The Slants

Due to the connection between the Slants' name and the use of "slant" as a pejorative in relation to Asian people, the group's efforts to register the name as a trademark were the subject of a protracted legal debate.[13] After the band's request to register their trademark was first denied in 2010, they unsuccessfully appealed to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In December 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a previous ruling that upheld the United States Patent and Trademark Office's rejection of the band's application by striking down part of a law that allowed the government to reject trademarks it deemed offensive or disparaging to others.[14] The majority opinion stated, in part, that "[w]hatever our personal feelings about the mark at issue here, or other disparaging marks, the First Amendment forbids government regulators to deny registration because they find speech likely to offend others."[13] The case was later heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in Matal v. Tam, who ruled unanimously in the band's favor.[15] Tam explained that while the First Amendment should protect the band's right to use the name regardless of their reasons, they had chosen the name in order "to undercut slurs about Asian-Americans that band members heard in childhood, not to promote them."[16]

In 2019, Washington University in St. Louis published an extensive study on reclaiming identities based on the Slants' name and found that, "Reappropriation does seem to work in the sense of defusing insults, rendering them less disparaging and harmful".[17] That same year, trademark law expert Elizabeth Squires wrote that, "Simon Tam's successful attempt to infuse meaning into a term by trademarking it was brilliant. He and other newly minted trademark holders have been unleashed to kick-start a new era of free speech and cultural reclamation, where we as market participants have a voice. Now, more than ever, what we have to say and what the market thinks matters. Society should take note from The Slants® and we should be sure to speak loud enough and proud enough for the lexicographers to hear."[18]

Studies conducted after the court case have also affirmed that the Slants' efforts in reappropriation was helpful in neutralizing disparaging words.[19] Researchers have noted that, "When a group is seen as taking control of a historically disparaging term, it can indeed neutralize the insulting content of the term...and it does so among the group that is the target of the insult, as well as among members of the majority group. Reappropriation does seem to work in the sense of defusing insults, rendering them less disparaging and harmful".[20]

The Slants were founded in Portland, OR by Simon Tam in 2006. Within a few months of their first show, the band released their debut album, Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts. The album was listed in the top 5 Asian-American albums of 2007 by AsiaXpress[22] and has won accolades such as "Album of the Year" from the Portland Music Awards,[23] Willamette Week, RockWired, and others. The Slants were cited as the "Hardest Working Asian American Band"[24] The Slants were named the world's first Asian American Fender Music spotlight artist.[25]

In 2008, the Slants competed in Bodog Music Battle of the Bands for the opportunity to be featured on the Fuse TV reality show and win a $1 million recording contract.[26] The band consistently placed first in every round of the competition. However, when they learned that they would be required to sign a 73-page non-negotiable contract in order to continue the competition, they dropped out. The band reasoned: "This was just not the right fit for our band at this time – or any band, really." This was one of several recording contracts that the band rejected. That same year, founder Simon Tam rejected a $4 million recording contract who wanted to replace the lead singer with someone who was white.[27] The following year, the Slants were featured in a SXSW showcase and launched several more tours spanning North America.

During this time, the band shed several of its short-term members, including both on-stage keyboardists, and solidified its lineup with Tyler Chen (drums) joining original members Simon Tam (bass), Aron Moxley (vocals), and Jonathan Fontanilla (guitar). They also were becoming a fan-favorite due to frequent appearances at anime conventions, with NPR writing that, "The Slants' songs about Asian-American alienation don't seem to have hurt their appeal to white teenagers. If anything, they resonate with kids whose geeky adoration for anime makes them outsiders in their own way."[28]

In 2009, the band released a collection of Dance Dance Revolution-styled remixes of their debut album, Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts, called Slants! Slants! Revolution and donated 100% of the profits to cancer research for Asian women because they experience higher rates of cancer than any other ethnic group.[29] The production of the remixes was led by former band member Michael "Gaijin" Pacheco and Justin Cooper (under the name Son of Rust).[30]

In 2010, the Slants released their third album, Pageantry. Pageantry featured a number of local icons including Cory Gray (The Decemberists), Krista Herring, Mic Crenshaw, and Gabe Kniffin (Silversafe). Thai Dao also joined the band as keyboardist and guitarist after the release of the album. From Pageantry, the band released two music videos, including "How the Wicked Live" and "You Make Me Alive." During this time, the band was also advised to register their name as a trademark. However, the application was rejected under Section 2A of the Lanham Act, under the claim that the band's name was disparaging to persons of Asian descent. The band appealed.

In 2011, the Slants were featured on the front page of the Oregonian for fighting the United States Patent and Trademark Office over the right to protect their name.[31] Despite several appeals, the Trademark Office continued to refuse registration. That same year, The Slants was added to the Armed Forces Entertainment roster and invited to perform for active troops serving overseas.[32][33]

The band's extensive touring led to them sharing the stage with acts such as apl.de.ap (of The Black Eyed Peas), Vampire Weekend, Girl Talk, Girugamesh, M.O.V.E and Boom Boom Satellites.[34]

After returning their European tour, the Slants returned to the studio to write and record The Yellow Album (2012).[35] The album was recorded and engineered by Simon Tam (House of the Rising Sun), Tyler Chen (Chen Mountain Studios), and Scott Craig (Ripcord Studios). It was mastered by Adam Gonsalves (Telegraph Mastering).

The Yellow Album featured several singles and the band greatly expanded their collection of music videos at this time. This included music videos for the songs "Love Letters From Andromeda" and "Misery" as a collaboration with films Tai Chi Zero and Tai Chi Hero, starring Tony Leung, angelababy, and action choreography by Sammo Hung. The band also debuted their video for "Just One Kiss" on Conan O'Brien's Team Coco, filmed at Otakon.[36]

Following multiple national tours in support of The Yellow Album, longtime members Fontanilla (guitar) and Moxley (vocals) left the band. Will Moore of The Adarna stepped in as lead guitarist and occasional vocalist during this time.

Ken Shima joined the band as lead singer, replacing vocalist Aron Moxley, in 2014.[37] Shortly after, Joe X. Jiang became the band's guitarist, with Dao and Moore stepping down from the role. The band quickly organized a national tour, called "Slantsgiving" to introduce Shima and Jiang to fans and to promote their upcoming album release and a new smartphone designed by Neoix.[38] The band released Something Slanted This Way Comes, a compilation album of their previous hits re-recorded featuring the vocals of new lead singer Ken Shima. Power of Pop described it as "Parlaying a dynamic affinity for 80s synth-pop/new wave, the Slants combine danceable rhythms with catchy pop tunes that immediately grab the listener's attention. Lyrically, the band highlight their Asian roots and provide a rare insight that other bands might not be equipped for."[39]

During this time, the band also continued appealing for their trademark registration and eventually argued in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit with support from the American Civil Liberties Union. On December 22, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of the Slants, striking down a portion of Section 2A of the Lanham Act as unconstitutional.[40] The United States Patent and Trademark Office appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case.[41]

In 2016, the band worked with Rukus Avenue in collaboration with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to release a song in support the #ActToChange anti-bullying movement. The song, From the Heart, made headlines for speaking directly to the Trademark Office's oppressive actions that eventually led the band before the Supreme Court.[42] During this time, longtime drummer Chen retired from the band to move to Seattle, WA. The band recruited Yuya Matsuda as a temporary replacement and began working on a new record.

On 11 January 2017, the band released The Band Who Must Not Be Named, one week before their appearance at the Supreme Court. The title is "jab at the Trademark Office" from "the anti-racist band that the government calls racist" (Denver Westword).[43] For this release, the band worked with Track Town Records in Jiang's hometown of Eugene, Oregon. The EP's main single, a fully completed version of the song "From the Heart," was quoted in multiple stories about the band's legal journey.

After returning from Washington, DC, the band launched an ambitious national tour, with over 70 appearances in 60 days, which included multiple speaking engagements by Simon Tam, sharing legal insights from their case at law schools, bar associations, and advocacy organizations.[44][45]

On 19 June 2017, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in the Slants' favor.[15]

The band continued touring nationally using fill-in drummers, including Randy Bemrose of Radiation City. In 2018, they collaborated with WNYC Studios for a single called "18 21" to be included in a More Perfect series, joining the likes of Dolly Parton and Devendra Banhart.

In 2019, the Slants released a self-titled EP, the final album featuring Ken Shima as lead singer of the group. That same year, the band started a nonprofit organization to scholarship and mentoring to artists-activists of color,[46] and eventually expanded their philanthropic efforts. The band announced an indefinite hiatus from touring.

On 2 and 4 November 2019, the band performed their final shows in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The shows featured nearly ever former member of the band, including longtime vocalist, Aron Moxley. Shortly after, the Portland Monthly published a piece on the legacy of the Slants, saying, "Yes, they're the Trademark Band (sorry, guys). And yes, they're Chinatown dance rock. But after the lights fade from the walls of the Doug Fir Lounge, they're the band that hangs back to say hi. They're the band that signs [things for longtime fans] 10 years later."

In 2022, the Slants announced they were writing songs for a new record that would highlight voices across their community. Joe and Simon wrote and composed the music, but most of the playing/singing would feature other AAPI artists, new and classic.[47] In March 2023, they announced the album's title, The Band Plays On. On July 24, 2023, they announced the new album would be released Oct. 10, with 3 reunion release shows featuring special guests Bao Vo, Edson Choi, Surrija, Darro, and Krost.[48][49]