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2006 Gay Games Will Open with Song in Tribute to Greek "Army of Lovers"
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"Beotia" Celebrates Ancient Gay History as Lived by the Sacred Band of Thebes
2006-06-02
Singer Matt Alber will open the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago performing "Beotia," an original song that celebrates the love of ancient Greece’s Sacred Band of Thebes. The song is from "Nonchalant," the forthcoming debut album by Alber, an out gay singer and former member of the multi-Grammy winning choral ensemble, Chanticleer.
More than 60 legends from music, television, film, sports and the arts will perform in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. Gay Games VII Opening Ceremony will take place on 15 July 2006 at historic Soldier Field, the home of American football’s Chicago Bears. Tickets are $50 to $150 and are on sale at Tickets.GayGamesChicago.org.
"Athletes were always the jerky guys I was afraid of in school," said Matt Alber. "I always felt awkward and strangely warm around them. But I think I was missing the point. I'm preparing myself to be awed by the army of athletes in Chicago. I hope to reflect in my voice their undefeatable courage as I sing to them in the opening ceremony."
"Beotia" is named for the region in ancient Greece where the Sacred Band of Thebes fought around 317 B.C. According to Greek historian Plutarch, the Sacred Band of Thebes was an army of 150 pairs of gay lovers, or a total of 300 men. It was believed that the strong bond between lovers would cause them to fight even more fiercely than an army of one's family or tribe and that a warrior would rather die in battle than disgrace--or be disgraced in front of--his lover. After thirty-nine years, the Sacred Band of Thebes was defeated by Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great (a gay man himself), at the battle of Chaeronea. When Philip saw the lovers dead side by side, he wept and said, "Perish any man who suspects that these men either did or suffered anything unseemly." He then buried them with honor, erecting a huge statue on the site.
"We are thrilled that Matt is able to join us for the Opening Ceremonies," said Kile Ozier, Gay Games Director of Ceremonies. "This premiere of his new song, written in tribute to the famous Greek Army of Lovers, will bring special resonance to those first moments of the Ceremony, after this newest Army of Lovers has taken the Oath, together, on the floor of the stadium."
Matt Alber's "Nonchalant," will be available exclusively for digital download purchase as of 11 July 2006 and in stores September of 2006 on Tommy Boy’s LGBT imprint Silver Label. "Beotia" MP3s are available for radio on request. Hear "Beotia" and three other songs from "Nonchalant" at www.myspace.com/mattalber.
Photo Credit: Silver Label/Tommy Boy Entertainment. Photo by Alex Hoerner courtesy of PenetrationInc.com
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