Sleaze Sells

Sex and music have an inevitable link. In more recent memory early rock music was the devil's work for encouraging teenagers to have sex (amongst a boring laundry list of other sins). The ties have gone back almost as long as music has existed - Pan playing his pipes, the bawdy minstrels, the courting musics of the past all play their equal parts but regardless, it is tied deeply in our collective unconscious.

Similarly, sex has been an aspect of marketing - both blunt and subliminal - for selling almost any product. That there are bands who have focused on a sort of aggressive sexuality or a tease of it is a natural continuation. In putting this collection together I purposefully avoided bands that use sexually explicit content as a 'negative' connotation. Rape, abuse and the like have their own place in musical discussion but most people are not going to buy something with it explicit as an endorsement. (Okay so there certainly are people but we'll ignore that).

• The Cramps - Queen of Pain

The Cramps were not the first band to sell songs with sex - and they sold music on a lot of other levels - but they were so influential that the sleaze aspects of their music has to be considered - if not identical - inspirational to many who would have come after.

• Betty Blowtorch - Size Queen
• Genitorturers - Lecher Bitch

These two groups are those who I would put into the category of music first, sex second. They certainly have sexually charged songs - even a large portion of their catalogs depending on how literal you wish to be - but are not bands that are weakened without a stage presence or sexual aspect to their songs.

• Gravy Train!!! - Double Decker Supreme
• Rockbitch - Fist Fuck (pt 1)

On the other side of the coin, while these groups may have great musicianship, the sexual aspect of their music and stage shows really are the overwhelming thing you take away. Both have 'audience participation' shows and rarely sink into metaphor, instead going for the blunt answer every time.

I'm not trying to pass a judgment one way or the other, in fact I'd really like to hear other's opinions on it. Something I'm not really decided on myself.

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