Get out those bedazzled telescopes! You might need them to spot Carole Pope and Kevan Staples, AKA Rough Trade, who were so far ahead of their time, musically and culturally, that they almost belong in outer space.
Blending cinematic violence with humor and advanced queer politics, a mixture more effective than a combination of Anita Ekberg and Mamie Van Doren, this duo revolutionized sexuality through their sophisticated new wave and pop tunes (and tongue-in-cheek name) – and also, occasionally, entered the public consciousness at large with such tunes as High School Confidential and No Contact.
Pope’s work has even found its way onto the soundtrack of horror parody Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th. But the bloody consequences inherent is such songs as Vertigo, Endless Night, Grade B Movie and others should have placed them on many a terror film soundtrack if this was truly a just world. In fact, the video for Crimes of Passion, one of their most noir-like creations, serves as prime evidence to back up that statement.
While Staples (www.kevanstaples.com) has successfully concentrated on composing for film, as of late, Pope is still battling it out in the singer-songwriter trenches and can be found at www.carolepope.com. Send them some much deserved loving!!
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
Big Gay Horror Fan 