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Lee (Craig Michael) papers
Coll2016-013
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Craig Michael Lee papers
creator:
Lee, Craig Michael, 1956-1991
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2016-013
Physical Description:
1.8 Linear Feet
2 boxes.
Date (inclusive): 1967-1994
Abstract: Music fanzines, fliers, writings, correspondence, clippings, photographs and other material, 1967-1994, from Craig Michael
Lee, a music critic and openly-gay musician in Los Angeles-area punk bands during the late-1970s and 1980s. Lee performed
with Alice Bag in the punk rock bands The Bags and Boneheads; and collaborated with other queer punk performers such as Vaginal
Davis. Lee was also a music critic, contributing articles to
Flip Side music zine and the
Los Angeles Times.
Craig Lee's resume and writing portfolio are at the beginning with the remaining folders arranged alphabetically.
Craig Michael Lee attended California Institute of the Arts in Santa Clarita, California. He went on to play guitar in Los
Angeles-area punk rock bands, including The Bags and Boneheads with Alice Bag. He also worked as a music critic and reported
on the underground punk music scene, contributing articles to
Flip Side fanzine,
LA Weekly and the
Los Angeles Times. His work documenting the music scene culminated in co-authoring the book
Hardcore California: A History of Punk and New Wave (1983). In the book,
Gay L.A., Stuart Timmons discusses Lee's experience as an openly gay musician and the harassment he received for his homosexuality.
Timmons argues that Lee was a part of a queer punk culture that would have an influence on the Los Angeles punk scene by challenging
conventional notions of sex and sexuality. Lee wrote and performed "Fist Funk," introducing some audiences to fisting and
BDSM practices.
Lee died of complications from AIDS in 1991.
Sources:
Faderman, Lillian, and Stuart Timmons.
Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians. New York: Basic, 2006. pp 250-255.
Obituary, "Craig Lee; Major Figure in L.A. Underground Rock Music Scene,"
Los Angeles Times, October 11, 1991.
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Stuart Timmons acquired Craig Lee's papers, following Lee's death in 1991. Timmons donated his own personal papers and other
collections in his possession, including the papers of Jim Yousling, Craig Lee, Harry Hay, Rudi Gernreich and Oreste Pucciani.
These collections were gifted by Timmons' sister, Gay Timmons, on November 5, 2011.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Craig Michael Lee Papers, Coll2016-013, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, September 2016.
The collection comprises music fanzines, fliers, writings, correspondence, clippings, photographs and other material, 1967-1994,
from Craig Michael Lee, a music critic and openly-gay musician in Los Angeles-area punk bands during the late-1970s and 1980s.
Included are clippings and manuscripts of music-related articles Lee wrote for
Flip Side fanzine and the
Los Angeles Times, among others. Photographs and fliers document Lee's collaborations in the punk rock scene, including playing guitar for
the bands The Bags and Boneheads with Alice Bag; and performing with Vaginal Davis. The collection also includes other creative
works and personal papers, such poems and correspondence.
One issue of In Touch for Men magazine (Issue 82, August 1983), with reference to rock group Nervous Gender on page 70, has
been separated to the ONE periodicals collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Musicians -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Musicians -- 20th century -- Photographs
Punk culture
Punk rock music
Zines
Bag, Alice