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ruet

(10,319 posts)

20. Dumb Rage-Bait.

Tue Feb 10, 2026, 05:04 PM

Feb 2026

'Madonna, Michael Jackson, I'm sorry. I did it first': In 1982 Carole Pope pioneered the crotch grab

It was 1982 and the JUNO producers were concerned. Led by singer Carole Pope, the underground band Rough Trade — notorious for their blend of punk, R&B and musical theatre laced with satire and sexuality — were set to perform...and hopefully follow the rules.

Rough Trade co-founder Kevan Staples reflects: "So here we are on the JUNOs. We don't have a record contract. We're gonna be seen by all of Canada. We did the rehearsal in the afternoon and they were very specific about Carole not grabbing her crotch during the 'cream my jeans' line."

But how can you expect a provocative band to not provoke? Pope says: "What they were gonna try and censor was me grabbing my crotch, which I didn't do in rehearsal — and then I did on live TV."

While crotch grabbing onstage was set to become a thing in pop, with Michael Jackson and Madonna later making it famous, Pope is proud to have shocked first. "I grabbed my crotch, which I claim as mine. Madonna, sorry, Michael Jackson, I'm sorry. I did it first."

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To: Most Male Muscians [View all] mwmisses4289 Feb 2026 OP

LOL It seems really retro leftstreet Feb 2026 #1

Don't forget the ladies! TheProle Feb 2026 #2

That last paragraph made me lol! mwmisses4289 Feb 2026 #8

Truth. milestogo Feb 2026 #38

I'm A Male Musician ProfessorGAC Feb 2026 #3

Me neither. MineralMan Feb 2026 #10

Beauty! So Do Guitar & Piano! ProfessorGAC Feb 2026 #23

Well. I was taught at an early age MineralMan Feb 2026 #24

Toga. Toga. Toga. CincyDem Feb 2026 #30

... milestogo Feb 2026 #39

So does the trombone. TomSlick Feb 2026 #48

As a drummer, I also must use both hands and feet. MustBeTheBooz Feb 2026 #47

This is a pet peeve of mine DET Feb 2026 #4

twerking is simply a style of dancing with a specific history WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2026 #6

So what? It is still weird and in the same style as crotch grabbing Tumbulu Feb 2026 #26

eh, no weirder than square dancing WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2026 #27

There is no butt action in square dancing. Mosby Feb 2026 #31

Dont I know it WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2026 #34

Agree, especially if only female twerkers are wearing little. But spooky3 Feb 2026 #14

So THAT's what those dancers at half time were doing!!!! Thx. nt LAS14 Feb 2026 #25

Jay-Z had an answer for Terry Gross on Fresh Air: WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2026 #5

Very revealing answer senseandsensibility Feb 2026 #7

LOL! MineralMan Feb 2026 #9

It was the one thing that really annoyed me during Bad Bunnys' otherwise stellar performance. mwmisses4289 Feb 2026 #11

The first artist I ever saw do that was Michael Jackson Coventina Feb 2026 #12

Most male *musicians* cannot grab their crotches Fiendish Thingy Feb 2026 #13

I probably more correctly should have said male music performers. mwmisses4289 Feb 2026 #17

Robert Plant was rockin' the crotch grab with Zeppelin in the 70's OC375 Feb 2026 #15

I became more aware of it in 1980's, I was still pretty young in the 1970s. mwmisses4289 Feb 2026 #19

Jim Morrison was arrested in Florida for something like this DBoon Feb 2026 #44

I can't imagine the Beatles or the Rolling Stones grabbing their crotches milestogo Feb 2026 #16

Yes, Mick Jagger was way too classy for something like that WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2026 #22

I never cared for it... 2naSalit Feb 2026 #18

Dumb Rage-Bait. ruet Feb 2026 #20

Just wear a codpiece! EuterpeThelo Feb 2026 #21

Ehhh, it's rock and roll maxrandb Feb 2026 #28

I didn't have "crotch grabbing male musicians" on my GD bingo card today. n/t flvegan Feb 2026 #29

I am a musician sindri Feb 2026 #32

I first became aware of this move when Michael Jackson... 3catwoman3 Feb 2026 #33

Freedom of expression is a factor. To each his/her own. Cultures too differ. twodogsbarking Feb 2026 #35

I think it's sexy, if the guy is handsome. SunSeeker Feb 2026 #36

"For man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion" Torchlight Feb 2026 #37

Good grief Chicagogrl1 Feb 2026 #40

I think its actually more singers doing it when a flat 3rd is played. Eko Feb 2026 #41

Crabs? multigraincracker Feb 2026 #42

A heart for making coffee shoot out my nose maxrandb Feb 2026 #49

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Feb 2026 #43

maybe it's for luck eShirl Feb 2026 #45

A foil wrapped cucumber is hard to keep in place Strelnikov_ Feb 2026 #46

Ok. Nt Tommy Carcetti Feb 2026 #50