Episode 21 - Kelly Johnson And The Heavy Metal Tribe
Episode 21 - Kelly Johnson And The Heavy Metal Tribe
A few weeks ago, I met veteran guitarist, Mr. Keith Viegas at Blue Frog. After the gig we had a conversation and when I told him I’d been listening to Girlschool and how much I admire Kelly Johnson, he was overjoyed and said, “You listen to Girlschool! They toured here back in 1984. I’ve met Kelly!”
Over the decades, many talented women have produced Gritty, Bold and Brilliant music. Girlschool, a British band formed in 1978 spearheaded the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” and toured regularly with bands like Motorhead and Judas Priest. Lemmy said of Kelly Johnson, “On her best nights, she was better than Jeff Beck”
Currently, I’ve been reading “A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf. The thesis of the book is the neglect of female writers over the centuries. Woolf focuses on the need of establishing a “Literary Canon” of prominent female Literary figures. The book made me wonder about a similar need of a canon of female Rock musicians.
When we think of Rock Gods and Guitar Heroes, our minds automatically jump to Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, Clapton, Hendrix, Steve Vai etc. I’ve grown up listening to these guys and I love and respect them, no doubt. But it upsets me when I realize that male rock musicians are made into Legends and idolized and on the other hand, equally talented female rock musicians have been somewhat marginalized. Everyone has heard of Santana but very few people know of Nancy Wilson, Donita Sparks or Orianthi. Moreover, there always exists a bit of sexism- sometimes blatant, sometimes covert; a patronizing attitude towards female musicians – “Oh, you’re not bad for a female guitarist.”
Well, anyway, this article is not a diatribe against male musicians. The purpose is to share information about some very super-talented women in Rock from the past and more importantly the ones who are storming the international music scene at the very moment! The point is anybody picking up a guitar, irrespective of their gender MUST know that along with Led Zep, there is Girlschool, along with Green Day, there is L7, along with Nirvana, there is Veruca Salt and Bikini Kill and Dead Sara and Deap Vally and Courtney Barnett and Joan Jett and Gretchen Wilson...
More on the subject in the next blog... Till then be sure to check these links when you are free...
- Yashashree
