In the 1980s, gay porn films were accompanied by beautifully moody synth music that is only now being rediscovered, tragically too late for many of its creators. A new collection of this electronic music, composed for gay porn, has just been released, shedding light on a forgotten chapter of queer cultural history.
The Soulmates Behind the Sound
Michael Ely recalls the moment he met James Allan Taylor, nicknamed Spider, at a gay bar in Sunset Beach, California. "I was only 18 but I knew I had just met my soulmate," says Ely. The couple remained together until Taylor's death from liver cancer in 2015. Now, Taylor's music from Surge Studio Music, which he composed for gay porn films, is being released posthumously. "I was like: wait, there's a fanbase for 80s gay porn music?" laughs Ely, who found the cassette tapes stored away in a closet.
Amplifying Overlooked Voices
Josh Cheon, who runs the San Francisco-based record label Dark Entries, is dedicated to celebrating overlooked gay artists, many of whom died from AIDS-related illnesses. The label has released works by pioneers like Patrick Cowley and Man Parrish, as well as compilations such as Deep Entries: Gay Electronic Excursions 1979-1985. "This had been on my docket since day one of the label," Cheon explains. "I've literally been working on this for 16 years trying to amplify this underground gay music scene."
A Niche Within a Niche
Working with queer film historian Elizabeth Purchell, Cheon has unearthed old films and scores, discovering a rich trove of material. "There is so much amazing stuff out there," he says. Proceeds from many releases are donated to AIDS charities, and the effort also supports artists who may not have been business-savvy initially. For instance, Man Parrish reportedly received minimal compensation for his work.
The Origins of Surge Studio Music
Taylor's music was born at a Los Angeles glory hole club called Basic Plumbing, where he met Al Parker and Steve Scott of Surge Studios. Both Parker and Scott later died from AIDS-related illnesses. Taylor's soundtracks are slow, moody, and textural, but Ely notes it was just "a side job" for them as starving musicians. Taylor was more renowned for his guitar skills, with Eddie Van Halen praising him as the greatest guitarist he had ever heard.
Living Openly in Challenging Times
Ely and Taylor lived openly as a gay couple in California when same-sex relationships were still illegal, facing significant hostility. "We encountered a lot of really fucked things," Ely recalls, including a traumatic incident involving their pet. Despite this, they built a vibrant community of friends and were part of a thriving underground music scene until the AIDS crisis struck.
The Impact of the AIDS Crisis
By the mid-80s, the AIDS epidemic began to devastate their community. "One moment it was a little blip, something we heard was going on in San Francisco. The next thing friends of friends are dying, and then our friends are dying," Ely says. The trauma led them to move to Arizona, leaving behind a scene filled with ghosts of lost loved ones.
Celebrating Other Lost Artists
Dark Entries has also released Fallen Angel by Brandy Dalton, who died from an AIDS-related illness in 2006. Dalton's music spans various electronic styles and was part of the extreme experimental gay community in LA. His bandmate John Munt describes the scene as "absolutely wild," with performances that pushed boundaries.
A Legacy of Love and Memory
For Ely, this release is more than just music; it's a tribute to Spider. "It means a lot to me," he says. "It celebrates Spider one more time. I'll always be in awe of him, and I'll always be in love with him." The compilations Surge Studio Music and Fallen Angel are now available, ensuring these artists are remembered and their work heard.
