GAYC/DC BIO

"GayC/DC is the world’s first and only all-gay tribute to the music of AC/DC!"? Well, more of a “refresh” really!

The idea for GayC/DC came from another all-gay tribute band, the Gay Gay’s, an all-gay tribute to the Go-Go’s that formed in 2003 and made the front cover of the LA Times Calendar section that March before playing a note together. They had been building up a following for over a decade, including actual members of the Go-Go’s (they ended their run playing Jane Wiedlin’s after-party in LA at the end of the Go-Go’s final tour).

After officially breaking up in 2013, a few former members decided that they enjoyed playing together, so what else could they do? As they half-jokingly bounced around potential names for gay tribute bands, rhythm guitarist Karl Rumpf tossed out “GayC/DC” with a chuckle. It stuck. HARD.

Former Gay Gay’s bassist Chris Freeman (also bassist for iconic queer punk band Pansy Division) and drummer Brian Welch (also formerly with Jennifer Finch’s the Shocker and whom Freeman had met when Welch booked Pansy Division for a Boston Pride event in ’97) were in immediately, and they began to hammer out the details on the spot, visualizing the logos and coming up with song ideas right from the start. Next, they needed an Angus Young.

Freeman reached out to lead guitarist Steve McKnight when he spotted “guitarist” in his profile online. McKnight had been a part of the Bay Area and LA music scenes in the late ‘80s with Cry Wolf, a melodic hard rock band that made their mark on the Sunset Strip and beyond with several major albums under their belt. Now with Steve in the lead, they would be taking a big step up.

The 4-piece spent months looking for a vocalist to no avail. Finally, Freeman asked the others if he should audition. They did. And so nervously, he did. Thankfully, the band agreed that he was the one to pull it off—but now they needed a bassist. Freeman reached out to Glen Pavan, someone Freeman had also met when Pansy Division stayed at his house on tour. Pavan had previously been keeping the low end down for LA queer punk rockers Best Revenge (their name comes from a Pansy Division song). He was a natural fit. Now they were off and running.

Years later when COVID hit, Rumpf declined to continue. Following replacements in 2023 and 2024, Portland-based Topher Ruby (whom the band met when his band Ursabomb opened for them in 2023) has taken the Malcolm Young role. Bay Area-based Patrick Ennis from Bastards of Babylon will be joining on bass for the remaining 2026 dates outside of CA.

The band remains true to the music of AC/DC, having worked diligently to replicate their sound and feel, while taking liberties with the lyrics, changing pronouns and topics for a more suitably gay aesthetic. Hence, “TNT “becomes “PNP” (a song about the “party-n-play” status used in gay social media profiles), “Bad Boy Boogie” becomes “Gay Boy Boogie” (do you really need to ask?), and “Big Balls” … no changes needed! The band’s live presentation has been referred to as “an explosion of color and glitter.” To say the band is an off-the-hook live experience is an understatement. It is outrageous entertainment. Even those who say they don’t like AC/DC end up being fans.

See ‘em for yourself!