Anthony Hamilton
Formed in 2013 by vocalist Chris Freeman (who also plays bass in the queer punk band, Pansy Division) and drummer Brian Welch, GayC/DC has been stunning crowds for nearly a decade with their LGBTQ+ tribute to a band whose very name is nearly synonymous with male heterosexuality. While they pride themselves on their fidelity to the sound and sheer volume of the source material, these LA rockers don’t hesitate to incorporate a healthy dose of pageantry and humor into their live show to create what they call, “an authentic but queer retelling of AC/DC’s music.”
Coming off a 13-month hiatus from live shows—during which time they recorded a fabulous cover of “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” with fellow LA band Well Hung Heart—GayC/DC is now back on the road. With a West Coast tour already underway, Freeman and Welch are joined again onstage by Glen Pavan (on bass) and Steve McKnight (on lead guitar), as well as by the group’s newest addition, Clint Yeager (on rhythm guitar).
The band’s ethos teeters somewhere between homage and parody. Their live show being premised on laughter and fun as well as good ol’ fashioned nostalgia, GayC/DC takes what you most remember and love about the 80’s rock’n’roll image (think big hair, plenty of makeup, and the tightest possible pants), and brings it to its logical conclusion, which is of course wonderfully gay. In keeping with tradition, antics and theatrics abound.
We recently had a chance to put the band under The PROBE before they hit the road….
Chris Freeman (singer)
1) If a roach crashed your rehearsal space, would you run or would you kill it?
A: I would be horrified if there was a roach sighting in our rehearsal space … it’s at my house! That said, once I see it, I will kill it.
2) Does anyone in the band like to play practical jokes? If so, what’s one of the all-time best ones?
A: I’ve been in bands in the past where practical jokes were played and it was fun until someone got hurt–and someone always did. So, I never play them anymore.
3) What’s the last gift you received?
A: The last time I received gifts would be Christmas 2021, so it’s a bit unfair as all of the gifts I received would all be the last gift I received, I opened them all at the same time. I’m going to go with the one I got from my husband: a photo of the two of us scuba diving turned into a Christmas tree ornament.
4) If you could pick one thing about yourself that you’d like your fans to know, what would it be?
A: I’m an open book, I’ll tell you almost anything. But the one thing I don’t think I’ve ever been asked is, “what are you afraid of most?” Here’s my answer: I’ve tried to wipe fear out of my vocabulary, and I’ve been pretty successful, not much gets to me. But there are two things that still creep me out: spiders and heights.
5) What music are you listening to lately?
A: I have to say, I am woefully behind on current music. Probably have been for two decades. Although I will give most anything new a try. People will suggest a song or a band and more often than not, I’m disappointed. I’m grateful that I grew up in the ’60s, the Beatles broke up when I was 9. I’ve lived through a lot of the best decades for rock’n’roll and you can look at each decade and conjure up an image or style from that decade: ’60s, ’70’s, ’80s, ’90s. But after that, can you come up with a band or style that defined the ’00s? Or the ’10s? How about the ’20s so far? I’m now officially an old guy (turned 60 in 2021), and I just prefer music that has a quality to it, or has something unique about it. Most of that for me is in the past. I just finished the Beatles’ Get Back and really liked it. I loved The Summer Of Soul documentary, and I just saw a documentary on Terry Kath from Chicago made by his daughter–their early songs are some of my favorites. I also enjoy watching bootleg live shows from bands like King Crimson, Blue Oyster Cult, Queen, Rush and Yes, bands that could really cook live. I miss that the most in current music offerings: a great live band. No drum machines, no Autotuners, no playing to pre-recorded tracks, just the sound of a band totally in sync with each other. Gets me every time.
Steve McKnight (guitar)
1) If a roach crashed your rehearsal space, would you run or would you kill it?
A: GayC/DC’s sheer volume would kill it
3) What’s the last gift you received?
A: a head shaver- yay- no blood!
4) If you could pick one thing about yourself that you’d like your fans to know, what would it be?
A: I have a very dark and irreverent sense of humor. A little context for some of my more provocative responses.
Oh, and I like to play jump rope with human entrails!!!
5) What music are you listening to lately?
Lamb of God, Beatles, AC/DC (broadening our song list)
Brian Welch (drums)
1) If a roach crashed your rehearsal space, would you run or would you kill it?
A: I’m sure there are roaches in our rehearsal space, but probably not the kind you’re thinking of. IF one of that kind happened into our space, (I’m sure the sheer volume would deter it, but I digress…) I’d throw some glitter on it, give it a feather boa and make it carry some gear.
2) Does anyone in the band like to play practical jokes? If so, what’s one of the all-time best ones?
A: Well, there was that time during a show that Chris (singer) stuck a huge dildo on my ride cymbal and I didn’t even notice it. But the crowd sure did. C’mon. It’s AC/DC. It’s not like the ride cymbal is used a lot. And being in this band, you have to get used to finding confetti in weird, unreachable places. Sometimes even a week after a show. Thanks Glen.
3) What’s the last gift you received?
A: Well, as we’ve just finished up with Christmas, the hubby gave me an all-in-one back and neck massager, KISS’ 40th-anniversary deluxe box set of “Destroyer”, a BluRay of “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and my neighbor gave me the book “Tin Man” by Sarah Winman. Oh, and vodka. I got vodka. Ok. So that was like five gifts. Hey, a gal likes to get things.
4) If you could pick one thing about yourself that you’d like your fans to know, what would it be?
A: That I dream up creative things for GayC/DC ALL the time, 90% of which will never see the light of day. When we started this band in 2013, none of us could have seen what it would grow into. It’s almost a full-time job when we’re in “normal” times. I’ll always be trying to think of new things to do, and new ways to stay in touch with our fans. Oh, and I’m a complete “Sex & The City” nerd. And just like that… I admitted it to the world.
5) What music are you listening to lately?
A: On the rotation list in the past few weeks has been everything from Blondie, Superbus, King’s X, Armored Saint, Alice On The Roof, Styx, Shea Diamond, Massive Wagons, Blues Pills and new ones from The Record Company, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and Uncle Watson’s Widow.
Glen Pavan (bass)
1) If a roach crashed your rehearsal space, would you run or would you kill it?
A: Just in case reincarnation is true, I don’t wanna keep the guy from reaching Nirvana. But his little ass is getting yeeted from our domain.
2) Does anyone in the band like to play practical jokes? If so, what’s one of the all-time best ones?
A: There was the gig when the singer stealthily attached a large dildo to a drum cymbal mid-song and it took an awfully long time for it to be discovered by the drummer. The audience loved it.
3) What’s the last gift you received?
A: A Blu-ray of the 1983 rock and roll comedy movie Get Crazy. I absolutely adored this movie as a kid. It’s the first time it’s EVER been on DVD, and it will knock you on your ass with laughter. KILLER soundtrack!!!
4) If you could pick one thing about yourself that you’d like your fans to know, what would it be?
A: I’m pretty good with keeping secrets. Never told anyone about my dad’s hairpiece or the lifts in my sneakers.
5) What music are you listening to lately?
A: Hard rock and metal coming out of Japan is on goddamn fire right now. Current bands are dropping new studio albums and live albums regularly, with gorgeous big budget videos you’ve not seen here in a long time.
Check out female bands BAND-MAID, and LOVEBITES, Alt metal trios Ningen Isu and 88 Kasyo Junrei, and power metal guitar hero bands Galneryus and Jupiter. Amazing stuff and just the start of a Japanese rock rabbit hole to enjoy.
Clint Yeager (guitar)
1) If a roach crashed your rehearsal space, would you run or would you kill it?
A: I’d hand that crunchy little tart a cocktail shaker, some ice and a nice vodka and ask her to make me a VERY COLD martini NO vermouth. When life gives you roaches, make refreshments!
2) Does anyone in the band like to play practical jokes? If so, what’s one of the all-time best ones?
A: I NEVER JOKE! 😈
3) What’s the last gift you received?
A: Chlamydia! It was glorious!
4) If you could pick one thing about yourself that you’d like your fans to know, what would it be?
A: My Venmo QR code! All subsidies are humbly and graciously accepted, ‘cuz honey… these jewels aren’t gonna buy themselves!
5) What music are you listening to lately?
A: AC/DC, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Taipei/Houston, Cold Cave, Black Angels, Sextile, Behemoth, Boy Harsher, Man On Man, Emergency Sirens, Car Crashes and Mental Illness Beneath My Windows
GayC/DC TOUR DATES
March 12 – Maui Sugar Mill (Tarzana, CA)
March 18 – Bottom Of The Hill (San Francisco, CA)
March 19 – El Corazon (Seattle, WA)
May 13 – Bossanova Lounge (Portland, OR)
May 14 – Harlow’s (Sacramento, CA)
May 15 – Soda Bar (San Diego, CA)
June 17 – Rebel Lounge (Phoenix, AZ)
June 18 – Bisbee Pride (Bisbee, AZ)
June 25 – Taverna Costera (Las Vegas, NV)
… more dates to be announced
