‘We’re not homophobic’

Dave Goode, Johnny Sonic, MC Blu and Ilan Kidron are the backspin foursome known as The Potbelleez. Their past two singles have reached anthem status in the club scene and this October will see their album debut.

Much debate is looming in the GLBT community about their scheduled performance at this year’s Sleaze Ball on Saturday 4 October.

A reader recently wrote to the Sydney Star Observer expressing concern after hearing on a popular radio show that the band members were too scared to leave the green room during their Mardi Gras gig and said they need a cork up their butts for protection.

When lead vocalist Ilan Kidron was shown the letter (appearing in this week’s letters to the editor), he read it with shock.

I certainly wouldn’t have said that, he told SSO.

A couple of the very good-looking members of the band might have a certain amount of fear in them -” I’m not too sure about that. I’ve been through a lot in my life and I totally reject that comment.

I’m not homophobic. The Potbelleez aren’t at all about defining their sexuality -” who needs to define it?

I don’t need to define it. Maybe a lot of other people need to. But I’ve had enough experiences in my life to be really happy and sorted. Everyone has their struggles and certainly the person that said that has a struggle going on inside them but they need to maybe write a song and get over it.

Recalling the band’s experience at the Mardi Gras party, Kidron was looking forward to Sleaze Ball.

Mardi Gras was astronomical. We didn’t know what to expect as with that sort of audience there is a different way of looking at it. It’s not about getting off your tits and it’s not honouring anything other than a party. It’s about letting go and embracing what’s there.

At live gigs we turn into animals. I dissolve and don’t know what’s going on at a live gig. We don’t have too many coordinated points in the set -¦ we just let go and it’s like a jungle on stage and we swing from tree to tree, he said.

It’s going to be a great party and you can expect to dance your asses off.

Ilan Kidron was first introduced to the band after getting confused on his way to a party, taking a pit stop at a next door neighbour’s bathroom while singing a song, and getting caught by a resident, band member Dave Goode.

A date for the long-awaited album is yet to be confirmed but he said that it’s a great party record.
There will definitely be some uplifting and bulldozer tracks because we are guys that come from different backgrounds but we all identify with anthemic ideas of coming out of a dark little spell and opening up, Kidron said.

There is a lot more depth now as music has brought us together and harnessed our energy -” we have come from completely different backgrounds. One thing that we all identify with in the band is having a great time and having a good party.

We are all here for a reason and have something to say. We have taken some of these little truths in our lives and decorated them and made them really funky and picturesque.

Sleaze Ball tickets are $99 for members, $119 for non-members and $79 for concessions. Bookings on 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au.