their own Internet ballot box-stuffing campaign and soon Bhumibal was atop the poll (that's about where my updates stopped in the previous post).

The Korean netizens, refusing to be beaten at their own game, realized that the only way to kill the king's popularity and put Rain back on top was to bombard Bhumibal with low ratings. Soon his average rating plummeted from 91 to the low 80s, a feat which must have taken 10s of thousands of voters to accomplish.

However, when the Thais realized what the Korean netizens were doing they returned the favor and sent Rain down to 23rd place (below Bill Gates, by the by, and George Bush for that matter). Enraged, even more Koreans plagued Bhumibal with low ratings and now His Majesty sits at about 50th place.

And so both seem fucked at this point. There is justice sometimes in cyberspace.

We all owe the Thai people a enormous debt of gratitude  for saving us from what surely would have been another onslaught of 'Gee, ain't we grand?' reporting from the Korean media which thrives on these farces.

But mayhaps I  am being premature in thinking the K-netizens so easily defeated? If they organize even greater numbers and get EVERYONE'S ratings in the low 70's, then their man (for lack of a better of word) is back in the running!  Sounds difficult, but an entire nation's sense of self-worth is on the line here, is it not?

'Backlash' seems to be a popular word lately. I think the antics of the Korean netizens and media are starting to get well known throughout Asia and perhaps even beyond and not in the way they'd like. The Thais will probably not take kindly to their King being trashed online and realize that with Korea it's all 'Please love us but we don't give a shit about you' (which, as we all know, is something only America has the right to demand). Don't be surprised if events like this leads to an even bigger decline in the 'Korean wave' than there was last year.

Update

Never underestimate the power of the K-netizens. They've managed to get Rain back up to #11 by systematically bombarding the person in the next higher ranking with low ratings while continuing to try to push Rain's rating higher (getting a few hundred votes every minute, according to my half-assed calculations). American Idol clown Sanjaya is the latest victim, suddenly getting about a hundred votes per minute while all other candidates ranked ahead and behind are just getting a few. Scary to think of how many Netizens have given up their evenings for this matter of national honor.

Comments on original post

Hey, Koreans can't earn their self-esteem so they fake it, just like "Pi" has no talent so they run his voice through a computer and slap makeup on the girlieman and teach him a couple basic Michael Jackson moves from 25 years ago, and they have a "star."

Posted by: Ultimate Iguana | April 25, 2007 at 05:43 PM

Sanjaya vs. Rain. How ironic.

Posted by: SomeguyinKorea | April 25, 2007 at 05:44 PM

Hi Poops
Have you heard of this blog 'tagging' lark? I've just 'tagged' you - pop over to my place if you're interested.

Have a great weekend!

Leone xx

Posted by: Leone | April 27, 2007 at 07:32 AM

Wow - Rain is #3 now!

Posted by: Jenn | April 28, 2007 at 04:11 AM

The whole story is pretty sad... I've always hated this kind of polls.
But you don't have to thanks Thai people. Colbert's supporters worked with their VoteBots to decrease Rain's position and, of course, increase Colbert's. You can see it yourself in ColbertNation forum.

btw... who is that Colbert guy?

Posted by: m | April 28, 2007 at 10:38 PM

The Digital Assclown Brigade (Korean division) has pushed Rain to #1 as of 2 May. Let the cultural masturbation--oh...sorry...um..."We're Number 1" articles begin!

Posted by: Kkachi | May 02, 2007 at 02:16 AM

Rain doesn't have full eyebrows

Posted by: hardyandtiny | May 02, 2007 at 05:06 AM

Rain says he's not even included in the final list, because he was only invited as an alumnus and not as an awardee.

Anyway, it wasn't just Korea voting, it was the whole of Rain's fanbase voting a hundred thousand times a day. I'm talking large-scale here: Hong Kong, Singapore, USA, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia. It's all over the comments page; only a small percentage of those who participate in this ridiculous poll is from Korea, mostly are from all over the world. Quite pathetic, yes, but these boppers have so much time in their hands they don't know what to do with it.

Time should have never introduced the poll in the first place. Fans go crazy when they think their idols have to be number one. Rain's fans are scarier. It's amazing how they can all unite from different places to get him to the top. And although there could be cheating involved (ie rating other people 0), fans of other candidates undoubtedly did it to the others in the list at one time or another.

And by the way, Korea is not the only one saying 'Rain Number One' here. Articles of Miyamoto in the top 5 also run out and about in Japanese newspapers. Steve Jobs leading the race was also featured in a business magazine.

Posted by: Mister | May 02, 2007 at 05:24 AM

I hear that this rain guy is "bi". whatever. anyway, I hope rain gets top votes for everything. Dumb koreans.

Posted by: NorhKorean | May 04, 2007 at 05:27 AM

It's all pretty funny. Rain, the worlds #1 most influential person. Haha.. btw man, you dont need an apostrophe when you write "10s" or "Thais". It really killed your article for me. ^^

Posted by: Qinella | May 05, 2007 at 11:37 AM

The offending little monster's we're taken out. Thank's for the head's up. And rest assured, no error's in you're comment had any adverse affects on me.

Posted by: partypooper | May 06, 2007 at 04:22 AM

Hey guys, leave Ji-Hoon alone will you! I'd just like to bend him over and roger him senseless and what's wrong with that? He's got that kind of talent........

Posted by: Leone | May 06, 2007 at 05:50 AM

I love how it says his albums have "topped the charts in Japan" when they struggle even to make it into the top 20

Posted by: Angel Wings | May 06, 2007 at 08:29 AM

Dong Bang Shin Gi: Gay Asia Rising

Update 3
Finally moved this post over to the new blog. It finished with 730 comments on the original site, every one a winner.

I'm a winner too.

Update 2: Happy 300!

This post has now amassed over 300 comments, a record for expat blogs in Korea!

All recognize my power to infuriate hordes of 10-year-old Asian girls!

Photo: A still from the epic movie 300 to comemorate the new milestone for this humble post.  I chose this photo because it matches the general theme of the post (and is reportedly what Hero from Dong Bang Sin Gi uses for his computer desktop wallpaper, replacing his former picture of Ricky Martin).

I deeply apologize for not responding to all of the comments. I hope that not for even one moment do any of you commenters think that I might not be reading your comments, especially the long ones that must have taken you a long time to compose. I most certainly do read all of them. I print them out and thoughtfully consider each and every word you write, regardless of how hideously misspelled each may be. Please don't think that in any way you are just wasting your time.

So keep those comments coming! If this post doesn't reach 400 comments and soon, I'll begin to doubt your true love for this fine group of pseudo-performers!

In the meantime, here's a youtube video of the Dong Seong Bang Shin Gi 'boys' which might in some remote way be applicable to this post.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Update: Happy 200!

Just a quick shout out and big thanks to all who helped this post reach the 200 comment milestone. The last time I googled Dong Bang Shin Gi, the post was listed 6th! With a little luck (and few hundred more angry pre-teens who go completely apeshit when some random stranger on the Internet jokes about their idols), it will soon be the first site that pops up when anyone is curious to learn more about the Pride of Korea which is Dong Bang Shin Gi.

Fighting!

 

Original Post:

Cathartidae somehow finds the worst of the worst as far as Korean femboybands go. This is Dong Bang Shin Gi, the current Big Kahuna's of the Korean Gay Wave that Korea would probably be better off having the West NOT know about.

Dong Bang Shin Gi, by the way, translates into 'Gods (in pink tutus and bunny rabbit outfits) Rising in the East.'

Although not as consistently ridiculous as the above video, this one here hits gay factor 9.5 when it shows the 'boys' around a dining table near the beach doing 'love shots' and feeding each other cake (near the end of the song). This is probably the first song in the history of pop that is filmed on a beach without a single hot babe in a bikini. The world just doesn't make sense anymore...

As far as the sexual orientation of these guys, far be it from me to rush to any conclusions, as you all well know by now. I'll just leave you with some selections from a posting on one of their fan sites and let you come to your conclusions.

22 facts about DBSK Members

 

3.Changmin is a crybaby (he is)

4.a lady threw a bad finger at Yunho and he cried backstage (aww >.< don't cry!!)

6.they watch korean dramas when they can/have tym  

16.hero is the "mom" because he knows how to cook

18.Hero
and Xiah share in one bed and Micky and Max share in one bed too,
u-know gets his own bed not because he's the oldest but because he won [lost?] a game of rock paper siscors!! [What, one of the most popular bands in Korea and they can't afford more than 3 beds in their little luv shack? Right...]
19.a fan broke in to DBSG's apartment and stole changmin's USED underwear [of course, it could have been Hero, see next]

21.Hero
stole Changmin's first kiss, he was waking changmin up but Changmin
didn't wanna get up so he kissed him, Changmin cried after that.

 

Credit. AsianFanatics Forum

   

Bleh...

Note: Comments are certainly welcome and encouraged, but note that ever so occasionally some are slightly edited for language and entertainment value.

[610 comments on original posting--too many to post here. Rest assured that they were profoundly entertaining. Perhaps someday I'll include the best of the best]

H.O.T.: Pretty in Pink

An update to the Gaywatch Korea Project, via Connect Korea. 

Moon Hee Joon, former member of H.O.T. You can read more about our little princess here.

Normally, researchers at the Project will debate for weeks, if not months, before adding a Korean celebrity to the Gaywatch files. Considering the above picture, however, the decision was made immediately.

Here is what H.O.T. used to dress like, by the way. Moon Hee Joon is the one standing on the right. You could make the argument that the "princess" look is an improvement.

Comments on original post (even Loopy Linda's)



We have been enjoying the H.O.T picture as our wallpaper at work for awhile. Often students ask us why it is there, which is great, cuase it gives us the opprtunity to introduce the next subject in class. "Gender Confusion and the Artist that endorse it"

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Posted by: EliteGroup | February 27, 2005 at 05:14 AM

Hi! I'm not Portuguese! I'll bet Andre Kim has had his gochu in Moon's moon!

Posted by: Peter North | February 28, 2005 at 04:10 AM

That's obviously a photo-shopped picture.

*rolls eyes*

Anyways, I enjoy reading your blog. All of your entries are beyond hilarious. And scary enough--true.

Posted by: hangookin | March 02, 2005 at 10:41 PM

Me thinks you are right "hangookin;" that body shape is just a little too slight and dainty for a chunkster like Mun Hee Jun.

His manhood is duly restored.

Posted by: scott | March 03, 2005 at 03:09 AM

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Posted by: KMC | March 03, 2005 at 12:04 PM

"scott"-- Oh please. In no way should you be leniant towards Mrs. Hee Jun. He's not just chunky, he's obese. But yes. At least he's losing weight now. His boyfriend Kang Ta must have showed him the light to Atkins.

Oops. Was that too mean?

Posted by: hangookin | March 04, 2005 at 10:03 PM

that picture of moon hee jun is FAKE you dumbasses. why don't you try getting your shit straight. H.O.T were incredibly talented and their solo work proves it. hee jun is a talented singer/songwriter, an awesome dancer and a hardworking performer.
along with the rest of them, tony an, jang woo hyuk, kang ta and lee jae won. seriously, your concept of what 'manly' and 'good looking' is brings me to tears. i don't see the gender confusion at all; they did what they were paid to do and their fans liked it. end of story
dont playa hate, apprecite. congratulate. and participate
on a side note: MOON hee jun (get the name right people!), tony an, and jang woo hyuk all have new albums out. proof that hee jun is not retiring and that all ex H.O.T members are still active and doing great in the korean music industry

Posted by: kigan | October 14, 2005 at 08:52 PM

This site is so ignorant just like anyone else who starts or joins this dumb gaywatch! damn! don't you have anything better to do than start something this stupid. Are you gay curious yourself of gay activities that you watch all these korean men and their actions. hahaha... they're making it big and whatever they do.. they certainly got it for they wouldn't be rich and famous for you to be taking your sweet little time, waiting and watching them. Damn I mean if you're gonna start something serious, watch and inform people of poverty or struggles in korea, since this is something you're quite interested in, Koreans. And all those people's comments in agreeing with this ignorant fool (you're one, because all your information are based on your feelings and based on people who don't know anything of the glbt lifestyle, since it's just being quite openly accepted in parts of America and come on, we know areas like in Asia are strict about the ways people live their lives, so all I'm saying is that whatever source you got your info from, be it any uneducated gay bashing korean media group who writes up and bashes these korean men or women is ignorant too, for they aren't educated enough!!) anyways, back to my original point, anyone who agrees with this ingnorant fool, you all are just like him and being brainwashed with these nonsense. Stop thinking negatively and stop bashing people with your spare time, do something good for yourself that will benefit you and your future.

And to reply to that pretty in pink picture of Moon Hee Jun, it's definitly photoshop touch up. That body is so skinny comparing to his. Come on! where's the common sense in your eyes people?!?!?!?! you need some glasses?!!?

And another reply to, korean guys who wears make up... so if a male band of koreans or others wear make up, that means they are all gay or gay curious? Many man definitly has had encounter with other man at a time through their life sexually. They are just afraid to say it and many still end up being interested in woman only. There's room for everything here on earth!! Oh wait, Moon hee jun wears make up off stage, he's definitly gay. Honestly, at first when I saw him, I thought he was gay (but that was when I was uneducated! And people, I don't mean gay the way dumb people uses it, meaning "lame" or "dumb"), but since being educated and understanding how people are different, I've learned quite a lot and how being informed with open mind, to not instantly put a label on someone just because they are different from me for this information will benefit me in what I do in life. And if you don't understand what I mean, I insist you go to college. And through this, I'm gonna take back that thought of him and remain at not judging him or labling him. I don't know him like that, but you and everybody else, (it's funny how ALL ignorant people are) so quick to judge others when you and they don't even know squat of that person personally other than what you or they hear and see in the media. WAKE UP! Media is a killer and full of bullshit. Plus, it don't matter if he's not gay or he is. It's all about his talented skills.
Also, come on!! We all know, that many male artist of any field where's make up to look good on camera or shows anywhere. Let me educate you and open your mind: People choose to look certain ways just like how you choose to look like you! Has there been people bashing your look? So why should you go do that to others? How would you feel? BAD! Ofcourse you would feel BAD. Geez. And the all the male korean bands you see probably have to put on make up, because of management!! Whose gonna have full authority, a guy who is not anywhere near fame and riches or the management that has riches and power and fame?? That's how it is in the entertainment industry. You gotta do what you're told to get where you want and if you don't agree, then don't do it. End of story.

Peace, please. I mean it. Peace. You don't know, one day your loved ones... your son, whoever that is male in your life (heck maybe even you, because what if all males starts wearing makeup for this kind of movement will grow from Korea, Japan, America.. wherever that is happening? Everybody follows trends.) is gonna wear make up and you don't know what to do. Are you gonna be the shit out of him to stop him from wearing make up or are you gonna love him?! Or are you gonna miss out on life and severe the bond between him and you? If your answer is to beat the shit out of him and cut him off, you obviously don't understand the meaning of life and I would finally agree to it that i read you... and I entertain the thought that abortion is wasted on the unborn. One day, hopefully one, eveyone on this site that feeds off these ignorant information will see what I mean.

p.s. It's so obvious that this site sucks for it's content is full of ignorant and uneducated information.
This site just saw the day of light for my post has just been, "posted".


-Linda-

Posted by: This site sucks!! | December 02, 2005 at 03:35 PM

Korean Pop Music and Other Crimes Against Humanity

In the late 80's New Kids on the Block was the most popular band in Korea and remained so long after the band had mercifully died in the West. The West mostly got over the "cute boy band" phase, but in Korea they have taken it to new lows.

Introducing the newest pop sensation to sweep Korea: 7 Princess.

Ages range from 5-9. Could anything be cuter? The band is currently popular among teens, elementary school kids and middle-aged men who find 5 year-old girls with heavy make-up and skimpy clothing intensely appealing.

Cuteness is like sugar: in moderate amounts it is nice, but in excess it becomes nauseating. Click here to see their first music video and you'll see what I mean.

Note: After clicking on the link, scroll up to see the video.

I believe the song is called "Love song." It follows a fairly standard practice among Korean pop "songwriters" these days: take an existing melody from western music and add Korean words to it.

Bleh...

Kill Whitey

The new hate propaganda music video from Ja Woo Rim (click on the "Truth MV" link). It's not quite as bad as the S.E.S. video years back, but all the whiteys are properly shown as decadent and evil.

These kinds of music videos peaked a few years back. A good summary can be found on the second half a forum post here.

This is the lead vocalist, Kim Yun Ah. Isn't she just as cute as a little button? On her profile it says she hates racism. I'm sure she hates hypocrisy too.

Image over Substance

I finally had a chance to see the Ashlee Simpson debacle on Saturday Night Live (we get the show a week late in Korea). Pretty damn funny. Here’s a link to the video.


Here’s a summary of the story if you haven’t heard about this yet (and give a rat’s ass). Basically, due to a computer glitch or a drummer pushing the wrong button, it was revealed that she had a “guide vocal” recording that she either sang along with or just simply lip-synced to. The wrong song came up and the vocals started while the microphone was nowhere near her mouth.

What makes this great is that not long ago she made the following quote, as noted in an article in globeandmail.com.

Apart from the fact that the Simpson girls, being massively hyped, are hugely obvious targets, the greatest source of Schadenfreude was a remark Ashlee Simpson made to Lucky magazine, in which she insisted that she would "never" lip-synch. "I'm going out to let my real talent show, not to just stand there and dance around," she said.

Well, “just stand there and dance around” is about all she did before fleeing from the stage (here's a good video of what happened after she left the stage).

This is all yet more proof that the music industry in general is less and less about the music and more and more about pretty faces and image.




Here's Ashlee and her true "talents."

Nowhere is this more true than in Korea (well, could be worse in Japan). As I have mentioned before, mainstream music in Korea is pure image and zero talent. Almost all the big acts were manufactured by recording executives. There are precious few bands and singers that write their own music and were signed based on proven talent after struggling and developing their craft over the years.

And now it is biting them in the ass.

With more and more artists sounding exactly alike and putting out music that gets old in about 2 weeks, fewer and fewer people are buying their CDs. Most just download the music for free from the Internet and their cell phones.

CD sales have continually dropped over the past few years. Sales dropped 7.7 percent in 2001, another 31.4 percent in 2002, and further dropped 31.2 percent in 2003. Those are extremely alarming numbers.


More from a joongang daily article.

The total cost of releasing an album, including production and marketing, runs from 300 to 400 million won, according to Mr. Kang. These days, he says, it's hard to get a return of even 100 million won, even for albums made by established musicians.
"We're about to be standing on heaps of debt," Mr. Kang said.

According to Reuters, 95% of all music retail shops in South Korea have failed over the past 5 years.

Noticed any music retailers go out of business lately? In my case, 3 out of the 4 shops that I pass going to work each day have closed in the last year.


I have listened to music over the internet before. Perhaps I am just the “old generation” now, but when I hear something I like, I go out and buy the CD, even though I know I could download it for free on the Net. I want money to go into the pocket of performers and musicians that “rock my world.” I don’t think I’m the only one who thinks and acts this way.

Koreans, though, are just ensuring that the next generation of “musicians” are worse than they are now. For musicians in Korea to make money, they need to get on TV shows and commercials. This requires good looks more than anything else, so now the music industry is even more image conscious than they were before (which was already pretty god-damned bad).

So, flush the future of Korean music down the toilet. I’ll keep my old Seo Tae Ji and Kim Hyun Sik CDs as a reminder that Korea at least used to be capable of producing talented musicians and song writers before bands like H.O.T and the Korean music industry fucked things up.

Meanwhile, back in the West, when poseurs like Milli Vanili and Ashlee Simpson are exposed, it is our job as concerned world citizens to hound them into oblivion and send the music industry a strong message to keep talentless performers to a minimum. “Pop” music has always been a parasite that threatens to infect the music industry in general, I know. But there needs to be strong pressure on the music industry to “keep it real” as much as possible or otherwise it all becomes a beauty contest.

You know me. I like my musicians and performers good and ugly.

H.O.T. Aftermath

A commenter on my Gaywatch post (Simon) gave a link to these pictures. Simon, the Korean Gaywatch Project (a team consisting of over 70 researchers and investigators throughout South Korea, by the way) has been duly notified.

This is the new boy band in Korea. I can't remember their name, but that's ok. No one else will either this time next year.

My, my, my...aren't you all just the prettiest little things?

Male Korean pop stars do wear their makeup better than most Korean women, I'll give them that.

And what's this? Oh! They're playing peak-a-boo! Or is it "guess-who"? "Sang-hyun, is that you? Oh! Lee Min, it's you! You horrible little tease! I'll get you!" (giggly-fun water and/or pillow fight ensues until they collapse exhausted in each other's arms)

Now why doesn't Metallica take these kind of fun promo pics?

Korea is boy band crazy in the worst way. Aside from a few hip-hop/rap acts, this is pretty much it for popular Korean music. They look alike, dress alike (well, some are a little more "metrosexual" than others), talk alike and worst of all, sound EXACTLY alike.

When I was in Korea in 1995 (just before those IMF bastards destroyed Korea!!), there was MUCH more variety in the mainstream (Seo Tae-ji, Clone (spelling?), D.J. D.O.C. , Lulu, Panic, etc.) Though most of it was maybe not world-class, they still put out some enjoyable music and at least had distinguishable identities.

Nowadays EVERY band is just another version of H.O.T. (If you don't know H.O.T., think New Kids on the Block, just not as cool). The only singers/groups who do not fit that mold are just holdovers from last decade that have managed to survive.

Anyway, I'm rambling now and I've just realized I've been bitten by a mosquito (despite the fact that the "mogi-man" came through our neighborhood leaving our street in a wonderland of toxic smoke). I have to stop here and exact vengeance. I won't rest until that mosquito (and any other "innocent" mosquitoes that might get in my way) is a bloody smear on the wall. I'm American, that's how we do things.

Oh, about Simon who sent me the link to these pics. Thus far he is the only gay guy who wasn't pissed off about my "Gaywatch Korea" post (the post on my old blog has all the comments from those who found the post less than appropriate, Simons is near the bottom). He's in Korea and started his own blog. Could be an interesting blog with a fresh perspective on Korea (once he gets around to posting more on his experiences here, anyway). Note to Simon, is there any way you can open up the comment section to those who don't register? I know I could just take 3 minutes out of my life to register, but I'm a bit on the lazy side...

Anyway, now that I've publicly promoted the site of a homosexual I feel the need to reaffirm my own heterosexuality by brutally killing that damn mosquito with my manly bare-hands and then maybe masterbating to some Ha Lee-su pictures like these.

Hey, who is that school kid in the picture next to Ha Lee-su's pic? And exactly what is he doing to that other male student sitting in front of him? Very strange...

Moon Hee Jun threatens retirement!

Mun Hee Jun formerly of the mega-band HOT confessed that he might retire from the music scene. If Korean literate and EXTREMELY hard up for things to do today then you can read all about it here

Hee Jun (also called "She Jun" by fans when rumors surfaced that he likes wearing make-up even off-stage) says that the 3 years since he went solo have seemed like 30 years, mostly due constant criticism and ridicule by the huge "anti Hee Jun" mob.

It seems he has become a laughing stock due to some ridiculous comments that he reportedly made. After going solo he proclaimed himself not just a rocker, but the greatest rocker in Korea (which of course, is utterly ridiculous since we all know the greatest Korean rocker is...uh...well....Hmm. Shit, maybe it IS true!). Apparently in a radio interview they asked his opinion of Led Zeppelin and he admitted that he had never heard of them. He also claimed that he can sing 7 octaves. Now, I do know that castrated choir boys can keep hitting the high notes, and there is certainly no evidence that Hee Jun still has his own pair, but this is still a little hard to swallow.

And what will he do after he retires in shame? What all Korean celebrities do when they are disgraced in Korea: go to America (I'd recommend San Francisco).

Just in case you weren't here 9 or so years ago when HOT broke out, here's an early picture.



I challenge you to find another band that looks this ridiculous ANYWHERE in the world (click on picture to get the full effect). I guess we can see where the Teletubby creators got their inspiration. I'm generally not a fan of violence, but if I found out my younger brother was in a band like this I would feel it was my duty to kick his ass.

In Hee Jun's defense I will say that his music since going solo is no more shitty than any of the other former group members. But when you come from a gay group like HOT and try to break into rock, you're just begging for grief.

Mun Hee Jun, the Vanilla Ice of Korea.

I was a teenage dirtbag, baby

I was a teenage dirt-bag, baby.

Forgive me for departing from my usual all things Korean commentary, but I'm feeling a little retro lately.

I went to middle and high school during the 80’s. As you know, there are the usual cliques and classifications of teenagers such as the Jocks, the preppies, the “popular” crowd, the nerds, and at the bottom of the heap were the dirt-bag stoners.

I belonged somewhat to the jocks (played on the baseball team), the nerds (kept my grades up and played D&D) and the stoners (listened to heavy metal and partied on the weekends) and had separate friends from each group.

Eventually I found myself and became the full fledged nerd I was genetically programmed to be, but every now and then I like to think back to the “dirt bag stoner” part of my life. I listened to heavy metal music constantly and played a mean guitar in a shitty garage band (well, I wasn’t good enough to say that I played a “mean” guitar, perhaps “played a slightly grumpy guitar” would be more accurate).

I hated the pretty-boy glam rock bands that came out in the 80’s: Motley Crue, Ratt, Whitesnake, White lion, Poison, ad nauseum. My kinds of bands were groups that I could relate to: dirty, ugly and socially inept. I’m talking Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, etc. These were the kinds of dirtbags that society labeled (accurately) as losers who would never amount to anything in life and one day in their bleak adolescence they looked in the mirror and realized they were far too ugly to ever get laid and were destined to a life of loserdom unless they became rock musicians.

After high school my acne finally cleared up, I got a decent haircut, put on a clean shirt, found a personality, stopped saying words like "dude" and "killer" and finally started to get laid on a regular basis. But during high school Beavis and Butthead type dirt bags were my people and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for them. Though my musical tastes have broadened since then, I still like bands centered on aggressive guitars.

So, without further ado, I’d like to pay homage to my favorite bands of the past: the ugly heavy metal bands.

Iron Maiden

Oh, dey ugly all right. I like how their blonde guitarist has that “moon face” look that marijuana abusers seem to develop. Iron Maiden brought on fast, heavy and fierce music that was ideal to bang your head to while holding the “devil horns” sign aloft in a satanic salute. They also had the “Eddie” mascot with its evil and grotesque appearance that dirt-bags are proud to display on dirty T-shirts hanging on their skinny, malnourished torsos. Oh yeah, good memories of kicking around the old hackey-sack in the park with other long-haired greasy losers while Flight of Icarus and Number of the Beast blasted away.
Peace of Mind was their best. Number of the Beast was great too (ooh they are so eeeevil!). They started to lose it in Powerslave and have since refused to die despite putting out crap.



One thing you will notice about heavy metal bands is that they do not know when to quit. I think it is because they just don’t have the brains to do anything else. Have you ever heard of a former heavy metal star going on to become a successful businessman, producer, or anything? Nah. They most likely bum around in bars until they run out of beer and cigarette money and then get “the band” back together and go on a reunion tour of small, dirty bars and State Fairs.

Black Sabbath

I was totally into Black Sabbath, even though they had already peaked and were headed towards a slow and humiliating death (are they still putting out CDs?) years before my dirt-bag days began (Ozzy had already gone solo and they were with Ronnie James Dio; hands down ugliest vocalist in the history of heavy metal). I didn’t care though. I listened to their old albums over and over and over again (all their albums with Ozzy are good, except for that "experimental" Technical Ecstasy disaster). Black Sabbath had everything us socially-retarded and confused dirt-bags loved: songs of morbid depression, a touch of satanic mystery (though, to Ozzy Osbourne’s credit, he never did take any of that seriously), and that Heavy as God’s Dick sound that physically forced you to bang your head to the pounding rhythm. I proudly wore their satanic T-shirts, hoping that some popular and religious preppy girl who would otherwise completely ignore my existence might notice me and fear that I was involved in the occult (negative attention beats the hell out of being completely ignored).
I like Ozzy, but not so much his music for the past 10 years. Nonetheless, he is truly the Elvis Presley of Heavy Metal.
The ugliest heavy metal album cover of all time.

What the hell were they thinking?

Blue Oyster Cult

They really were more of a rock band than a heavy metal band. Some of their songs were simply “gay” (not homosexual gay, the "just not cool" gay), like “Debbie Denise” from the Agents of Fortune album and “Celeste the Queen” from the same album as “Godzilla” (can’t remember the album name). The genius of BOC though, was to give themselves a Satanic image that all of us anti-social teenage dirt-bags fell for.
All their old stuff is good, but they peaked with Fire of Unknown Origin. They then put out a live album to suck up the money while they were on top and didn’t have a hit single since. They did put out some good stuff later (Club Ninja, and especially the Imaginos album written almost exclusively by their drummer), but their time in the spotlight was long past.




AC/DC


Now these guys were good and ugly. Check out the guy in the white T-shirt next to Angus Young; how much you want to bet that AC/DC's road crew got more groupy pussy than him? They were more blues-rock than heavy metal I’d say, but rock they did. I saw these guys in concert twice and those were two of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Angus Young in his silly schoolboy outfit bouncing around the stage had contagious energy. Bon Scott was their better vocalist, not in singing talent (which is not really a requirement for heavy metal dirt-bag bands anyway), but just in charisma and style. He died the way all dirt-bag heavy metal/rock stars should die, by getting insanely drunk and choking to death on his own vomit.

Judas Priest

Judas Priest brought in the idea of having not just one but two lead guitarists, complete with speedy harmonized “killer” solos that brought out the air guitarist in many a dirt-bag stoner. Strangely enough, the lead singer, Rob Halford, was known to be gay (totally into the gay biker look) but the usually homophobic stoners let it pass. Halford was arguably the best of the heavy metal singers (though Dio had quite a powerful range as well). All the old stuff is classic up through Defenders of the Faith.

Metallica


The last and in some ways the best of the ugly heavy metal groups. Look at their greasy hair and acne scarred faces: faces even a mother has a hard time loving. And how about old Cliff over on the left; even the drunkest and skankiest of drunk skanky chicks wouldn't go near that guy at a kegger. A perfect match of the ugly stoner kids who idolized them. They freshened up the heavy metal sound by adding elements of punk and hard core. They remind me a lot of young Black Sabbath: loser kids from broken families without any musical training that somehow stumbled on to a new sound that influenced a whole generation.
Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are their best. Justice for All falls into a rut, but the “black” album was solid. They experimented with some new sounds since and obviously their one-trick pony has long since keeled over, but every now and then they still put out some decent music (No-leaf clover from that silly “symphony” CD and the Unnamed Feeling from their latest effort).

And the rest
Honorable mentions to Scorpions, Deep Purple (dude, do you know what "smoke on the water" means?) Aerosmith (old, not the new), Nazareth (killer album covers dude!), Accept (Udo!!!), Def Leppard (2 armed drummer version), Van Halen (Roth, never Hagar) and Ted Nugent. They were all good and certainly ugly, but just miss being put in into the Ugly Heavy Metal Guys Hall of Fame.

And what about the Mighty Led Zepplin? I excluded Led Zeppelin from this tribute not because I didn’t like them (every true dirt-bag stoner worshipped them), but because they actually had a higher level of true musical talent than my typical beloved “dirt-bag” group. The range and depth of their music was impressive and, despite the “heavy metal” label, I would put their songs up against anyone. And besides, Page and Plant really didn't get that ugly until they hit middle age. Sorry, but I've got to maintain a high standard of criteria here.

Ugly Heavy Metal Guys: We Salute You!!!


Comments on original post


Great post! Memories. check out my blog for more comments.

Posted by: Jeff in Korea | May 06, 2004 at 10:03 AM

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, PP.

Iron Maiden was the shit and still is. I still put on some of their songs from time to time. I saw them live on the Somewhere in Time tour in 88 or so. An amazing group!

I also liked Ratt and Dokken (saw them both live as well). Accept was great.

And I still remember the moment when I was sitting on the bus to go home and a buddy of mine slipped a pink tape through the bus window that had a dub of Ride the Lightning. Changed my life. I started listening to heavier stuff at that point...

Brian

Posted by: Brian | May 06, 2004 at 02:26 PM

Thanks Jeff, I left a message on your blog (how could I have forgotten to include Rush? Will my dirtbag Canadian friends ever forgive me?)

Brian, I must confess that I owned both Ratt and Dokken albums, but those guys were nowhere near ugly enough to meet the stereotypical standards. By the way, it was just one listening of my older brother's "Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll" Black Sabbath album that changed me for life.

Posted by: Scott | May 07, 2004 at 06:48 PM

Killer blog, dude! ;-)

Seriously, that was a wonderful trip down memory lane. I think I have seen nearly all of these bands live sometime or another, but I can't be entirely sure due to my many altered states of conciousness at the time...

To answer your question "What the hell were they thinking?" in reference to the Black Sabbath "Paranoid" album cover art, I quote the following from http://www.briworld.com/quad/music/bsparanoid.htm ...

Hmm… we have a guy in white with a neon sword and shield. Everything seems to be dark except the person himself. War Pigs was originally to be the name of the album, but the producers changed it to Paranoid.

To quote Ozzy (taken from the CD inset of REUNION): " 'That album title had nothing to do with the sleeve. What the fuck a bloke dressed as a pig with a sword has got to do with being Paranoid, I don't know, but they decided to change the album title without changing the artwork,' moans Ozzy."

Posted by: b1g | May 24, 2004 at 02:37 PM

Thanks for the info b1. That pig get-up doesn't come out that clearly. Certainly makes a lot of sense.

Posted by: Scott | May 28, 2004 at 04:56 AM