GAAHL(in makeup above and right, below sans makeup) WITH FORMER BF, AND MODELING AGENT,
DAN DE VERO
Back in August, 2008, the news that Gorgoroth frontman Gaahl ( real name Kristian Eivind Espedal) was working in collaboration with a fashion label to start up his own line of women's clothing, was not shocking, Gaahl has always been an eccentric. Around the time of that news, rumours began to start that stated that he was in fact gay. Nothing more was really said on the matter, a lot of speculation for the most part, a background incident at Wacken, and even outright defiance to the fact by some black metal fans.
However, on January 6, 2009 in a talk with Hollands FaceCulture, Gaahl was very open and honest about his sexuality and said that he is gay. An English translation of an article regarding his sexual orientation from Germany's Hard Rock magazine became available on metal news site Blabbermouth.Net (click here for that) and since then, both himself and former boyfriend Dan De Vero have received threats, De Vero says they have come by telephone, mail and email.
Gaahl though, has never considered this whole debacle to be a "coming out" he says "It doesn't feel to me as if I've outed myself because up until now the whole thing was a non-issue for me. All this evolved very naturally. I feel how I feel and I've never made any secret about it."
In the interview, FaceCulture asked him whether or not people would react differently to him and/or his music in light of this news. His answer was this, "Mankind is known to be narrow-minded, so… maybe some [will have a negative reaction]," he replied. "But I guess it will even out the score in a way. I think it will be positive for some and negative for some. It's always good to have some negative as well. Otherwise you would end up with equality and equality is the worst thing in the world. . . Equality is stagnation. It doesn't let anything grow. It holds back."
Well said, from what I can only describe as one of the scariest gay men since Jeffrey Dahmer (a little extreme but not far off). Despite this ballsy move, and the fact that its such a non-issue for the Gorgoroth front man, one who has followed his career cannot shake the memory of his assault against a young man some time ago. In the documentary True Norwegian Black Metal, you get a look at a completely different Gaahl than the one you see depicted here.The documentary is available on the Forge-Tube (click here) for your entertainment and information needs.
Despite his strange albeit checkered past, it is the main message of black metal itself to be true to yourself without caring what others think. An excellent lesson in self-esteem, tragically skewed by satanic imagery and messages.
Gaahl is not the first metal frontman to reveal his sexual orientation publically, Rob Halford of Judas Priest (a major influence of Gaahls) came out years ago, much to the surprise of 'Priest fans. Although in hindsight, the signature leatherbar attire he wore on stage would be a dead give away in modern times. Its not just a game for boys either, L.A. screamer, Otep is a proud lesbian. I am sure there are others that remain uncounted because for them, its not what defines them and it's more about their music.
It's sad in this modern time, when one's sexual orientation can inspire such hatred and prejudice even among a band's most dedicated of fans. However, how much of a fan are you when you put the music and the message second behind the artists sexual preference? Gay, Straight, and anything in between, metal's message has always been acceptance and the breaking of barriers that separate us. Better to be a proud metalhead accepting of all that come into our fold than an ignorant breeder, probably unsure of their own sexuality (you know who you are.)
Until next time, keep those horns....and rainbow flags, high!
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