Fagatron

{{about|the punk band|for the artist known as Fagottron|Pogo (musician)}}

{{short description|American Queercore band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Fagatron

| genre = {{hlist|Queercore|Hardcore|}}

| origin = Lincoln, Nebraska

| past_members = {{hlist|Abe Miner|Jeromy Ogg}}

| label = Agitprop! Records

| years_active = 1996-1998, 2002-2007

}}

Fagatron was a short-lived but influential punk rock band in the Queercore movement which gained a small cult following for its emphasis on radical politics and queer identity.{{Cite book|last1=Ciminelli|first1=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nT8UAQAAIAAJ|title=Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock|last2=Knox|first2=Ken|date=2005|publisher=Alyson Books|isbn=978-1-55583-855-3|language=en}} It was formed in 1996 by Abe Miner and Jeromy Ogg of Lincoln, Nebraska.

History

Fagatron was formed in 1996 by seventeen-year-olds Jeromy Ogg and Abe Miner, inspired by British anarcho-punk, noise rock and hardcore punk.{{Cite web|last=Wenz|first=John|title="Asskickatron" by Fagatron - Echoes|url=https://hearnebraska.org/feature/asskickatron-fagatron-echoes/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Hear Nebraska|date=April 19, 2011 |language=en-US}} The band was named by combining the reclaimed slur fag and the name of the powerviolence band Armortron.{{Cite web|date=2018-06-27|title=Meet Plack Blague: Industrial-Dance "Leather Band" Endorsed by Rob Halford|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/meet-plack-blague-industrial-dance-leather-band-endorsed-rob-halford|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Revolver|language=en}} After a tour in the Midwest United States, the band went on a hiatus from 1998 to 2002.{{Cite book|last=Wiedlack|first=Katharina|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/940421663|title=Queer-feminist punk : an anti-social history|year=2015|isbn=978-3-902902-27-6|pages=66|publisher=Zaglossus |oclc=940421663}}

They released their self-titled full-length record, 17 minutes in length and with 13 songs, on Agitprop! Records in 2002. Fagatron's music, composed of bass guitar, drums, and vocals, focused on themes such as gay culture, individualism, and contemporary US society.{{Cite magazine|last=White|first=Dave|date=October 1, 2002|title=Screamers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=fagatron+band&pg=PA65|magazine=The Advocate|access-date=2020-09-21}} Their music was featured in two compilation albums focused on the queercore genre. Asskickatron and Punk You are both in the 2000 compilation CD Homocore Minneapolis: Live And Loud released by Lefty Records, alongside queercore bands like Tribe 8 and The Butchies. Asskickatron is on an Agitprop! compilation CD as well, Stand Up and Fucking Fight for it! Queers In Hardcore And Punk.{{Citation|title=Stand Up and Fucking Fight for It: Queers in Hardcore and Punk - Various Artists {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stand-up-and-fucking-fight-for-it-queers-in-hardcore-and-punk-mw0001202700|language=en|access-date=2021-08-26}}

Reception

Though much of their activity was underground, Fagatron received some media attention due to their intensity. Curran Nault in Queercore: Queer Punk Media Subculture described Fagatron's anthem "Asskickatron" as "the melding of confrontational queer politics and abrasive punk aesthetics made manifest".{{Cite book|last=Nault|first=Curran|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IxIwDwAAQBAJ&dq=fagatron+band&pg=PT116|title=Queercore: Queer Punk Media Subculture|date=2017-08-07|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-315-31784-7|language=en}} Their lyrics, according to Dave White of The Advocate, are "goofily witty and vigorous."

References