Meet the All Female Band That Rocked the World
Sometime in the late 1960s, in sunny Sacramento, two Filipina American sisters got together with other teenage girls to change rock music forever
Fanny Practicing by Center for Asian American MediaCenter for Asian American Media (CAAM)
Breaking down barriers for female rockers
Their musicianship and songwriting were stellar, they were embraced by rock royalty and released five critically-acclaimed albums with Top 40 charted songs, but they never received the recognition they deserved... until now. (Photo credit: Linda Wolf)
Sound Check at the Rainbow Theatre (1973-05-12)Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)
From garage band to groundbreaking headliners
Little did they know their garage band would evolve into the groundbreaking rock group Fanny, the first all-women band to release an LP with a major record label (Warner/Reprise with Grammy winning producer Richard Perry). (Photo credit: Bob Riegler)
Fanny Memorabilia by Center for Asian American MediaCenter for Asian American Media (CAAM)
Revivify Fanny
David Bowie hailed about Fanny: “One of the most important female bands in American rock has been buried without trace. They were one of the finest rock bands of their time. They’re as important as anybody else who’s ever been, ever... revivify Fanny. " (Photo by Byron Wilkins)
Fanny_16Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)
In the Beginning
Sisters June and Jean Millington, Philippines-born daughters of an American naval officer and a Filipina socialite, moved with their family to Sacramento, California in 1961.
The Svelts
Surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar country, they took up music to keep their spirits up and performed in high school, first as a duo with June on guitar and Jean on bass (and future Fanny member Brie Brandt) and then forming an all-female quartet, The Svelts.
Fanny billboard by Linda WolfCenter for Asian American Media (CAAM)
Touring tirelessly
Fanny toured extensively with major groups including Slade, Chicago and Ike & Tina Turner. Acknowledged by both the press and their many fans as an awesome live act, Fanny toured tirelessly for up to nine months of every year. (Photo credit: Linda Wolf)
Being the first, both opportunities and challenges
Fanny appeared on major network TV shows with Dick Cavett, Sonny & Cher, Helen Reddy and The Tonight Show. But as an all-female band ahead of their time, many being mixed-raced or queer, they were often pressured to conform by an industry not ready for their full voice.
The four original members of FANNY were: June Millington (guitar, vocals), Jean Millington (bass, vocals), Alice de Buhr (drums, vocals), and Nickey Barclay (keyboards, vocals).
June recalls, "Fanny played the Whisky a Go Go often before hitting the road big-time. It was where we got our sound and our act together. Sometimes it would be just one night, sometimes three or four in a row. Thing is, it was just maybe 15 blocks from our house, which we called 'Fanny Hill,' which was on Marmont Lane. So we went down Marmont, turned right on Sunset, and in a few minutes were at the Whisky!"
Alice remembers, "I cut my long hair off in May of 1972, to the dismay of management and fans alike. I’d fought for over a year to get “permission,” got tired of waiting, and just “effin’ did it!”
Fanny by Center for Asian American MediaCenter for Asian American Media (CAAM)
Changes to Fanny
The band mates of Fanny were learning to balance their roles both as women and rock musicians, but the strain was beginning to take its toll. In the wake of increasing discord, Alice and June left the group. In 1974, Nickey left too. (Photo credit: John Bilecky)
June was replaced on lead guitar and vocals by Patti Quatro, founder also of two earlier ground-breaking female bands, with her big sister rock sensation Suzi. Alice was replaced on drums by former Svelt Brie Brandt. Nickey and Jean elected to stay on, and it was this line-up which recorded the final Fanny album, which produced their highest charted single.
I woke up every day knowing exactly what I wanted…to make a record, go on tour, and leave it all on that stage, playing drums and singing with the band. - Brie Darling
I remain convinced that had we stuck together, it would have broken through for women. - Patti Quatro
FannyRightToRockCenter for Asian American Media (CAAM)
FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK documentary
From director Bobbi Jo Hart, FANNY: The Right To Rock, rediscovers the group’s formation, their rise, fall, and more recent reformation 50 years after their founding with a new album release, and covers the misogyny, bigotry and other roadblocks they faced along the way.
Behind the Scenes of Fanny: the Right to Rock by Center for Asian American MediaCenter for Asian American Media (CAAM)
Fighting early barriers of race, gender and sexuality in the music industry, and now ageism, the incredible women of Fanny are ready to claim their hallowed place in the halls of rock 'n' roll fame. (Photo credit: Ann Hackler)
Watch Fanny: the Right to Rock
Special thanks to Alice de Buhr, Brie Darling, Jean Millington, June Millington, Patti Quatro, and Bobbi Jo Hart.
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