Real Men Wear Dresses
Gender bending with Jonni Rotten of Transexpistols
2004-04-12
Increase Font Size
Decrease Font Size
When musicians form tribute groups and pay homage to their idols, there are always
pockets of resistance by the most die-hard fans of the original. This occurs most
often when facets of the tribute group do not comply with the integrity (or lack
thereof) of the original band. So it seems only natural to forego the inevitable
catcalls of not living up to the “tribute” tag and throw in a little
extra sauce for good measure. What better way to avoid this most ghastly of dilemmas
than by throwing on a dress, raiding your local Maybelline distributor and clunking
around on stage in three-inch heels? Such was the sound decision for LA-based
Sex Pistols tribute band, Transexpistols.
While I’m fairly sure that there have been bands that emulated the Sex Pistols in the past, I’m certain that no other band has done it with such panache. According to lead vocalist Jonni Rotten, the idea stemmed from simply being bored with playing it straight (pun intended).
“Originally, we were a Sex Pistols cover band called Pretty Vacant. We played a couple shows, and we got really bored with it. So we decided that we needed some sort of gimmick,” explains Rotten. Steffi Bones, the group’s Steve Jones alter ego and guitarist, who according to Rotten “has always had a propensity for wearing dresses on any occasion,” hatched that gimmick. Aside from providing hysterically fitting female-oriented monikers for the members of Sex Pistols, the group - which also includes Cynthia Vicious on bass and Pauline Stinky Cook on drums - also boasts a fervent following in the spiral of derisive acts in the LA area.
“[The first time we played] we came out and people just couldn’t believe it. There were a bunch of blank stares and then they really got into it because we really do sound decent, but we look terrible, which is sort of part of the attraction,” elaborates Rotten.
One of the more elusive details surrounding the band is that, despite the fact that they do in fact dress in drag and play punk rock songs, certain members of the group hold down damn decent day jobs, one being a lawyer, and one a teacher. Surprising you say? The rumors are true according to Rotten.
“I think the teacher has done a pretty good job of hiding it from his students. Although there were a couple instances where we were getting ready to go to a show, in drag and in makeup and one of his students would cruise by. So that made for some…[adopting a nervous voice] ‘Oh hey, I’m going to a party…’ So that was pretty funny,” laughs Rotten.
The group recently recruited a roadie, who also performs songs with them and goes by the name of Tacky Jacky. According to Rotten she is “totally hilarious and totally dirty.” Tacky Jacky’s other role is to fill in for a band member if by chance the group has a fight onstage, a byproduct of the rotund diva mentality that the members of the group have assumed as part of their show. “In the past we’ve had knockdown brawls over clothing or over something that someone says, to the point where the band will disintegrate into a little bit of a tussle, and she steps in and grabs a guitar and sings a couple songs until we sort things out,” explains Rotten.
While performing in a tribute band may or may not be a means to be as close to your idols without actually being them, the question remains whether or not you will be noticed by the band you are imitating. The famous scenario of Judas Priest comes to mind, wherein when faced with the prospect of finding a new lead singer, the metal super-group found their savior fronting a Judas Priest tribute band (the basis of 2002’s Rockstar film). Rotten elucidates: “We’ve invited Steve Jones to a bunch of shows through friends of friends who know him, but he’s never shown up. I don’t know, he probably thinks it’s totally stupid. Johnny Rotten mentioned it on his radio show a while back and said it was a great idea, but we haven’t gotten him to a show either. I’d love that if that would happen. Our guitarist Steffi said if Steve Jones does ever show up, he’s gonna challenge him to a fight, which I think would be hilarious just to see what happens.”
So, if the adage “A man never knows his masculinity until he has seen the world through the eyes of a woman, while playing punk rock” piques your interest in the slightest, it would behoove you to extinguish your inhibitions and rock along like it’s 1977 with the tongue-in-cheek antics of Transexpistols, the one and only cross dressing tribute band I’ve ever heard of (or hope to hear of again), if only for their impeccable outfits.
While I’m fairly sure that there have been bands that emulated the Sex Pistols in the past, I’m certain that no other band has done it with such panache. According to lead vocalist Jonni Rotten, the idea stemmed from simply being bored with playing it straight (pun intended).
“Originally, we were a Sex Pistols cover band called Pretty Vacant. We played a couple shows, and we got really bored with it. So we decided that we needed some sort of gimmick,” explains Rotten. Steffi Bones, the group’s Steve Jones alter ego and guitarist, who according to Rotten “has always had a propensity for wearing dresses on any occasion,” hatched that gimmick. Aside from providing hysterically fitting female-oriented monikers for the members of Sex Pistols, the group - which also includes Cynthia Vicious on bass and Pauline Stinky Cook on drums - also boasts a fervent following in the spiral of derisive acts in the LA area.
“[The first time we played] we came out and people just couldn’t believe it. There were a bunch of blank stares and then they really got into it because we really do sound decent, but we look terrible, which is sort of part of the attraction,” elaborates Rotten.
One of the more elusive details surrounding the band is that, despite the fact that they do in fact dress in drag and play punk rock songs, certain members of the group hold down damn decent day jobs, one being a lawyer, and one a teacher. Surprising you say? The rumors are true according to Rotten.
“I think the teacher has done a pretty good job of hiding it from his students. Although there were a couple instances where we were getting ready to go to a show, in drag and in makeup and one of his students would cruise by. So that made for some…[adopting a nervous voice] ‘Oh hey, I’m going to a party…’ So that was pretty funny,” laughs Rotten.
The group recently recruited a roadie, who also performs songs with them and goes by the name of Tacky Jacky. According to Rotten she is “totally hilarious and totally dirty.” Tacky Jacky’s other role is to fill in for a band member if by chance the group has a fight onstage, a byproduct of the rotund diva mentality that the members of the group have assumed as part of their show. “In the past we’ve had knockdown brawls over clothing or over something that someone says, to the point where the band will disintegrate into a little bit of a tussle, and she steps in and grabs a guitar and sings a couple songs until we sort things out,” explains Rotten.
While performing in a tribute band may or may not be a means to be as close to your idols without actually being them, the question remains whether or not you will be noticed by the band you are imitating. The famous scenario of Judas Priest comes to mind, wherein when faced with the prospect of finding a new lead singer, the metal super-group found their savior fronting a Judas Priest tribute band (the basis of 2002’s Rockstar film). Rotten elucidates: “We’ve invited Steve Jones to a bunch of shows through friends of friends who know him, but he’s never shown up. I don’t know, he probably thinks it’s totally stupid. Johnny Rotten mentioned it on his radio show a while back and said it was a great idea, but we haven’t gotten him to a show either. I’d love that if that would happen. Our guitarist Steffi said if Steve Jones does ever show up, he’s gonna challenge him to a fight, which I think would be hilarious just to see what happens.”
So, if the adage “A man never knows his masculinity until he has seen the world through the eyes of a woman, while playing punk rock” piques your interest in the slightest, it would behoove you to extinguish your inhibitions and rock along like it’s 1977 with the tongue-in-cheek antics of Transexpistols, the one and only cross dressing tribute band I’ve ever heard of (or hope to hear of again), if only for their impeccable outfits.
Bookmark: 
