Artist of the Week: Gossip

gossip

In a celebrity-obsessed age of product placement and plastic pop stars, Gossip are arguably the realest band in rock ‘n roll. Led by the Arkansas-born Beth Ditto, an often naked, unapologetically overweight outspoken feminist named NME’s coolest person in rock, Gossip have been breaking boundaries with their fiery soul-punk since 1999. Not because they’re bleeding heart activists (although they do wear their politics on their sleeves) or out to shock people, but because they just are who they are — not out to please anybody or make a million fans — totally real. As guitarist Brace Paine, original drummer Kathy Mendonca (now replaced by Hannah Blilie) and Beth put it, way back in the beginning, “We started a band ’cause we were bored. Our mission is to make you dance, and if you’re not gonna dance, just stay at home and listen to the oldies station.”

Let’s get back to Beth a minute because she deserves way more than one run-on sentence. One of the music world’s fiercest individuals, the powerhouse has appeared nude on several magazine covers under unflaggingly punk circumstances. In interviews she has admitted everything from a distaste for deodorant to having eaten squirrels (although she later claimed it was her cousin who ate the critters). But she’s not all outrage all the time. What her philosophy really comes down to may have been revealed in her regular Guardian column, “What Would Beth Ditto Do,” where she said, “Women aren’t cats, we aren’t pets, we are just people trying to cross the freaking street to get an ice-cream.”

Although obviously not your average spotlight stealers, Gossip have more than earned their infamy. Formed in Arkansas back in ‘99, they relocated to Olympia, Washington where they signed with Calvin Johnson’s legendary indie label, K Records. Their big break came six years later by way of third full-length, Standing In The Way Of Control. The title track, an all-out anthem, quickly hit #1 on the UK charts and became the unofficial theme song of British teen melodrama, Skins. This was a particularly major breakthrough because the song was written as an angry response to the US government’s refusal to allow gays the right to marry. Again, not your average spotlight stealers.

Since then the band has been signed to a division of Sony Records where they’re in the midst of work on a major label debut. They also closed the Glastonbury Festival and spent last summer touring North America as part of the True Colors Tour 2007, a star-studded event thrown to raise money for the Human Rights Campaign. For that reason and so many more, the fearless trailblazers are taking over MTV for the week. Watch as they go back to high school to play a totally punk prom and talk some frank trash about growing up weird. Warm up with the samples below and catch the full show here. ALSO: Be the first to see Gossip’s exclusive MTV photo shoot.

Filed Under: Artist Of The Week, Gossip, Music, Videos

276 Comments to “Artist of the Week: Gossip”

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  1. PLEASE STOP PLAYING THISBAND ...THE SINGER IS THE MOST DIGUSTING THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE AND THEIR MUSIC SUCKS AS WELL
  2. mtv, you suck, you are always 9 years late on crap, why not just give up....like, change your name and just not play music anymore? thats what we all want. give it up. mtv is dead
  3. HOLY CRAP THIS BAND IS AWESOME!!!!!!
    Im glad the singer doesnt look like all the barbie borings out there! This music is RAW and I love everything about them. New and REAL ROCK!!! love love love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  4. i
  5. Finally something revolutionary in the music industry...wow! a girl that has talent for once and does not look like Britney Spears! wow! this is unheard of or even accepted! I am sooooo glad someone out there was willing to sign an artist for their talent and not JUST what they look like. Sofiana whoever you are I feel really bad for you!
  6. she is so fat and ugly and can't sing. wow. go to the %$$%$%# gym fatty
  7. OMG i love this band the singer isnt a lil tiny girl and it is awsome, makes bigger girls feel better about them selves im deff goin to go buy there cd... they sound awsome and I LOVE THIS BAND!!!!
  8. OMG WHAT HELL ARE YALL THINKING SHE IS SOOOOOOOOOO UGLY AND FAT PLUS THE OTHER GIRL I COULDN'T TELL IF SHE WAS A HE OR A SHE !!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT THE HELLL
  9. good call mtv. best thing ive seen on the internet yet.
  10. wounderfull music i like this band alot and i like that they make a stand for people who are glbt and who are fat its wounderfull
  11. wow this band is great...and the singer has an incredable...i love the fact she isnt skinny like a twig...finally acurvy girl wit some soul
  12. I LOVE IT!!! They are amazing and love their music! Oh, and all the comments on how the singer is fat... its amazing how you see her size and not her talent. Why are skinny people with big mouths so hateful? I wish all the fat people would eat them!
  13. This chic has got more talent than i've seen in any new artist in decades!
  14. this isnt good.. just old music recycled through a younger crowd... listen to the orig. this is just abunch of old stuff rehashed.... sad
  15. I find it sad that these girls commenting on here don't like Beth Ditto because she does not fit the mold of a skinny stick figure, blonde, bimbo. Shows their age and society.
    Gossip is one of the best bands we have right now. I am just sad that they are more popular in Europe right now so I won't be seeing them touring in the states any time soon.
  16. Ok to all those that are so judgemental about the singers size you need to stop hating! I don't see you doing anything as brave as this beautiful woman! She has a fantastic voice and I am all for her being who she is!
  17. SHE IS REALLY CUTE!!!! :)
  18. I dont see how she has such a great voice/? wwhat the hell does her being fat have to do with her singing? for one she likes food and obviously doesnt throw it up and could careless about the close minded judg mental choking cheerleaders that prove their fingers are their bestfriends oh and the toilets/ i dont feel her singing is anything out of this world or anything unforgettable/ i thnk she is beautiful/ and her style isnt anything original so there wont be any platinums but props for being yourself and there are fans everywhere/ good luck to yall on a powerful future
  19. BEAUTIFUL!! Something old ..something new..something beautiful.
    .. Finally a band that is 'velveteen REAL!'
  20. Dear MTV,

    Please disregard all comments that are negative in some way. I have sat here and read every single one of them and every one that was negative was also prejudice or racist. It was very ignorant for people to say that this band sucks just because home girl is chunky. She chunky, so what. Her voice is like an angel and she is fabulous and so is everyone else in the band. I would kill to see them live. I am a huge fan of 5 years and their music never gets old. And just for the record I feel so strongly about this that I would type it out from scratch twice. And believe me the first one is so much better.

    Thank you for featuring artist that are out of the MTV box. You are starting to show me that you guys have an open mind now about music, and I love that. It really brightens up my day to here my kinda music.

  21. Gossip is amazing! I've been craving something new for so long now and this feels like the year of the new! With Winehouse, M.I.A. and now Gossip I am so happy to see what else will burst big in '08. thanks MTV. Even if you don't play music like you used to at least your PR machine is reworking how we do get our music by calling out some of the killer lesser known bands whose music is embedded in your TV shows and even some commercials. It's not the original MTV but it's definately a reinvigorated one! Cheers.
  22. i wish people would quit being so negative and bashing the lead singer of this band. Close your eyes and listen to the music, don't just jump to a conclusion of not likeing someone because of the way they look. I'm gladGossip is the artist of the week because they are showcasing talent and musicianship and not just another pretty face/body.
  23. Gossip is freakin' amazing. Beth has an amazing voice and it's wonderful to see a curvy woman as a lead. I'm so proud to see a woman that is so happy with who she is. Keep representing for the curvy women everywhere.
  24. I fell in love with this band a few weeks ago when they were on the Fashion Rocks fashion show on the Bravo Network. Love her voice!!!!! You go girl!!
  25. I'm rather disgusted by some of the comments left on here regarding the lead singer.. we need to treat each other with respect... their music is awesome.. so why should what they look like matter?
  26. ok who ever thinks this music is awsome and she has a voice of an angle ...and blah blah is seriously on some fricken CRACK!!!!!!!!!!! OMG SHE SUCKS AT SINGING ALL SHE IS DOING IS SCREAMING!!!!!!!!! thats not music omg THIS BAND SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!! STOP PLAYING THEM!!!!! NO ONE LIKES THEM AND IF THEY DO THERE ON FRICKEN CRACK OR ON SOME #~$?!!!!!!!!!
  27. BBW YESS!!! =D
  28. This is the worste band i have EVER heard...ive seen it non stop on MTV and i only wonder how much their ~%#% box record label paid to get that fat whore on mtv
  29. watching that thing attempting to perform is disgusting! she needs to shed 200lbs and shave her body!!!! mtv gets worse and worse with the dumb reality shows and crappy artists!! keep up the good work
  30. she has a really good voice,but thats about it! i mean i love the whole shes not skinny thing but for real, she needs to put a bra on and put some f'in close on. this kinda sucks mtv.....
  31. That was one of the most horrible things I have ever seen.
  32. It is sad that so many women attack her looks, she seems talented confident and her voice is wonderful. Get over yourselves and live and let live I think all this image hype is just a ridiculous, throughout the ages an idea of waht a woman should be or look like has been determined by a single group.
  33. this band is terrible. she can not sing at all; the only reason why people like her is because she's bigger and different. but seriously people, just listen to the music. it's horrible.
  34. This band is a bit on the terrible side. The singer has some chops but she's a few years/albums/intense tours away from realizing the potential of that little bit of Janis Joplin influence in her voice. The bass player and drummer, in the two songs featured here, gave no indication that they can actually play their instruments, most musicians play better than that after about a month of trying. I really don't see how this stuff is punk-influenced in any way aside from the poor musicianship and really, punk has better musicianship than this. In any event at least I've learned now that "Fiery Soul Punk" is MTV slang for "Amateur Wannabe Disco Rock". There's potential there but this band is not ready for prime time.
  35. Also, about the singer's weight, I think it is awesome that their label didn't force her to get thin or discriminate against her and that a major outlet like MTV isn't disciminating either. Still it feels gimmicky, like the suits behind the scenes are like, "This band will get noticed because we're putting a fat chick on the cover of magazines!" Meh.
  36. Also, about the singer's weight, I think it is awesome that their label didn't force her to get thin or discriminate against her and that a major outlet like MTV isn't disciminating either. Still it feels gimmicky, like the suits behind the scenes are like, "This band will get noticed because we're putting a fat chick on the cover of magazines!" Meh.
  37. This band sucks .. MTV give me a break ... only thing good about mtv is the hills which comes on so dang late you cant stay awake to watch it. MTV SUCKS!!!!
  38. I thought this was some kind of April Fool's joke MTV was playing on everyone. This band is horrible and the lead singer looks and sounds terrible!!!!
  39. Keep rocking, damnit! I love it! ;D
  40. OMG! this music friggin' sux and the lead singer is horrible looking! I'm so sick of our society grabbing onto anyone thats big because they think its a good example for the youth. Its shouldn't MATTER!! arg!! so what if she is large!! i'm not going to love her cause she big and neitjer should anyone else. It doesnt matter if she is big or tiny--- you listen to their music. PS- I'm not calling her ugly because she's a little bigger, I'm calling her ugly cause her face is!! COME ON PEOPLE!! get some self confidence!!
  41. STOPP LOVIN HER CAUSE SHE IS BIGGG!!! THATS NOT EVEN A REASON GOD DAMN IT!! SO WHAT!?!?!??!?!?! SHE SUX AND HAS A UGLY FACE. SOME PEOPLE ARE SOOO INSECURE.
  42. what is wrong with you people?
  43. Can you say hipster?? Come on, there's nothing groundbreaking about this music. I love how all of these musicians and bands throw on old ratty clothing and expect to be important in the music industry. Stop this awful trend. ALL HIPSTERS look and sound the same. Wake up, your not reinventing the Rock N Roll wheel. There's only a hand-full of good bands that come out every few years. I'm a musician and I like all types of music. What I don't like is image hungry, tone deaf, Wannabes that have no passion in their music.. I'm not just talking about this band, there are millions out there just like them...
  44. I find it really amusing that MTV just realized how awesome Gossip is after I've been obsessed with them for about 4 years, but you guys have been pretty slow on the uptake lately.
  45. MTV cant you delete these f***ckr's phobic hate comments? this is what you get trying to finally show off a band that is AMAzing to your handmade cultivated ignorant following. keep showing them crap and completely stupid skinny people and that is all they want and know. They dont know who can sing, who's on key, who sings well, and or who can actually play an instrument. Why would you finally show them a band like the gossip, really? did you run out of crap?
  46. I think its great that MTV is putting an artist out there that doesn't fit the mold and has a big girl lead singer, but the band really isn't that great. Sometimes she sounds really bad. It just isn't good. sorry.

    And, i think its really sad that there are people on here who criticize her because of her looks. Everyone needs to stop being so judgemental and superficial.
  47. Wow im sorry but they suck and the lead singers voice is really annoying!!
  48. They SUCK!!!!
  49. why are all these i m assuming little brats on here dissing this band, this band is good... they seem to be doing what every one else is doing... dressing all 80s and doing 80s music... i like this band, the lead vocals is amazing... just cause she dont look like the olsin twins or the simpson girl dosent mean she sucks... wake up idiots, MTV dosent rule the music world... go out to a show some day and enjoy your local venu i m sure your going to find a band like this one out there and fall in love with them... wake up idiots!!!
  50. i like her voice but i do not care for the song

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