LISTEN: Cher’s short-lived 1980 rock band was a notorious flop but it paved the way for her next comeback
Retro Record column is all about the lesser-known, under-appreciated, and largely forgotten corner’s of music’s gay history… so what’s Cher doing here?
The singer and actress is one of the most celebrated and beloved of all time, especially among her LGBTQ+ fan base. She’s charted countless hits and cemented her status as a legend.
At this point, much has been written about Cher—but even some of her most ardent followers might not remember her short-lived rock band, Black Rose.By 1980, Cher’s music career was in trouble.
She’d been on a backward slide for some time, and several of her most recent albums had failed to chart or produce a hit. Just when it looked like the end for her time in the spotlight, Cher decided to try something new.She and her then-boyfriend, artist Les Dudek, formed Black Rose with the intention of starting a rock band from the ground up and doing things the old fashioned way.
