Roddy Bottum
Encyclopedia
Roddy Bottum is an American
musician
, best known as the keyboardist for the San Francisco
rock band Faith No More
. He is also a part of Imperial Teen
, best known for their 1999 single "Yoo Hoo" used in the movie Jawbreaker
. In addition to also having scored three Hollywood movies, Bottum is an out gay musician.
piano
from an early age, until moving to San Francisco when he was 18.
and Mike Bordin
in Faith No More in 1982 (replacing Wade Worthington), Bottum remained in the band
until its demise in 1998. However, after 1992's Angel Dust and its ensuing tour, Bottum's input into Faith No More was reduced significantly. In an interview made available to fans
on the band's King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
album
(vinyl
collection box set), Bottum explained that his contributions to the band's efforts had necessarily declined because of the death of his father that year.
In 2009, Bottum returned to Faith No More for a reunion tour and possibly a recording.
In 1994/1995, Bottum formed Imperial Teen
with Lynn Perko, another Bay Area music
veteran. The band is perhaps best known for their single "Yoo Hoo" used in the 1999 film Jawbreaker
.
as gay
in 1993. He is recognized as a pioneering gay rock
musician and admired as a role model for gay youth interested in music not traditionally associated with the gay community. In a 2001 article in The Advocate
, Bottum stated that "I would never have thought as a gay teen I'd be in a band that would be considered heavy metal or hard rock."
One of his contributions to Faith No More was "Be Aggressive," a song
about oral sex
. Bottum has said in interviews that he wrote the song largely as a joke at Mike Patton
's expense, enjoying the potential humiliation a straight vocalist would subject himself to onstage. "Be Aggressive" became the second most-played song at Faith No More concerts. Bottum would also describe gerbil stuffing
in graphic detail to shocked interviewers.
A 1999 article in The Advocate
said of Imperial Teen, "With lyrical allusions to wearing lipstick and male pronouns used to address love objects, Imperial Teen serves up a gay sensibility that ordinarily surfaces only from straight bands like Pulp
or Pizzicato Five
." Bottum noted "I think there's a resistance from gay artists to go that route just because it's so predictable. But it is annoying to see bands play it as safe as they do these days. That's why something that visually screams as loud as Marilyn Manson
is such a breath of fresh air."
Before he came out as gay, Bottum was actually involved in a brief heterosexual relationship with Courtney Love
in the early 80s, concurrent with the time she sang for Faith No More. The two remain friends to this day. http://www.heavymetalmusicnews.com/2010/07/28/roddy-bottum-recalls-how-courtney-love-almost-killed-him-instead-of-kurt-cobain/
the music for Craig Chester
's film
directorial
debut, the gay romantic comedy Adam & Steve
(2005) and scored What Goes Up (2009). He also composed the music for the 2007 film Kabluey starring Lisa Kudrow and Scott Prendergrast.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the keyboardist for the San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
rock band Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
. He is also a part of Imperial Teen
Imperial Teen
Imperial Teen is a San Francisco-based indie pop group made up of Roddy Bottum primarily on guitar/vocals, Will Schwartz primarily on guitar/vocals, Lynn Truell primarily on drums and backing vocals, and Jone Stebbins primarily on bass and backing...
, best known for their 1999 single "Yoo Hoo" used in the movie Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker may refer to:* Gobstopper or jawbreaker, a hard candy with multiple layers* Jawbreaker , an American rock band* Jawbreaker , a 1999 film starring Rose McGowan...
. In addition to also having scored three Hollywood movies, Bottum is an out gay musician.
Early years
Bottum studied classicalClassical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
from an early age, until moving to San Francisco when he was 18.
Faith No More and Imperial Teen
Joining his schoolfriends Billy GouldBilly Gould
Billy Gould is an American musician and producer. He is noted for playing bass in the band Faith No More.- Faith No More :...
and Mike Bordin
Mike Bordin
Mike Bordin is the co-founder and drummer of rock band Faith No More. He is also known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. As a left-handed drummer, he notably plays with a right-handed kit with his ride cymbal on the left...
in Faith No More in 1982 (replacing Wade Worthington), Bottum remained in the band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
until its demise in 1998. However, after 1992's Angel Dust and its ensuing tour, Bottum's input into Faith No More was reduced significantly. In an interview made available to fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
on the band's King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime is the fifth studio album by Faith No More, released in 1995. It was their first album recorded without longtime guitarist Jim Martin. The album showcased a greater variety than the band's usual heavy metal leanings, with Rolling Stone calling the end result a...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
(vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
collection box set), Bottum explained that his contributions to the band's efforts had necessarily declined because of the death of his father that year.
In 2009, Bottum returned to Faith No More for a reunion tour and possibly a recording.
In 1994/1995, Bottum formed Imperial Teen
Imperial Teen
Imperial Teen is a San Francisco-based indie pop group made up of Roddy Bottum primarily on guitar/vocals, Will Schwartz primarily on guitar/vocals, Lynn Truell primarily on drums and backing vocals, and Jone Stebbins primarily on bass and backing...
with Lynn Perko, another Bay Area music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
veteran. The band is perhaps best known for their single "Yoo Hoo" used in the 1999 film Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker (film)
Jawbreaker is an American black comedy satire film, directed by Darren Stein. It was released February 19, 1999. The film stars Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, and Judy Greer as girls in an exclusive clique in their high school. Charlotte Ayanna has a non-speaking cameo role as a...
.
Sexuality and his music
Bottum came outComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
in 1993. He is recognized as a pioneering gay rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician and admired as a role model for gay youth interested in music not traditionally associated with the gay community. In a 2001 article in The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, Bottum stated that "I would never have thought as a gay teen I'd be in a band that would be considered heavy metal or hard rock."
One of his contributions to Faith No More was "Be Aggressive," a song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
about oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
. Bottum has said in interviews that he wrote the song largely as a joke at Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
's expense, enjoying the potential humiliation a straight vocalist would subject himself to onstage. "Be Aggressive" became the second most-played song at Faith No More concerts. Bottum would also describe gerbil stuffing
Gerbilling
Gerbilling, also known as gerbil stuffing or gerbil shooting, is an urban legend that describes a supposed sexual practice of inserting small live animals into the human rectum to obtain stimulation.Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand records that the urban legend began in 1984, and initially involved a...
in graphic detail to shocked interviewers.
A 1999 article in The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
said of Imperial Teen, "With lyrical allusions to wearing lipstick and male pronouns used to address love objects, Imperial Teen serves up a gay sensibility that ordinarily surfaces only from straight bands like Pulp
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
or Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five was a Japanese pop group best known to audiences in the West in their later incarnation as a duo of Maki Nomiya and Yasuharu Konishi...
." Bottum noted "I think there's a resistance from gay artists to go that route just because it's so predictable. But it is annoying to see bands play it as safe as they do these days. That's why something that visually screams as loud as Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
is such a breath of fresh air."
Before he came out as gay, Bottum was actually involved in a brief heterosexual relationship with Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
in the early 80s, concurrent with the time she sang for Faith No More. The two remain friends to this day. http://www.heavymetalmusicnews.com/2010/07/28/roddy-bottum-recalls-how-courtney-love-almost-killed-him-instead-of-kurt-cobain/
Scoring
Bottum composedComposer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
the music for Craig Chester
Craig Chester
Craig Chester is an American actor and screenwriter.He is best known for his performances in independent films in the 1990s, starting with his debut in Swoon , which earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination...
's film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directorial
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
debut, the gay romantic comedy Adam & Steve
Adam & Steve
Adam & Steve is a 2005 LGBT romantic comedy film directed by and starring Craig Chester, who also wrote the screenplay. It deals with the lives of two gay men, played by Chester and Malcolm Gets...
(2005) and scored What Goes Up (2009). He also composed the music for the 2007 film Kabluey starring Lisa Kudrow and Scott Prendergrast.
External links
- Soundtrack.net interview 22 July 2001