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ruet

(10,208 posts)

20. Dumb Rage-Bait.

Tue Feb 10, 2026, 04:04 PM

Feb 10

'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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Highlight:

To: Most Male Muscians [View all] mwmisses4289 Feb 10 OP

LOL It seems really retro leftstreet Feb 10 #1

Don't forget the ladies! TheProle Feb 10 #2

That last paragraph made me lol! mwmisses4289 Feb 10 #8

Truth. milestogo Feb 10 #38

I'm A Male Musician ProfessorGAC Feb 10 #3

Me neither. MineralMan Feb 10 #10

Beauty! So Do Guitar & Piano! ProfessorGAC Feb 10 #23

Well. I was taught at an early age MineralMan Feb 10 #24

Toga. Toga. Toga. CincyDem Feb 10 #30

... milestogo Feb 10 #39

So does the trombone. TomSlick Feb 10 #48

As a drummer, I also must use both hands and feet. MustBeTheBooz Feb 10 #47

This is a pet peeve of mine DET Feb 10 #4

twerking is simply a style of dancing with a specific history WhiskeyGrinder Feb 10 #6

So what? It is still weird and in the same style as crotch grabbing Tumbulu Feb 10 #26

eh, no weirder than square dancing WhiskeyGrinder Feb 10 #27

There is no butt action in square dancing. Mosby Feb 10 #31

Dont I know it WhiskeyGrinder Feb 10 #34

Agree, especially if only female twerkers are wearing little. But spooky3 Feb 10 #14

So THAT's what those dancers at half time were doing!!!! Thx. nt LAS14 Feb 10 #25

Jay-Z had an answer for Terry Gross on Fresh Air: WhiskeyGrinder Feb 10 #5

Very revealing answer senseandsensibility Feb 10 #7

LOL! MineralMan Feb 10 #9

It was the one thing that really annoyed me during Bad Bunnys' otherwise stellar performance. mwmisses4289 Feb 10 #11

The first artist I ever saw do that was Michael Jackson Coventina Feb 10 #12

Most male *musicians* cannot grab their crotches Fiendish Thingy Feb 10 #13

I probably more correctly should have said male music performers. mwmisses4289 Feb 10 #17

Robert Plant was rockin' the crotch grab with Zeppelin in the 70's OC375 Feb 10 #15

I became more aware of it in 1980's, I was still pretty young in the 1970s. mwmisses4289 Feb 10 #19

Jim Morrison was arrested in Florida for something like this DBoon Feb 10 #44

I can't imagine the Beatles or the Rolling Stones grabbing their crotches milestogo Feb 10 #16

Yes, Mick Jagger was way too classy for something like that WhiskeyGrinder Feb 10 #22

I never cared for it... 2naSalit Feb 10 #18

Dumb Rage-Bait. ruet Feb 10 #20

Just wear a codpiece! EuterpeThelo Feb 10 #21

Ehhh, it's rock and roll maxrandb Feb 10 #28

I didn't have "crotch grabbing male musicians" on my GD bingo card today. n/t flvegan Feb 10 #29

I am a musician sindri Feb 10 #32

I first became aware of this move when Michael Jackson... 3catwoman3 Feb 10 #33

Freedom of expression is a factor. To each his/her own. Cultures too differ. twodogsbarking Feb 10 #35

I think it's sexy, if the guy is handsome. SunSeeker Feb 10 #36

"For man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion" Torchlight Feb 10 #37

Good grief Chicagogrl1 Feb 10 #40

I think its actually more singers doing it when a flat 3rd is played. Eko Feb 10 #41

Crabs? multigraincracker Feb 10 #42

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

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Feb 10 #43

maybe it's for luck eShirl Feb 10 #45

A foil wrapped cucumber is hard to keep in place Strelnikov_ Feb 10 #46

Ok. Nt Tommy Carcetti Thursday #50