The reunion announcement, heralded by Insta-bugle, was typically joyous — and defiant. ‘Our Gossip family of pure maniacs is BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!’ blared November’s social media statement from the American band. It teased a sixth Gossip album, Real Power, produced by Rick Rubin in Hawaii and appearing 12 years after the agit-disco punk-rockers last released a record. ‘Chosen family is real family and we all need each other right now more than ever!’ the post added. Also important in a collapsing hellscape of a world: prioritising creativity and happiness. ‘Making something with your friends, laughing, disagreeing, talking it out… choosing joy and radical love whenever you can is power!’
Beth Ditto, the out-and-proud-and-loud frontwoman who, 20 years ago, wrote deathless indie anthem ‘Standing In The Way of Control’ in protest at proposed Bush-era legislation outlawing same-sex marriage in the United States, could be directing her two fingers at any number of things. The week we meet at Tim Walker Studio in Shoreditch for her ES Magazine cover shoot, inspired by the voluptuous images of Japanese artist Namio Harukawa, she might easily have fatphobia in her sights.
