He’s the man behind the fringe. Orville Peck doesn't just sing country music; he embodies a specific kind of subversion that feels both ancient and brand new. When the news dropped in early 2022 that the masked troubadour was the cover star for the relaunch of BUTT magazine, the internet—or at least the corner of it that appreciates high-art queer aesthetics—collectively lost its mind. It wasn't just a photoshoot. Honestly, it was a cultural collision.
Country music has always had a complicated relationship with the body. Usually, it's about work-hardened hands or the "honky-tonk badonkadonk" of 2000s radio fodder. But Peck? He brought something different. By appearing in BUTT magazine, a publication legendary for its raw, unfiltered, and often provocative celebration of gay identity, Peck bridged a gap that many thought was unbridgeable.
The Relaunch of a Legend
You have to understand the context of the magazine itself to get why this was a big deal. Founded in 2001 by Gert Jonkers and Jop van Bennekom, BUTT was never your typical glossy rag. It was printed on pink paper. It featured candid, unretouched photos of men. It was punk rock. Then, it went dark for about a decade.
When it returned in March 2022, backed by Bottega Veneta, the choice of Orville Peck as the face of that return was a masterstroke of branding. He represents the "new frontier." He’s a guy who sells out shows to people in cowboy hats and drag queens alike.
What Actually Happened in the BUTT Magazine Spread?
People search for the Orville Peck BUTT magazine shoot expecting something scandalous. While the magazine is known for its "honest" photography, the Peck feature was more about the intersection of his mystery and his physicality.
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Photographed by Casper Sejersen, the shoot stayed true to Peck’s visual identity. He didn't take off the mask. That’s the most fascinating part of his entire career, isn't it? Even in a magazine dedicated to "baring all," the fringe stayed on. It creates this incredible tension. You see his torso, his leather gear, his denim, but the eyes remain hidden.
- The Aesthetic: It was heavy on the Americana. Think "Midnight Cowboy" meets "Tom of Finland."
- The Interview: Peck spoke candidly about his rise to fame, his South African roots, and the way he views his mask not as a way to hide, but as a way to be more honest.
- The Impact: It sold out almost instantly. Collectors were scouting copies on eBay for triple the retail price within days.
Why the Cowboy Image Works So Well for Queer Media
There is a long, storied history of the "Queer Cowboy." From the photography of Herbert List to the homoerotic subtext of classic Westerns, the cowboy is a symbol of rugged masculinity that is ripe for reinterpretation.
Orville Peck knows this. He plays with it. By putting the Orville Peck BUTT magazine feature into the world, he claimed a spot in a lineage of gay icons who refuse to be "safe." He’s not a sanitized version of a queer artist designed for daytime television. He’s someone who acknowledges the grit and the sexuality inherent in the subcultures he occupies.
Misconceptions About the Shoot
I've seen people online claiming that Peck "exposed everything" in this issue. That's not really how BUTT works, even though it has a reputation for nudity. The Orville Peck feature was more of a high-fashion editorial. It was suggestive. It was tactile. You could almost smell the leather and the cigarette smoke coming off the pages.
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If you're looking for pornography, you're looking at the wrong artist. Peck is about the tease. He’s about the myth-making. The magazine utilized his silhouette to emphasize that he is a physical presence in a genre—country music—that has spent decades trying to pretend men like him don't exist.
The Connection to Bottega Veneta
One detail people often overlook is the fashion house's involvement. Bottega Veneta helped facilitate the relaunch. This turned the Orville Peck BUTT magazine moment into a high-fashion event. It wasn't just a niche zine anymore; it was a cultural artifact supported by one of the biggest luxury brands in the world.
This partnership signaled a shift. It showed that the "fringe" (pun intended) was becoming the center. When a masked gay country singer becomes the muse for a legendary queer magazine and a global fashion powerhouse simultaneously, you know the old rules of celebrity are dead.
What This Means for Orville Peck’s Career
Since that 2022 issue, Peck has only grown. He’s collaborated with Shania Twain. He’s signed major deals. But the BUTT shoot remains a touchstone for his core fanbase. It proved he wouldn't "clean up" his image for the mainstream.
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He stayed weird. He stayed queer.
He reminded everyone that country music belongs to the outlaws, the drifters, and the guys who look damn good in a pair of tight jeans and a leather mask.
How to Find a Copy Today
If you are looking to get your hands on the Orville Peck BUTT magazine issue (Issue 31), you’re going to have to do some digging. Since it was a limited relaunch run, it isn't sitting on your local grocery store shelf.
- Check Boutique Bookstores: Places like Printed Matter in NYC or specialized art bookshops in London and Berlin often carry back issues of BUTT.
- The Resale Market: Sites like Grailed, eBay, and even specialized Instagram "book dealers" are your best bet. Expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $100 depending on the condition.
- Digital Archives: While nothing beats the pink paper, some fashion archives have scanned the editorial portions of the Sejersen shoot.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
- Verify the Issue: Make sure you are looking for Issue 31 (Spring/Summer 2022).
- Look for the Poster: Some original distributions came with fold-out elements. If you're a serious collector, ensure the copy is "complete."
- Study the Photography: If you're into visual arts, look closely at Casper Sejersen’s lighting. He uses high-contrast shadows to make the leather textures pop, which is a hallmark of the BUTT aesthetic.
- Support the Magazine: BUTT continues to publish sporadically. Keeping an eye on their official channels is the only way to catch the next "Orville Peck moment" before the resellers get to it.
The intersection of country music and queer subculture is more vibrant than it has been in decades. Orville Peck is the lightning rod for that energy. His appearance in a magazine as storied and uncompromising as BUTT wasn't just a PR move; it was a declaration of existence. It told the world that you can be a cowboy, you can be a mystery, and you can be unapologetically yourself, all at the same time.