Now, I don’t expect any kind of breakthrough message or anything from the Vans Warped Tour, believe me. I mean, it’s a corporate sponsored tour and really, what can we expect from it?
But at the same time, I’ve covered this tour for media outlets the past few years, and I know for many young women it’s how they’re introduced to the idea of “punk” and at least the appearance of activism. It’s a gateway, or at least it could be.
Yet this year, the Vans Warped Tour has made something glaringly clear: girls in bands are not welcome.
But rapists are.
The current band line-up features ONE female-fronted band, the rock group New Years Day, and NO all female bands. While in the past female representation on the tour hasn’t been all THAT impressive (in recent years their nods towards inclusiveness have included Katy Perry and the Millionaires) but there was at least SOME chance that a girl at a show could look up onstage and see another girl making music, fronting a band and getting her feelings out. There was at least some visibility of women making music reaching the teenagers who flock to the shows.
And this year, apparently, they only have one chance to see that. But don’t worry, they have an equally good chance to see a band fronted by someone who has been repeated accused of fucking his underaged fans.
Blood on the Dancefloor frontman Dahvie Vanity was arrested while on tour in 2009 for the rape and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. While he, his people and his devoted fans have, naturally, denied this, there have continued to be allegations of not only THIS case being true, but of Dahvie repeatedly taking advantage of underaged girls while on tour. One of these cases involved AN 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
Even if Dahvie manages to NOT rape someone on this tour, the fans will still be subjected to Blood on the Dancefloor’s music. A sampling of their lyrics:
Got a monster in my pants.
And if you ever get the chance.
Gunna cram it down your throat.
Watch you gasp for air and choke.
I’m gunna jizz all in your face.
I’m gunna wreck this fuckin place.
Pull my hair, smash the chair.
Break the bed and give me head.
-from “Scream for My Ice Cream”
Bitches get stitches, they end up in ditches, so get the riches
Bitches get stitches end up in ditches, get the riches
-from “Bitches Get Stitches”
I’m such a killer fuck, you’re just a B-rated slut
I’m sharp like Jason’s machete, I’ll slice you into spaghetti
You’re such a cold hearted bitch,
They’ll find you chopped up dead in a ditch
Pin you over your grave, be my zombie sex slave
-from “Sluts Get Guts”
…lovely.
So we get it, Warped Tour. Boys make music, girls suck cock…or else. Fuck you.
