Three Dollar Bill
Encyclopedia
Three Dollar Bill is a band founded by Jane Danger and Chris Piss, in Chicago, Illinois in 1998. The name comes from the expression "Queer as a three dollar bill". The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has never been authorized to print a $3 note. However, before the Civil War, banks operating under State charters issued notes of that denomination. These notes were printed by private contractors and were not obligations of the federal government.See James A. Haxby, Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Banknotes, CD-ROM ed. (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2009)
Jane Danger previously played in Chicago's first queercore
band Heterocide in the late 1990s. In Three Dollar Bill, Jane and Chris Piss both play guitar and sing, while the rhythm section is provided by G. Rex on bass and backing vocals and Chip Lash on drums, who replaced CA Matteson and Jenny Evil in 2002. Their influences run the gamut from punk
, metal
, grunge
, goth
, and indie rock
. The band have self-released four CDs on their own independent label and have appeared on a variety of compilations including the tribute to The Breeders
, Hellbound, which also features performers such as Gentleman Reg
. The band tour and play throughout the east coast and the midwest of the U.S.. Their most recent recording, Parody of Pleasure, was nominated for album of the year by the 2006 Out Music Awards.
The band performs in Scott Berry's movie Gay Shame '98, filmed at the first Gay Shame
event held at DUMBA
in Brooklyn, New York, documenting this alternative to Gay Pride. Three Dollar Bill appear along with other performers such as Penny Arcade
and writers Mattilda aka Matt Bernstein Sycamore and Eileen Myles
. Three Dollar Bill appear on the soundtrack of the 2005 film Hellbent, self-described as "the first gay slasher movie", which also includes songs by notable Queercore bands Best Revenge
and Pansy Division
In 2008, Jane Danger appeared in a starring role alongside Mark Ewert
, Vaginal Davis
, Jen Smith
, Joel Gibb
and Jena von Brucker, in the film The Lollipop Generation
by G.B. Jones. The soundtrack feaured music by The Hidden Cameras
, Anonymous Boy
, and Mariae Nascenti
, as well as Jane Danger
They are featured in the book Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise Of Queer Punk, released in 2005.
Jane Danger previously played in Chicago's first queercore
Queercore
Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by being discontent with society in general and its rejection of the disapproval of the gay, bisexual, and lesbian communities and their "oppressive agenda"...
band Heterocide in the late 1990s. In Three Dollar Bill, Jane and Chris Piss both play guitar and sing, while the rhythm section is provided by G. Rex on bass and backing vocals and Chip Lash on drums, who replaced CA Matteson and Jenny Evil in 2002. Their influences run the gamut from punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
, goth
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, and indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
. The band have self-released four CDs on their own independent label and have appeared on a variety of compilations including the tribute to The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
, Hellbound, which also features performers such as Gentleman Reg
Gentleman Reg
Reg Vermue is a Canadian indie rock singer from Guelph, Ontario. Born in Trenton, Ontario, he records as Gentleman Reg. His musical style has been compared to Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann, The Smiths and Cat Power...
. The band tour and play throughout the east coast and the midwest of the U.S.. Their most recent recording, Parody of Pleasure, was nominated for album of the year by the 2006 Out Music Awards.
The band performs in Scott Berry's movie Gay Shame '98, filmed at the first Gay Shame
Gay shame
Gay Shame is a movement from within the LGBT and queer communities described as a radical alternative to gay mainstreaming and directly posits an alternative view of traditional "gay pride" events and activities which have become increasingly commercialized with corporate sponsors and "safer"...
event held at DUMBA
Dumba
DUMBA was a collective living space and anarchist, queer, all-ages community center and venue in Brooklyn, New York.DUMBA became a radical cultural nexus point around which the Queercore movement flourished and an independent film scene developed...
in Brooklyn, New York, documenting this alternative to Gay Pride. Three Dollar Bill appear along with other performers such as Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade (performer)
Susana Ventura , better known by her stage name Penny Arcade, is an American performance artist, actress, and playwright based in New York City.-Career:...
and writers Mattilda aka Matt Bernstein Sycamore and Eileen Myles
Eileen Myles
Eileen Myles is an American poet who has also worked in fiction, non-fiction, and theater.She won a 2010 Shelley Memorial Award.-Early life and career:...
. Three Dollar Bill appear on the soundtrack of the 2005 film Hellbent, self-described as "the first gay slasher movie", which also includes songs by notable Queercore bands Best Revenge
Best Revenge
Best Revenge is a queercore punk band from Los Angeles, CA. They were active as a studio and live act from the beginning of 1998 until December 2002.-History and Founding:...
and Pansy Division
Pansy Division
Pansy Division is an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California in 1991. Featuring primarily gay musicians and focusing mostly on gay-related themes, Pansy Division is one of the more melodic-oriented bands to emerge from the "queercore" movement that began in the 1980s.-Early...
In 2008, Jane Danger appeared in a starring role alongside Mark Ewert
Mark Ewert
Marcus Ewert, previously known as Mark Ewert, is an American writer, actor and director, living in San Francisco.Marcus Ewert began making and appearing in films in the 1990s. He has appeared in the Gus Van Sant short film Four Naked Boys and a Gun, in Sadie Benning's Flat Is Beautiful, and the...
, Vaginal Davis
Vaginal Davis
Vaginal Davis is an American genderqueer performing artist, painter, independent curator, composer, and writer. Davis's name is a homage to activist Angela Davis.-Life and career:Davis is often associated with the formation of the Queer-Core Zine Movement...
, Jen Smith
Jen Smith
Jen Smith is an artist, musician, zine editor, and activist from the United States.Jen Smith is credited with being the inspiration behind the term Riot Grrrl and being one of the architects of the movement...
, Joel Gibb
Joel Gibb
Joel Gibb is a Berlin-based Canadian artist and singer-songwriter who leads the "gay church folk" group The Hidden Cameras. He was born in Kincardine, Ontario.-Career:...
and Jena von Brucker, in the film The Lollipop Generation
The Lollipop Generation
The Lollipop Generation is the first feature film by G.B. Jones.The Lollipop Generation premiered as the Gala Feature presentation of the Images Festival in Toronto on April 3, 2008....
by G.B. Jones. The soundtrack feaured music by The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras are a Canadian indie pop band. Fronted by singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the band consists of a varying roster of musicians who play what Gibb once described as "gay church folk music"...
, Anonymous Boy
Anonymous Boy
Anonymous Boy is the pen name of Tony Arena, an artist, writer and filmmaker who resides in New York City. Anonymous Boy is also the title of his self-published comics zine.- Comics and Artistic Work :...
, and Mariae Nascenti
Mariae Nascenti
Mariae Nascenti is a one-man industrial music project from Milan, Italy.The creation of Ango Visone, Maria Nascenti has been described as 'dark ambient', 'harsh electronics' and 'ambient industrial'. Songs consist of soundscapes, sometimes employing "found sound", and are frequently accompanied by...
, as well as Jane Danger
They are featured in the book Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise Of Queer Punk, released in 2005.
Albums
- Getting To Know You EP (1998)
- Insurrection on Stereotype RecordsStereotype RecordsStereotype Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California and Portland, Oregon.-Notable artists :* Autopilot is for Lovers* Kárin Tatoyan* Mike Coykendall* PJ Golden* Ollie Byrd* Thomas Greene* Amanda Jo Williams...
(2000) (recorded with CA Matteson and Jenny Evil) - American Dream on Stereotype Records (2001) (recorded with CA Matteson and Jenny Evil)
- Parody Of Pleasure on Stereotype Records (2005)
Compilations
- "Girl-O-Matic" on Matriarchs of the Midwest, Elegant Discourse (1999)
- "Girl-O-Matic" on High Risk: LCCP Cancer Survivor Benefit CD, Materville (1999)
- "Retarded Drag Queen" on Kathie Bergquist Relocation CD, Frooty (2000)
- "U.F.I." on Bitch Nation Top Secret Cassette Swapping Club, Bitch Nation (2000) (Jane Danger solo song)
- "Metal Man" on Hellbound: A Tribute To The Breeders (2001)
- "Make You Cry" on Coalition To Rock Chicago (2001)
Soundtracks
- The Lollipop GenerationThe Lollipop GenerationThe Lollipop Generation is the first feature film by G.B. Jones.The Lollipop Generation premiered as the Gala Feature presentation of the Images Festival in Toronto on April 3, 2008....
by G.B. Jones, 2008 - Hellbent directed by Paul Etheredge-Ouzts, 2005
- Gay Shame '98 directed by Scott Berry, 1998
Further reading
- 2. Ciminelli, David and Knox, Ken, Homocore: The Loud And Raucous Rise Of Queer Rock, Alyson Books, 2005