The homegrown homophobia of Hollywood Undead

If you think homophobia is exclusively the domain of less progressive places than Hollywood, think again.

Former MySpace sensations and recent A&M/Octone records signees Hollywood Undead have been hyping their just-released debut album, “Swan Songs,” with a phone number on their website and MySpace page. When fans call the number, they are treated to a pre-recorded message introducing band members (with names like “Charlie Scene” and “J-Dog”). The message then quickly devolves into the all-too-familiar language of young Alpha males who feel the need to assert their masculinity via putting down homosexuals. (You can guess which homophobic epithet they use.)

To be fair, the sextet, who describe themselves as “modern day Beastie Boys with screaming” in a Jonas Åkerlund-directed electronic press kit, are hardly the first band to explore misogyny (see the Beastie Boys’ 1986 track “Girls”) or espouse homophobic viewpoints as something their young male fans should emulate.

Still, if you asked any member of the Beastie Boys, Limp Bizkit or similar-sounding bands that I liked back in high school (see the Warlock Pinchers) if they could take back some of the hate-filled lyrics they put in songs when they were younger, chances are they would all say "yes." I wonder if Hollywood Undead will eventually feel that way about “Bitches.”

That said, Hollywood Undead clearly don't take themselves that seriously, and they are enjoying their ascent into America’s suburban subconscious. Without question, the band is resonating big time with Gen-Y at the moment.

Hollywood Undead, who are fond of wearing masks in videos and press pictures, hovered near the top of MySpace’s “unsigned artists” top artists page for more than a year (they were once signed to MySpace Records). Tracks like “Undead” are catchy and instantly likable -- although ultimately unremarkable and mining similar territory to bands such as 3OH!3, Linkin Park and the Kottonmouth Kings.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with racy lyrics, guys. We just wish it didn’t come at the expense of someone else’s feelings. As you gain more young fans, at some point you're going to have to realize that you are helping to shape their world view.

Oh yeah, you might want to inform fans who call that 323 number that they will automatically be added to a text-messaging spam list. But then again, what do I know? I have less than 400 “friends” on MySpace. Hollywood Undead is currently hovering around the 423,000 mark. Clearly, they don’t need marketing lessons from an old guy.

--Charlie Amter

Photo from www.hollywoodundead.com