The Dms’ Jonny Pierce: ‘Beg gay lerally saved my life’

the drums gay

As part of The Dm’s Marketg and the Margalized Deep Dive, we tch up wh Rob Cheng and Andreas Krasser, who are puttg together the marketg playbook for the 2023 Gay Gam Hong Kong – s first time Asia.

Contents:

THE DMS’ JONNY PIERCE: ‘BEG GAY LERALLY SAVED MY LIFE’

Onstage at his first Pri performance, Pierce told the dience, “I ed to pray not to be gay. Now I pray to be more gay. Gay is good.” * the drums gay *

He’s certaly a long way om where he was while dog prs for the band’s but album 2009, when he “full-on lied” about his sexualy to a Sunday Tim reporter who somewhat tsively asked if he or any of his bandmat were gay. When die-rock band the Dms, led by openly gay sger-songwrer Jonny Pierce, performed this month at the Los Angel Pri Ftival, marked another major personal and profsnal tone for Pierce, who raised a small town by strict, unsupportive, Pentestal preacher parents.

The tth is that for a lot of my life I’ve celebrated homosexualy, but remaed homophobic towards myself.

THE DMS’ JONNY PIERCE SHAR HIS ‘ABYSMAL THOUGHTS’ ON LOVE, LOSS, AND GROWG UP GAY: 'I WANT EVERYTHG TO JT BE OK'

Before his reer as a sger took off, Marv Gaye was part of Motown's legendary hoe band The Funk Brothers and played on a number of classic tracks. * the drums gay *

”After his Pri performance, Yahoo Entertament sat down wh Pierce, age 37, to discs his long and sometim paful journey om beg a closeted kid to out-and-proud queer in, and why he now believ that beg gay ultimately saved his Entertament: For years, you didn’t want to participate any Pri events. Jonny Pierce: I thk Pri is ultimately a really good thg, but at the same time I don't always feel that my versn of homosexualy is reflected a Gay Pri event self. I thk a lot of tim when people thk of Gay Pri, they thk of the most flamboyant, extreme versn of Pri or beg gay and you know, I jt never felt like accepted that muny.

You know, when you're gay kid growg up a hostile environment, you have to get creative about everythg. If you're gay and you have supportive parents om the get-go that’s great, but that’s not always the se. I was born a small town New York state, five hours north of New York Cy, to mother and father who happen to be born-aga Christians and have a Pentestal church — stnchly anti-gay.

I n say now that I'm not homophobic toward myself, but I thk bee of doctratn for so many years — I went through some therapy tryg to “rrect” what they thought was “wrong” wh me and all of that stuff — even though the ont of your md sometim jt sayg, “I know that's silly, that's bulls***, ” sometim there's still thgs lgerg your sub-sub-nsc you're not even aware of.

JONNY PIERCE (THE DMS) TALKS GAY CONVERSN THERAPY, HIS TE VOICE AND FEAR

And so sometim 's wonrful, and if 's not that’s really unfortunate and 's not fair, but you've got to face that and make some real 't your parents rally agast a gay bookstore or somethg crazy like that? My mother went there, saw that there was some like gay books there, and she told them if they didn't remove those books that she'd ll for a town-wi boytt of the store. Be as good of a kid as you n, bee you already have this gay thg gog on and you don't want to make them even more mad.

’'Rocketman' star Taron Egerton on gay storyle: 'I'm very proud that our movie puts ont and center''NSync's Lance Bass says 'mic dtry is still homophobic, ' but ’s time for an openly gay boy bandPop prodigy MNEK on beg a black gay role mol: 'There's nothg wrong wh beg myself'‘Amerin Idol’ nttant Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon’s brave g-out story: ‘Everybody was a ltle jolted by how transparent I was beg’Follow Lyndsey on Facebook, Twter, Instagram, Google+, Amazon, Tumblr, daily pop culture news livered to your box? Pierce — who grew up gay a small town raised by strict Pentestal preacher parents, had stggled over the years wh beg gay the public eye, and found himself tranged off and on om his fay due to his sexualy — was sudnly forced to reasss his entire om great pa often great art, and Abysmal Thoughts is the Dms’ ft album sce their 2010 but.

I thk a lot of has to do wh how I grew up, beg gay, havg two parents as pastors of a big church — a big, anti-gay, born-aga, speak--tongu church. I wrote my PR agent and I said, “I really want to talk about when is appropriate and OK and not crazy to close the door pletely on a relatnship your life, where there’s somebody who isn’t supportive of you beg gay, or jt beg who you are? I feel my lifetime I’ve never felt such a palpable, tangible threat to my rights and to other people’s rights around me — not jt gay people, but anyone who’s a mory suatn.

FIVE CLASSICS MOTOWN SONGS FEATURG MARV GAYE ON DMS

You uld say, “I want to give you the moon, but I also do believe that women should have ntrol of their own body and gay people should be allowed to be married and live wh the same rights as anyone else. If you jt say that you’re antiabortn and antigay, you’re gog to get a lot of Christians votg for you. It was jt really amazg to see, to be a part of his procs of leavg a church that is fundamentally antigay and to make really quick progrs.

GAY RIGHTS

I know seems like would be sry to feel that way, but for me I remember when I moved to New York Cy, I was really kd of gog [wh beg out the open about my sexualy], and then I stumbled across a Gay Pri para and got really spooked. I ran upstate and swore I wouldn’t be gay anymore and threw myself the church and started datg women — or tryg to, anyway. Then that kd of fizzled out, and I end up g back to the cy and tryg to live my life here as the “gay guy” aga, but still always wh that fear the back of my md that I was gog to burn Hell for .

I’ve got to figure out a way to be OK wh beg like you’ve always done a lot of you’re gay and a small town where nobody else wants anythg to do wh you, you have no other choice but to look at life at all the different angl.

THE MARKETG TEAM BEHD THE 2023 GAY GAM SHAR WHAT’S STORE

I don’t thk of the Dms as primarily an LGBTQ band — ’s jt part of your story, particularly sce wasn’t part of your public story when the band first started — but do you feel like you need to be a role mol to the gay muny, terms of how you nduct yourself or anythg like that? ” One thg nobody seemed to want to be was a band wh a gay lead sger, let alone also a gay -wrer and synthizer were worried about not beg accepted?

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* THE DRUMS GAY

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data-ttid="ContentHearContaer" class="ContentHearContaer-cGKRbE knDxNq"><div class="ContentHearHedAccredatnWrapper-GFiQf cDNVlV"><div data-ttid="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper" class="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper-cjmSKp eiGjZk"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubric" class="ContentHearRubricBlock-LmpbT tPofh"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubricDateBlock" class="ContentHearRubricDateBlock-kAQcZP fTFWxD"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric ContentHearRubricContaer-eTudtt iRsSlw"><a class="RubricLk-gRWSOU cwyjHY bric__lk" href="/culture"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></a></div></div></div><h1 data-ttid="ContentHearHed" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearHed-NCyCC iUEiRd jdcWfa isouMH">The Dms' Jonny Pierce Isn't Hidg Who He Is Anymore</h1></div><div class="ContentHearAccredatn-lfctVB etVsnJ ntent-hear__accredatn" data-ttid="ContentHearAccredatn"><div class="ContentHearDek-bIqFFZ eijTxK">After a rough ternatnal breakup and time therapy, the celebrated mician's new work is lookg ward, rather than out. That means unveilg parts of himself and his queerns that he prevly kept tucked away.</div><div class="ContentHearByle-kmPyCa emiglw"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC rponsive-image"><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 80w" siz="66px"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 90w" siz="66px"/><img alt="" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></picture></span><div class="ContentHearByleContent-dpPmNn DRFq"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl ContentHearByl-cZqgyJ bHLeKI"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH hdWCIC byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd 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960w, 1280w, 1600w, 1920w, 2240w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Jonny Pierce of 'The Dms'" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></picture></div></div></span><div class="CaptnWrapper-jSZdqE hTTfoq ptn ContentHearLeadAssetCaptn-hPWmSN hfnsqH"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnCred-ejegDm iUEiRd eNhSMp fNaHcW ptn__cred">Nicholas Moore</span></div></div></figure></div></div><asi class="PersistentAsiWrapper-VGrR oEIBz persistent-asi persistent-asi--align-left" style="posn:absolute;top:to;height:to" data-ttid="PersistentAsiWrapper"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jNgrSF sticky-box ContentHearPersistentAsi-fsnAmQ dFzKzm"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="SocialInsWrapper-hKMEXV ffgPVr social-ins social-ins--has-background ContentHearSocialIns-jzJiyg fLarGt social-ins--share"><ul data-ttid="socialInslist" class="SocialInsList-cHVTIA ivmblD social-ins__list"><li class="SocialInsListItem-mbhR gQILrJ 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data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"mailto:?subject=The%20Dms'%20Jonny%20Pierce%20Isn't%20Hidg%20Who%20He%20Is%20Anymore&" href="mailto:?subject=The%20Dms'%20Jonny%20Pierce%20Isn't%20Hidg%20Who%20He%20Is%20Anymore& rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><div class="SocialInContaer-huXzUC pMzVC social-ins__in-ntaer"><svg class="SocialInNetworkInComponent-cZaKGz dlOAhZ in in-email" focable="false" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32" xmlns="><tle>Email</tle><path d="M6 23h20V9H6v14zm3.631-12H22.37l-6.368 5.661L9.631 11zM24 12.227V21H8v-8.773l8.002 7.109L24 12.227z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></asi></hear></div><div data-attribute-verso-pattern="article-body" class="ArticlePageContentBackGround-cNiFNN kJkLmH article-body__ntent"><div class="ArticlePageChunksContent-etcMtP bwyLBj"><div data-ttid="ArticlePageChunks" class="ArticlePageChunks-fLyCVG eOdfIs"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>Heavy. Hard. Impractil. Extreme. Bleak.</p><p>The are the words Jonny Pierce to both scribe btalist archecture (he says he’s a sual fan) and a particularly volatile relatnship he recently shared wh a “stunngly betiful” man more than a his junr. It was one that saw the 37-year-old brachild of die band The Dms pack up all his belonggs and move across the world — om New York Cy to Bssels, Belgium, where he found himself livg amid a sea of btalist buildgs.</p><p>Instead of awe for all the bety surroundg him there, the sger began to thk of the archectural style as a ftg metaphor for where his life had end up. “I realized pretty quickly that wasn’t gog to be the betiful experience I had romanticized,” he adms on a snowy day Febary. “In fact, the relatnship was already fallg apart.”</p><div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--article-mid-ntent" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--article-mid-ntent nsumer-marketg-un__slot---ntent"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><p>Eventually, he and his be broke up and Pierce moved back stati, now sperate to work through the personal issu that led him to make such a drastic cisn the first place. “When I analyzed what I had gone through and what I had given of me — the generosy I poured out towards this guy jt to keep him happy — my jaw dropped that that was <em>me</em>. This wasn’t some story about some Joe Schmo. That was <em>me</em> at 35 years old. I was that sperate. I was that needy,” he tells me, now wipg away a few tears. “I get emotnal jt talkg about . I’m sweatg.”</p><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><p>So for the first time, Pierce earntly sought out a therapist and vowed to take his mental health serly. He began rerdg new mic for the band’s fifth album around the same time, and he wasn’t surprised to fd that jt as therapy changed his perspective on life, also changed his whole approach to mic.</p><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad---ntent"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot---ntent" data-no-id="q41pug"></div></div><p>The album he rerd durg this time, out today, is ftgly tled <em>Btalism</em>.</p><asi aria-hidn="te" class="PullQuoteEmbedWrapper-sc-EoVjf fQbAzo"><div class="PullQuoteDerativeBorr-sc-iUyOLj fAzNVP"></div><div class="PullQuoteEmbedContent-sc-kTcfhx eoUd"><p>"If I’m not talkg about beg gay, I feel like I’m not really beg an artist. I am an artist and I’m gog to make art that reflects who I am,” Pierce says.</p></div></asi><p>Dpe s solemn orig story, Pierce actually seems que enthiastic to talk about the new release, mostly bee he’s been feelg better overall. When I meet him for an extensive chat New York Cy’s Koreatown, he tells me, “I jt feel like my world has been sort of centered, and I don’t thk ’s ever been like that before.” He looks rehed, too — he’s cheery-faced and noticeably relaxed, drsed stylishly but fortably a long-sleeved black Nike athletic shirt and black jeans cropped jt enough to show off his crimson red socks. He was wearg a blue wdbreaker earlier, but after plag about the admtedly excsive door heat, he peels off. “I wanted a pop of lor… but I gus not,” he jok.</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB kNleGZ sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="1xbo5"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="ylhvzr"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>I n image that his therapist lov havg him as a client, as he exhibs an unual willgns to volunteer rmatn about his personal life that other artists would keep to themselv. He rponds to my “<em>How are you dog?</em>” wh a near-twelve mute answer, where “I feel good” eventually leads to him openg up about his rough childhood a small town wh two nservative Pentestal pastors as parents. “They were both very anti-gay. They thk Donald Tmp is God’s gift to the world. To really protect myself, I had to be on guard all the time,” he disclos.</p><figure class="AssetEmbedWrapper-eVDQiB byBkf asset-embed"><div class="AssetEmbedAssetContaer-eJxoAx dBHGoQ asset-embed__asset-ntaer"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset rponsive-image"><noscript><img alt="Jonny Pierce of 'The Dms'" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w, 1280w, 1600w" siz="100vw"/></noscript></picture></span></div><div class="CaptnWrapper-jSZdqE hTTfoq ptn AssetEmbedCaptn-fNQBPI fmQnYP asset-embed__ptn"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnCred-ejegDm iUEiRd eNhSMp fNaHcW ptn__cred">Nicholas Moore</span></div></figure><p>Of urse, ’s probably easier to talk about your dark past when you’re lookg ahead to a brighter future. Today, Pierce has found some much need clary. Wh therapy, new eatg and exercise habs, and a mment to cut out excsive partyg, drkg, and travelg, he n say, “I’m fally, for the first time my life, experiencg real, fully exotic joy.”</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-1 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p>Which is at least partially why Pierce scrib <em>Btalism</em> as “an <em>I</em> album stead of a <em>you</em> album.” Acrdg to the sger, a lot of his past mic was foced on other people, whether was “<em>you</em> broke my heart” or “<em>you</em> n make this better.” He says he’s more spired now when lookg ward. On the energetic “Body Chemistry,” the first song he wrote for the album, he ponrs whether his stggl wh prsn are treatable or possibly embedd to his DNA. As the album’s <a href=">first sgle</a>, the track effectively sets the tone for the whole rerd — tons of somber lyrics offset by upbeat synths bubblg unrneath. He tak pri scribg all as <em>pop</em> mic. “It’s almost on the nose,” he quips at one pot. “If you pare to somethg like [the band’s 2011 album] <em>Portamento</em>, ’s like, <em>Wow, someone had too much ffee</em>!”</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="fn10sn"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div class="RecircMostPopularConter-jiViNn ktrplG 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jykXPG" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz hlQxkn"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Wrtler Anthony Bowens on Reprentatn, Hypermasculy, and His Viral “I’m Gay” Moment" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">TV and Movi</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM jRfyII summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ jbVqqA summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Wrtler Anthony Bowens on Reprentatn, Hypermasculy, and His Viral “I’m Gay” Moment</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Nade Smh</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw gmWMTZ ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="z4i0dk"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="zr3l8f"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>He also thks of <em>Btalism</em> as a reflectn of the very first album he ever rerd, before The Dms were even a thought his md. Years ago, 2002 or 2003, Pierce rerd some mos he scrib as “very lo-fi but fely pop, wh big, hooky chos.” The mos were good enough to get him noticed by Columbia Rerds, and he signed wh the label even though he wasn’t too thrilled wh the producer they paired him wh. “I had e om tense poverty and tense mental abe,” he explas of his cisn. “It was my pe and I was terrified to fuck that up by sistg on somethg else. So I did what they wanted and me up wh a shty-soundg rerd.” (Pierce mak sure to add, “Nobody knew about the album. It was a total flop. I heard recently that they put out as a tax wre-off.”)</p><p>Siarly, <em>Btalism</em> marks a new begng for the sger. Pierce feels that both his olst and newt rerds reprent moments when he was “steppg away om a paful experience and to somethg new and uncharted and kd of sry — over a thrhold to a better place.” As for the cince them both beg cidly pop? Well. “It felt ftg to make a pop rerd, somethg more lorful, somethg wh some hope and vibrance — a real reflectn of how I’m feelg right now,” he says.</p><p>It’s easy to hear this fluence on the album’s closg track, “Blip of Joy.” Pierce opens the song by sgg, “Let me sk to this blip of joy. I n’t believe this is happeng to me.” Whenever I hear those lyrics, I thk back to somethg he told me about his stggl embracg posivy the past: “I’ve felt happs before and I’ve felt <em>good vib</em>, but was always wh this unrstandg that the were ltle flickers that would dissipate. Even when I was feelg good, I wasn’t allowg myself to fully experience bee I didn’t want to <em>lose </em>, so was better not to have the first place.” It’s enuragg to know that stead of nng om them, Pierce is now takg those “ltle flickers” and “blips of joy” and celebratg them.</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="niwjc"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div 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class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz hlQxkn"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="All the Queer Books Isaac Reads Heartstopper Season Two" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">TV and Movi</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM jRfyII summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk 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summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw jykXPG" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz hlQxkn"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source 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gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Everythg You Need to Know About the Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney Fias</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Samantha Riel</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff lhloqq summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false 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Moment" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">TV and Movi</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM jRfyII summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ jbVqqA summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Wrtler Anthony Bowens on Reprentatn, Hypermasculy, and His Viral “I’m Gay” Moment</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Nade Smh</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw gmWMTZ ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="zp4c6q"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="qtfha9"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><figure class="AssetEmbedWrapper-eVDQiB byBkf asset-embed"><div class="AssetEmbedAssetContaer-eJxoAx dBHGoQ asset-embed__asset-ntaer"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset rponsive-image"><noscript><img alt="Jonny Pierce of 'The Dms'" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w, 1280w, 1600w" siz="100vw"/></noscript></picture></span></div><div class="CaptnWrapper-jSZdqE hTTfoq ptn AssetEmbedCaptn-fNQBPI fmQnYP asset-embed__ptn"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnCred-ejegDm iUEiRd eNhSMp fNaHcW ptn__cred">Nicholas Moore</span></div></figure><p>This extends to his fort as an out queer mician, too. Sce nnsg his band to a solo project ahead of his 2017 album, <em>Abysmal Thoughts</em>, Pierce has started openg up more about that part of himself. He’s certaly a long way om where he was while dog prs for the band’s but album 2009, when he “full-on lied” about his sexualy to a <em>Sunday Tim</em> reporter who somewhat tsively asked if he or any of his bandmat were gay. As he rells, the qutn was met wh “ad silence” om everyone. Pierce’s own face stantly went red.</p><p>“I feel kd of ashamed that I didn’t take that opportuny to be strong or bold,” he adms now, a full later. “But at the same time, I have to take easy on myself bee the ntext around was… <em>different</em>,” he follows, notg that, back then, the world of die rock “was still straight guy-heavy.” So naturally, he’s thrilled to have survived as a mil act for long enough to see a day where he n approach the topic openly and whout shame.</p><p>“<em>I am gay,</em> and that’s gog to show through my art,” he now says nfintly. “To whhold that would be a huge disservice and a huge promise. If I’m not talkg about beg gay, I feel like I’m not really beg an artist. I am an artist and I’m gog to make art that reflects who I am.”</p><p><a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Btalism <em>is out today via ANTI- Rerds.</em></a></p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-2 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p><strong>Get the bt of what's queer.</strong> <a href="><em>Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.</em></a></p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="cxxr"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot 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class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet="(Optn_B) 120w, (Optn_B) 240w, (Optn_B) 320w, (Optn_B) 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet="(Optn_B) 120w, (Optn_B) 240w, (Optn_B) 320w, (Optn_B) 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Nakhane Is Still Learng" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="(Optn_B)"/></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-1" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/nakhane-toure-profile" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Nakhane Is Still Learng</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Michael Cuby</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em 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SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="This Art Exhibn Unearths Punk's LGBTQ+ Roots" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-2" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/queer-punk-art-exhibn" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">This Art Exhibn Unearths Punk's LGBTQ+ Roots</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Ey Colucci</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left 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media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Kacey Mgrav Is A Queer Country Fan's Dream" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/kacey-mgrav-queer-in-lgbt-ally" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div 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SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Girlpool's New Album Explor Transn, Growg Up, and Growg Apart" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/girlpool-what-chaos-is-imagary-terview" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp 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