£1m record deal for Brighton & Hove Gay Men’s Chorus
The Brighton & Hove Gay Men’s Chorus has signed a £1 million record deal.
The chorus has been signed to Universal Records, which counts U2, Grace Jones and Paul Weller among its artists.
This is the first time a gay choir has won such a deal and the chorus will release its first album in October.
Members are keen to avoid stereotypical gay songs.
According to a press release from Universal Records, the album will feature “unique interpretations and alternative arrangements” of songs by artists such as Radiohead, David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails, along with one original song.
The chorus was formed six years ago by John Hamilton and Jason Pimblett.
Mr Hamilton said: “Rather than being a gay chorus, we’re a chorus of men that happen to be gay.
“When we started the chorus, part of what we wanted to do was to help to break down some barriers and misconceptions of what gay people are”
Mr Pimblett added: “We wanted to concentrate more on the music and not necessarily be pigeonholed into ‘oh you can do that but you can’t do that’.
“There was room in Brighton for an organisation of gay men who wanted to sing but didn’t necessarily want to do the repertoire which you would normally associate with a gay men’s chorus.”
