Jinx Titanic:

John Patrick Kamys, (born September 21, 1968, Chicago, IL) better known by his stage name Jinx Titanic is an American composer, singer, songwriter, recording artist, and author, best known for his outrageous stage persona, and image as the beer-swilling, cigar-smoking, sexually-candid, lead singer of the eponymous rock band. Occasionally he will appear as a stage actor, movie actor, comedian, television personality, or host, and is also considered a notable member of the Queercore and Homocore^[1] movements, though he has made no statement of affiliation to either.

Biography

Pre Jinx Titanic

Before taking on the persona and public life of Jinx Titanic, Kamys worked regularly in Chicago as a composer and songwriter. His first score for theater was written in 1994 for Teatro Vista’s production of Romulus Linney’s play Ambrosio. Henry Godinez, Goodman Theatre resident artistic associate and curator of The Goodman’s Latino Theater Festival played the title role. At the time, Godinez was also scheduled to direct Jose Rivera’s new play Cloud Tectonics at the Goodman Theatre and asked Kamys to create the score. Cloud Tectonics was a critical success, considered one of the 10 best productions of 1995 by the both The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun Times, and Kamys went on to receive a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for his score.^[2] Though he did not win the award at that time, eventually receiving the "Jeff" in 1998 for his work for El Paso Blue at the Next Theater Company, the success of Cloud Tectonics initiated a longstanding collaborative relationship between Kamys, Godinez. Teatro Vista, and The Goodman Theatre.

In 1999 he released his first solo recording, a clash of genres and pop-forms titled Supremacist. According to the review by author and syndicated columnist Gregg Shapiro, then a writer for the Windy City Times, and Outlines, the recording was “unabashedly sexy and powerful,” with “moments of dark and unexpected beauty.”^[3] Though sales of the recording were considerably small, the work was artistically solid enough to garner two GLAMA (Gay and Lesbian American Music Award) nominations for Best New Artist, and Out Song Trade.^[4] Trade a blend of alternative rock and hip hop would also appear in a heavy metal version on both Super 8 Cum Shot Volume II and JINX TITANIC Booted & Cuffed. Also from Supremacist the punk song Your Hearse Is Here would later be re-recorded for Super 8 Cum Shot Volume I, and eventually find its way onto the popular MTV show The Real World. Supremacist is currently out of print.

In 1999, he also wrote and played the lead (Logan John) in the Alt-Country/Americana musical Future City Homosexual Tells All “about a small town boy trying to do the big town thing.”^[5] at The Theater Building in Chicago. Though the musical received favorable reviews, “an unforgettable character and some of the best and most memorable songs you are likely to hear for years to come,”^[6] stated Chicago’s Outlines, and “His raspy voice evoking Joe Cocker and his down-home songs recalling John Prine, Kamys offers a true-blue slice of Americana,”^[7] declared Chicago Reader theater critic Lawrence Bommer, low attendance and high production costs would close the show in six weeks. However, his exploration of the Alt-Country/Americana sound and some of the songs from Future City Homosexual Tells All, would inform and inspire his second solo effort Guns (2001) and the single There Just Wont Be a Christmas This Year (2001) recorded by vocalist and actress Catherine Smitko.

Super 8 Cum Shot

Jinx Titanic, was born in May of 2002 at a recording session at Chicago’s Rax Trax Studios. Kamys had assembled four musicians to record under the band name Super 8 Cum Shot. He described the band as a “good-natured, bawdy and unforgettable punk/party/porno/pop experience,” and dubbed its members, “the beer-swilling ambassadors of the orgasm.” In keeping with the spirit of the band, each member was asked to choose a pseudonym. Kamys chose Jinx Titanic for himself. Super 8 Cum Shot Volume I was released July 31, 2002 with a performance and party at the historic Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California. The original members of Super 8 Cum shot, performing on the recording are: John Kamys aka Jinx Titanic vocals, Jeff Kust aka G.I. Tarbaby Barbra guitar, Mitch Marlow aka Machine Gun Garafalo guitar, Chris Sewell aka Dax Malkovich bass, Timothy Ford aka Posey (t-mint) Parker drums.

Super 8 Cum Shot quickly gathered a following among the underground culture, primarily due to the band's DIY punk aesthetic, and the boisterous, wildly sexual and raucous antics of front-man Titanic. Often cited for their superior musicianship, an early review called the players “dedicated rock n’ rollers, with a commanding stage presence, respectable guitar riffs, and a unique sound all their own.”^[8] And adding to the mix, were a plethora of surprising and provocative guests, including porn-stars, burlesque dancers, transvestites, circus acts and featured regulars the Lickity Split Radical Cheerleaders, a non-traditional, politically motivated genderfuck squad.

In February 2003 American music critic Jim DeRogatis solidified the band’s credibility by inviting Titanic to be a guest on the popular radio show Sound Opinions. During the show, DeRogatis described Super 8 Cum Shot’s music as "rip roaring garage rock but with a sort of show tune sensibility and these very, very, very funny lyrics,” adding, “the songs are really wonderful melodically and they kick like the best garage rock should,” and closed with, “you have to see Jinx Titanic live!”^[9] The following month, the band received its first national review in Unzipped, and journalist Pat Bonum crowned Titanic “a force to be reckoned with, both on stage, and in the sack.”^[10] In May of 2003 Super 8 Cum Shot Volume I received an OMA (Outmusic Award) nomination for Outstanding Recording by a Duo or a Group,^[11] and in July 2003 Titanic and the band, now a foursome, Jeff Kust having departed late in 2002 to pursue solo efforts, returned to Rax Trax Studios to record Super 8 Cum Shot Volume II.

In the summer of 2003, looking to create a truly alternative venue for live music, Titanic turned to the popular Chicago leather bar the Cell Block for support. According to book HOMOCORE The Loud and Raucous Rise Of Queer Rock, “They began hosting a monthly rock night: Super 8 Cum Shot kicks off the punk rock party with a short set before turning the stage over to three or four handpicked local bands.”

Titanic is quoted as saying, “though we dislike the labels ‘homocore’ and ‘gay band’ we see to it that bands with LGBT members are given the opportunity to showcase their material alongside bands with only heterosexual members.”^[12] The series was tremendously successful, throughout its run, which ended in summer 2005. Following is a smattering of the bands and artists who have played in the series: Bang! Bang!, The Rotten Fruits, The Redwalls, Tijuana Hercules, Dead Electric, The Paperbacks, Masters Of The Obvious, Mommy Can Wait, The Hot Behind You, The Countdown, The Stewed Tomatoes, Three Dollar Bill, Vortis, The Decibators, Enemy Sun, TAFKAV, The Pages, Johnny Dangerous, Ripley Caine, Scott Free (queercore musician), The Paper Bullets, Baby Kage, Polymer, San Andreas, Reagan National Crash Diet, and The Ike Reilly Assassination.

Super 8 Cum Shot Volume II was released in October 2003 with a performance and party at Man’s Country, a notable gay bathhouse owned by Chuck Renslow, founder of International Mister Leather. The band continued to tour and perform throughout 2003 and into early 2004 as Super 8 Cum Shot but with further personnel changes. In November 2003 original bassist Chris Sewell aka Dax Malkovich left the band to concentrate on playing drums. He was replaced by Josh (Spike) Maguire bassist from the now-defunct metal band Dead Electric. Due to mounting difficulties imposed by the name Super 8 Cum Shot, Titanic decided to change the band name to the eponymous JINX TITANIC.^[13] The first performance of the band JINX TIANIC was March 31, 2004 at The Cell Block, Chicago. In June 2004 Titanic won the OMA for Outstanding Production for Super 8 Cum Shot Volume II.^[14] Soon after, personality conflicts began to escalate between Maguire and the band and in July 2004 he was replaced by Garrison Latimer formerly of the art-rock band Polymer. In September 2004 guitarist Mitch Marlow aka Machine Gun Garofalo left the band to pursue a career in artist management and was replaced by Jay Bennett aka Whisky Newman. In order to solidify the name change and insure a stable future for the “new” band, Titanic re-released Super 8 Cum Shot Volume II in early 2005 as JINX TITANIC Booted & Cuffed. The recording received the number 8 position in Out magazine columnist David Ciminelli’s top 10 albums of 2005.^[15]

Solo

In January 2005, Titanic, who is openly gay,^[16] was invited to play the Queer Lounge at the Sundance Film Festival. This event marked the beginning of his affiliation with the Q Television Network, and in June 2005 he began working as a guest host and regular correspondent for the network, continuing to do so until Q Television closed its doors in late 2006. During this period, while retaining a band, Titanic repositioned himself as the solo artist Jinx Titanic. The April 2006 issue of Out magazine named Jinx Titanic one of the top five independent artists in the country.^[17] Stuporstardom!, released in April of 2007 marked his first solo release as Jinx Titanic. It was recorded and mixed by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Illinois in December 2006. Musicians performing on the recording are: John Kamys aka Jinx Titanic vocals and keyboards, Mitch Marlow aka Machine Gun Garafalo guitar, Jay Bennett aka Whisky Newman guitar, Pat Mallinger alto and tenor saxophones, Rob Kassinger aka Tamale Ringwald bass, and Timothy Ford aka Posey (t-mint) Parker drums. Artist/writer/video artist Kevin Evans contributed artwork, website and music videos based on several songs.

Discography

Music For Theater

Filmography

Awards and Award Nominations

Notable Performances

Trivia

The anthem, You Make Me Wanna Cum from Super 8 Cum Shot Volume I has been performed at every live Super 8 Cum Shot and Jinx Titanic show^{[citation needed]} and is featured in the camp horror film The Janitor and in the HBO series Cathouse: For Love or Money.

Since October 2003, the final song in every live Super 8 Cum Shot and Jinx Titanic set has been Everybody Here Wants To Fuck You.^{[citation needed]} However, the song was not available as a recording until Stuporstardom! (2007)

Though billed as co-hosts of the 2005 Outmusic Awards, Lea DeLaria and Jinx Titanic were not scripted to be on stage together until the final award of the evening. Both known for their larger-than-life stage personalities, it was believed by ceremony organizers that DeLaria and Titanic would be incapable of working together. Surprisingly, the two got on well and in their moment together commented that perhaps the organizers feared there would be too much testosterone on stage at one time.^{[citation needed]}

Everybody Loves A Muscle Boi from Super 8 Cum Shot Volume II and JINX TITANIC Booted & Cuffed is played during the closing credits of the 2007 MTV Movie Award winning spoof United 300.

Jinx Titanic is the only artist to have been invited to perform at the North Halsted Market Days festival for four consecutive years. 2002 - 2005

External links

References

^ Cimenelli, D and Knox, K: "HOMOCORE The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock", Alyson Books, 2005.
^ Jeffawards.org Previous Nominees and Recipients
^ Shapiro, Gregg: Music Mix, Outlines March 1, 2000.
^ Rothman, Robin (2000-03-27). "Indigo Girls, Etheridge Among Nominees for GLAMAs". MTV.com/News. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
^ Kaiser, Bill: On The Purple Circuit, Volume 8, Number 4 1999.
^ Outlines 1999, Future Shock: Kamys and the Homo World, October 13.
^ Bommer, Lawrence: Reviews, Chicago Reader October 8, 1999.
^ Bonum, Pat: Cum On Feel The Noize, Unzipped March 2003.
^ Soundopinions.org: Archives, February 2003.
^ Bonum, Pat: Cum On Feel The Noize, Unzipped March 2003.
^ Outmusic.com Members
^ Cimenelli, D and Knox, K: "HOMOCORE The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock", Alyson Books, 2005.
^ McLaughlin, John Gerard: Rock for the Rough Trade, Chicago Reader March 25, 2005
^ Outmusic.com Members
^ Out.com Features: The Best In Music of 2005
^ Shapiro, Gregg (2003-08-06). "Super 8 Superstar: Jinx Titanic of Super 8 Cum Shot". Windy City Times. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
^ Out April 2006, Take Note p.78

Jinx Titanic

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