Brontez Purnell (born July 2, 1982)[1] is an American writer, musician, dancer, and director based out of Oakland, California.[2][3] He is the author of several award-winning books, including Since I Laid My Burden Down (2017),[4]100 Boyfriends (2022), which won a Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction,[5] and the punkzineFag School.[6] Purnell is the frontman for the punk bandThe Younger Lovers[4] and is the founder of the Brontez Purnell Dance Company.[7]
Early life and education
Purnell grew up in Triana, Alabama.[7] His great-grandfather, "Hard Rock" Charlie Malone, an accomplished bottleneck guitarist who played the Chitlin' Circuit from Chattanooga to Chicago in the 1930s, was the father of the musician J.J. Malone.[8][9] Purnell created his first zine, Schlepp Fanzine, at the age of 14.[10][3]
Work
After moving to Oakland at 19,[11] he created Fag School[10] out of "wanting there to be a Sassy for gay boys."[6] "I hadn't really seen a zine or at least a personal gay zine that dealt with the difficult subject of gay sex with both humor and frank talk. It covered some real issues."[10]
His electro rock band Gravy Train!!!! gained national prominence for their live shows.[12] His punk band The Younger Lovers started in 2003 as a bedroom demo project.[13]
Purnell has created music under his own name since 2020. On July 19, 2023, Purnell released his solo album No Jack Swing.[14] When asked to describe the album, he said that "I [...] allowed myself to just be a pretty Black boy making a pop record—and like, why the fuck shouldn’t I?"[15]
Much of his work focuses on sex and sexuality. "In my work I try to use 'sex' or the body as this thing that does not create boundaries or separation with an audience, but instead gives my audience back their humanity."[20] He is gay.[6]
Bibliography
The Cruising Diaries (2014)
Johnny Would You Love Me if My Dick Were Bigger (2015)
