Ariel Aparicio is a man of mystery.  A Rock-n-Roller with Cuban roots; a child of Miami and a son of New York; a former nightclub luminary and current restaurant aficionado; and now, of course, a guest of Homophonic...

But Ariel is a lot more than just a series of fascinating contradictions.  He's also a stage-romping, nation-touring, guitar-smashing rock star with a series of albums under his belt and a brand new release that brings Queer Rock to the forefront.

He's regaled us with tales of Andy Warhol and Grace Jones.  He's taken us by the hand through the trials and tribulations of being an Out Rocker, a musical pioneer, and a father.  And he's even treated us to a private performance of his hit single "I'm the One."

And now, kids, it's your turn!  See it all after the jump!

Who's the man with fans from Tyra Banks to the entire population of Sweden?  Who's the guy whose very 1st video was directed by Margaret Cho?  Who's the stud muffin that has every gender, animal, mineral, and vegetable swooning at his crooning?

Out trans recording artist Joshua Klipp, that's who!

And this week on Homophonic, he's all ours!  Joshua's story of musical and personal transformation is jaw-dropping, and he shares it all with Alex from the couch-of-supreme-music.  From his television debut on Tyra to the road to stardom via Margaret Cho to the only song in history to feature the voice of an artist both pre- and post-gender transition, Joshua tells all.

Check it out after the break!

Metalheads gay and straight got the chance to bow down before the Metal God in Toronto last weekend at the North by Northeast Music and Film Festival, and my friend, photographer/videographer Clint Gilders from Club Kingsnake, was there and shared his impressions and some great photos and video clips with us.

The Metal God is, of course, out gay heavy metal legend Rob Halford, lead singer of iconic metal band Judas Priest. Halford's homosexuality was an open secret in the music world for years, but in 1998 he made if official, coming out in an interview on MTV.

For those who don't follow the metal scene -- and that would include me, I'm more of an alternative/indie kind of gal -- Halford is credited as being the first artist to really bring metal out of the underground and into the mainstream. He was also the first leather-garbed, Harley-straddling metal star, and his image has gone on to be adopted by a generation of metal-god-wannabes.

Attention all teeny boppers, middle-aged gay men hip gay boys, and anyone else who likes pop stars possessing a vague sexuality: Mika is coming to America! Oh, my gawd! I might faint from the excitement!

Oh, wait. I already saw Mika in New York at a Barnes & Noble. Why that practically makes him yesterday's news. Yawn.

Okay, I don't really think that. I'm listening to Life in Motion pretty frequently even if I'm still annoyed over the whole Perez Hilton connection. So for those of you that just can't wait to cough up a ridiculous amount of dough, here are the "reported" dates (I just checked Mika's website and a US tour isn't listed so I'm slightly suspicious):

Fri June 8 Los Angeles Avalon
Sat. June 9 San Francisco/Fillmore
Mon. June 11 Chicago/Metro
Tues. June 12 Wash. DC/9:30 Club.
Wed June 13 Boston/Avalon
Fri. June 15 New York Nokia Theater
Sat. June 16 Atlanta Center Stage
Sun. June 17 Miami Studio A

And since we haven't had a Mika video in a bit here is "Love Today".

One thing the Scissor Sisters can never be accused of is being boring. They could dress in gray for the rest of their careers and this one pic alone makes them more colorful than 90% of the bands out there.

I think I'm blind now. Well, the band has a new video out for their song "Kiss You Off", and while it isn't this bright, it definitely is in their style. Enjoy!

Earlier in the week I blogged about Tom Smith, a singer songwriter who penned "Two Men Kissin' (ruined my life)", a rather funny song about a straight guy falling apart because the site of two guys snoggin' got him curious about doing the same. Curious ourselves to learn more about Tom, we emailed him a few questions to which he kindly responded.

AfterElton: From info on your website, I'm assuming you're straight?

Tom Smith: Yes, indeed, although a) in my younger and much hotter days I was propositioned a few times (by nice guys, good circumstances, no problems [with it] b) I have in fact kissed a few guys full on the mouth, mostly for comedy, and c) I've got some close friends who are DEEP into Harry Potter fanfic and fanart...and, yeah, some of the slashy stuff hits a few buttons. Further, deponent sayeth not.

AE: What inspired you to write the song?

TS: The freakishly stupid attitude of Phelps, Wildmon, Robertson, Falwell, et al. I can't possibly imagine getting so wrapped up in the hatred of something that doesn't affect you in any way, not even peripherally. I wrote a song in November, "For Us All", with the line, "A gay man doesn't want to wreck your marriage/He only wants to have a family".

For that matter, I'm still trying to figure out how exactly how seeing two guy kissing WOULD actually do any damage to the institution of marriage in general or anybody's marriage in particular. It certainly seem that two GIRLS kissing inflicts less damage.

As is our wont on Friday we lighten things up a bit. Here is a very funny song Brent stumbled across while over at DailyKos. Titled Two Guys Kissin' (Ruined My Life) it perfectly satirizes the irrational fear straight men have over watching two gents doing some smooching. Alas, there isn't a video to accompany the song, but you can listen to it here. It was written and performed by Tom Smith who notes how amusing it is that just the sight of two guys kissing should be so distressing. Here are a few of the lyrics:

I'd sworn I was straight till saw that kissin' 

But it'd shown me somethin' I'd been missin'

I'd ruled out half of humanity sharin' my bed.

The techniques all look normal

But the details are kinda weird

Does a moustache act like velcro

When it runs into a beard?

Agonizin' reappraisal

Has caused me endless strife

Two guys kissin' ruined my life