Pride Month: LGBTQ+ Music News on George Michael, Darren Hayes, 'Love, Victor,' Greyson Chance, Pansy Division, Wrabel

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, along with Sony Music Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing, presented a clip from the new autobiographical feature documentary GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT.

Additionally, GLAAD.org has posted an in-depth interview with co-director and producer of the film, George Michael’s songwriting partner and long-time collaborator, David Austin. View the clip and the interview HERE.

Austin said, “We are very proud to Partner with GLAAD - George was proud of his sexuality and campaigned throughout his life for everyone to have the freedom to be who they wanted to be and love who they wanted to love.”

Throughout the film (in theaters now), Michael reveals the two distinct sides of his life: his very public music career and his private personal life that cameras never truly saw. Michael was heavily involved in and dedicated to the making of this documentary before his tragic passing in 2016.

Narrated by the late Grammy® Award winner himself, GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT delves into the period after “Faith” leading up to, during and after the making of Michael’s “Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1” album in 1990.

As the film clip posted at GLAAD illustrates, it was at this period of his life when Michael meets his first real love, Anselmo Feleppa. The film later explores how the legendary singer navigates both the heartbreak of Anselmo’s early tragic passing and the devastating loss of his mother.

The documentary features numerous celebrities, with contributors including Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Nile Rogers, Mark Ronson, Tracey Emin, Liam Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Jean Paul Gaultier, James Corden, Tony Bennett, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Tatjana Patitz.

Sony Music will also release a deluxe, limited-edition Older box set in July. The set will also be available in digital/CD/2LP formats. Older was George’s third album as a solo artist. 

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Greyson Chance's new single “Palladium” is available now across all streaming platforms. “Palladium” marks the first single from Chance’s forthcoming third studio album of the same name, which is set for release this fall on Lowly.

“Palladium” will follow the singer's 2019 full length release portraits, which has to date accumulated over 100+ million streams, and topped #5 on iTunes’ Pop Charts, #1 on Apple’s Music Breaking Pop Playlist, and #3 on Apple Music’s Best of the Week Playlist upon its release. The album was followed by a word tour that included 70+ sold out dates in North America, Europe, SE Asia, and China.

Get the new single HERE. Chance will embark on a European tour this summer with confirmed dates in London, Berlin, Madrid, and Paris. A U.S. tour is set for this fall with dates in Hamden, Seattle, Orlando, and Atlanta already announced. For more information, please visit GreysonChanceMusic.com.

Gay punk band PANSY DIVISION are celebrating their third decade with a trio of rare live shows. “It's great to have lasted this long,” laughs Jon Ginoli, vocalist/rhythm guitarist and band founder. “It's exciting to have people excited about wanting to see us play at this stage in the band's career.”

Beginning in 1991 when Ginoli surveyed the rock scene and saw not only a dearth of openly queer musicians but a complete lack of them, he formed what would be the first openly gay rock band featuring predominantly gay musicians. Thirty years later, the music scene has grown more and more accepting of LGBTQ+ artists that it’s almost dizzying. “There is so much of it now that I can't keep track of it, and that's a far cry from when we were starting out,” he says. “If more people had been out then, especially in rock, we might not have felt the need to start this band in the first place. But there wasn't, so we did, and being so open, unapologetic, blunt and fun about it means it still resonates today.”

Sidelined by the pandemic like nearly everyone in the music industry, Pansy Division is excited about the gradual return to live music… and with these three shows planned, it’ll be the first toe-dip in the live music pool. “I'm looking forward to these shows,” he says excited, especially happy to be back on stage instead playing a virtual "show" in front of an iPhone in his living room. “Playing solo shows over Zoom was fun, but it's hardly the same as being in the same room with an amplified group.”

Releasing their seventh album Quite Contrary in 2016, Pansy Division has been challenging the often exclusionary music world for continued acceptance. Having been championed early on by Green Day who took them on their Dookie tour (1994) and talked up by Howard Stern on his radio show, they’ve broken through the mainstream without having to compromise. Injecting humor into their sometimes playful, sometimes serious punk pop songs tinged with elements of glam, folk-rock and Britpop without being caustic, they’ve kept their raunch and raucousness balanced in equal parts. “We tried to turn our alienation into something positive,” says Ginoli. “Instead of being depressed about it, we tried to make music that would make us—and our audience—happy. We could laugh about it, so we put that joy into the music.”

Bringing that joy back into the clubs where it (and they) belong, Pansy Division are excited to be back. “We have played 976 shows in our 30-year career and we want to get to a thousand,” he laughs. “Since we all have our own lives and careers and are geographically separated from one another, it may take a while, but we hope to get there.”

Pansy Division are Chris Freeman (bass, vocals), Jon Ginoli (rhythm guitar, vocals), Luis Illades (drums) and Joel Reader (lead guitar, vocals).

Live dates:

June 30 – Palm Springs, CA @ The Alibi
July 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon
July 3 – Oakland, CA @ Mosswood Meltdown Festival

The LOVE, VICTOR ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK SEASON 3 EP was released in conjunction with the series' third and final season streaming now on Hulu. This season finds Victor going on a journey of self-discovery — not only deciding who he wants to be with, but more broadly, who he wants to be.

With their post-high-school plans looming, Victor and his friends are faced with a new set of problems that they must work through to make the best choices for their futures. The series stars Michael Cimino, Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel, Bebe Wood, Mason Gooding, George Sear, Isabella Ferreira, Mateo Fernandez, Anthony Keyvan, Ava Capri, James Martinez and Ana Ortiz.

TRACKLIST:

1. “Mission” Vincent
2. “Dinner” Grag Queen
3. “Armageddon” Black Polish
4. “Only You” (Yaz cover) Jonah Mutono

Wrabel has released the deluxe edition of his 2021 debut album, ‘these words are all for you’ (via Big Gay Records/Nettwerk). Retitled ‘these words are all for you too’, the deluxe includes three new songs as well as remixes by Goldhouse and Japanese Wallpaper, and Wrabel’s recent collaboration with Cam on a refurbished version of “london” (the official video is out now: WATCH HERE).

Of the decision to release the deluxe edition LP, Wrabel said “putting my first record together after writing for more than ten years was one of the most difficult tasks I’ve had to accomplish. I am so very proud of the final tracklist, but there were a handful of songs that kept haunting me. I see this as another window into the world of the record.”

Recently, Wrabel guested on Tenille Townes’ “When You Need It” and on a rereleased version of Wild Rivers’ “Thinking ‘Bout Love”, as well as dropped the video for “wish you well” in tandem with an EP including alternate versions of the song.

Wrabel’s has toured alongside and collaborated with P!nk, has co-writing/performance credits alongside the likes of Kesha, Tenille Townes, Marshmello, Celeste, Backstreet Boys, Ellie Goulding, Louis Tomlinson, Louis the Child, Wafia, Cash Cash, and more. He’s released four previous EPs, has racked up 525 million streams across all DSP platforms. 

Track Listing:

wish you well

back to back (with Duncan Laurence)
nothing but the love
london
don’t pick up the phone
cars
let love in
it’s us (with Madi Diaz)
pale blue dot
love is not a simple thing to lose
closure
forest fire
all of a sudden
london (with Cam)
back to back (with Duncan Laurence) – Japanese Wallpaper remix
nothing but the love (GOLDHOUSE remix)

International platinum selling singer/songwriter Darren Hayes of Savage Garden fame has released his new single “Poison Blood,” detailing his experiences with depression and suicide. PRESS HERE to listen. Written, orchestrated and produced entirely by Hayes, the track articulates his family's history of depression and suicide. 

Hayes is marking his 20th year as a solo recording artist as well as the 25th anniversary of Savage Garden’s acclaimed debut, self-titled album. "Poison Blood" follows this year's previous singles: "Let's Try Being In Love" and "Do You Remember?," commemorating his return to music after a decade away. 

Says Hayes, 'Poison Blood' is a song about choosing to stay when everything else in your life is telling you to leave. I have a family history of depression and suicide and I talk openly about my own diagnosis in the hope that I might inspire someone who is struggling to seek help, as I have proudly done many times throughout my life"..."I describe my depression as a blessing, a gift and a curse all at once. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy and yet I’m aware I am a deeply sensitive person, and that my unique brain allows me to feel depths of emotions that many people don’t experience. I have learned to use those moments to channel melodies and stories that I hope are so real and so relatable they might reach someone else who is in pain, like me, and remind them to stay, like I choose to, every single day.”

He adds: “It’s significant to me that I’m releasing this song during world Pride, because so much of my own struggle with mental health in the past centered around my own internalized shame around my sexuality as a young person. Depression and suicide are significantly more prominent in the LGBTQI+ community so I hope this song is a comfort for anyone who needs reminding they are not alone.”

The multi-award winning songwriter and performer returned earlier this year with a headlining performance at the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebration. Darren Hayes will return to Australian stages for the first time in over a decade in January/February 2023 with his ‘Do You Remember?’ Tour – 25 Years Of Savage Garden, Solo Hits And More. For more information and ticket info - visit www.darrenhayes.com.

Savage Garden (Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones) rose to fame in the late 90s courtesy of their hits "Truly Madly Deeply," "I Knew I Loved You," and "I Want You." Since its release in 1997, their self-titled debut album has been certified 12x Platinum in Australia, 7x Platinum in the US, and Diamond in Canada. They are one of only two Australian bands to have ever had two #1 singles in the US and are the reigning record-holders for the longest number of weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay charts in the US for their singles "I Knew I Loved You" (124 weeks) and "Truly, Madly, Deeply" (123 weeks). Savage Garden, whose official YouTube channel has amassed nearly 900 million views, is Australia’s biggest and most successful musical duo.

Photos courtesy of Shore Fire Media, 42 West, Reybee and Press Here.