Recently, we had the chance to chat with the 2008 Bear Performer of the Year - Elijah Black. 

 

 

Give us a little background –

 

OK, I have been performing since '89 my senior year in college. I played football there and started playing guitar when I was in college. I came home, started a band and have been playing since 1990 – it was in a great band, we got to open for all kinds of great people - Motley Crue, STyxx, Ratt, Jackyll, Cinderella and more.

 

Think I played my first bear event in 2002. I went solo in 2004 and really just been working with my studio band.

 

What music did you listen to in HS?

 

I was really into rock music and at that time MTV had taken over but I hated the MTV bands so I was listening to Beatles, Springsteen, Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Pink Floyd, Van Halen. I live in Ohio, but I do like southern rock - Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special - stuff like that

 

Does that style make you unique on the Bear circuit?

 

As I meet more and more musicians and bears - I don't think that makes me unique which is good, there are a lot of rockers and I’m glad to see it. Seems like the gay community overall is into dance music, techno, Cher LOL

 

Tell us about the tours.

 

I did 5 Bearapaloozas or so and of course the 2 Bears On The Run tours, west coast this spring. It's great to be among true peer musicians. I mean I've toured with tons of musicians, most of which were str8 so this is a real treat to have that common thread that keeps us together. In doing so I've met a lot of great bears across the country.

 

and you made the LOGO’s Click List.

 

Yes I did, my video was put up for voting and made it the first week so it aired Sept. 26th, 2008 Smile for Me. I'm not an ego maniac I remember that date because it's my sister's birthday LOL. The video is still on the click list so it's aired since that date 4-5 times a week. My video also was elected as one of the TOP TEN BEST of 2008 so it got spun a lot.

 

What’s coming up in 2009?

 

2009 will feature a new video "BEAUTIFUL" which I start filming next weekend. Bears On the Run tour too, which is good I get to meet new fans all the time. Always working on new material this next record will be heavier like the last track on my Better Man record

 

Why do you think it’s important to support the bear music community?

 

Music is a great thing to bring people together it gives a common ground and I think people put views and opinions in music. I’ve heard from a lot of guys who say they had given up on gay music at all because there was no rock music to listen to, but after my first record came out they finally found some rock music.

 

Tell us about touring? Do your fans throw their jock straps?

 

Sometimes they do. And sometimes I wear them LOL. Jockstraps are great because they have so much elastic in them LOL. At Bears On The Run we always had jocks thrown at us - some were really big - I mean, we're talking bears here. I think my favorite one was an orange one in Wichita. I have low hangers and they really gave me the support I need. Well, that's something I never said in an interview before LOL.

 

What inspired Better Man?

 

My partner's name was Sammy; he passed away a few years ago. He truly made me a better man and that's his song for sure, basically the whole record is his. He really pushed me to do the bear stuff as most of my crowd was str8. We were together 3 years... I thought we'd be together forever. He was a bear and liked going to bear events, he also thought I excelled doing the singer songwriter show I did and I could actually talk about being gay, etc.

 

I want to say thanks and I really am honored to be the 2008 Bear Performer of the Year. I sure am happy though and I hope to keep being able to meet my bear fans across the country. And I sure am proud to be in the bear community.