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Co-founded by Filipina American and queer teenagers, Fanny is the first all women band to release an album with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970). Revered by David Bowie, meet the most groundbreaking rock group you've never heard of... yet.
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Fanny: The Right to Rock is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
About the Show
Co-founded in California 50 years ago by Filipina American and queer teenagers, Fanny made history as the first all women band to release an album with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970). As young women who expertly played their own instruments, Fanny bandmates penned original songs that were ahead of their time, with lyrics exploring themes of sexual freedom, war, relationships and identity.
More About the Show
Despite roadblocks of misogyny and bigotry, Fanny released Top 40 hits and five critically acclaimed albums between 1970 to 1974, counting David Bowie as one of their most vocal fans. They toured extensively across the USA and abroad with bands like Chicago, Steely Dan, Slade and Ike & Tina Turner, yet Fanny's ground-breaking impact in music was lost in the mists of time… until bandmates reunite 50 years later with a new rock record deal, and chance to right the wrongs of history.
The film follows Fanny's rise, fall and revivification, featuring rare performance archives, photographs and eye-opening interviews about the band's impact and history with music icons including Bonnie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, The Go Go's Kathy Valentine, Def Leppard's Joe Elliott, The Runaways' Cherie Currie, Charles Neville, The B52s Kate Pierson, Lovin’ Spoonful’s John Sebastian as well as David Bowie lead guitarist Earl Slick and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey. This multi award-winning film celebrates Fanny's often-forgotten legacy in rock music. Meet the most important band you've never heard of... yet.
Producer
Photos from Fanny: The Right to Rock
From left: Fanny bassist Jean Millington, keyboardist Nickey Barclay, singer/drummer Brie Darling, lead guitarist June Millington, Richard Perry (Warner/Reprise record producer).
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Linda Wolf
From left: Fanny bassist Jean Millington, drummer Brie Darling, and lead guitarist June Millington, as they sign merchandise after the release of their new rock album Fanny Walked the Earth.
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Bobbi Jo Hart
Fanny billboard on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood promoting a concert at the famed Whiskey release of their first album in 1970.
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Linda Wolf
Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott holding a 1970s-era flexi disc of Fanny’s single “Blind Alley” that he received in a UK magazine when he was 12 years old. He has been a huge Fanny fan ever since.
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Joe Elliott
Fanny lead guitarist June Millington and Fanny drummer Brie Darling march on the streets of Los Angeles on International Women’s Day.
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Bobbi Jo Hart
Fanny promotional merchandise over the years, including their famous sticker “Get Behind Fanny.”
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Byron Wilkins
The B-52’s singer Kate Pierson.
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Sam Trudelle
Fanny lead guitarist June Millington.
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Courtesy of The Institute for the Musical Arts
Bassist Jean Millington, keyboardist Nickey Barclay, drummer/singer Brie Darling, drummer Alice de Buhr, lead guitarist June Millington practice in the basement of their famed band home, “Fanny Hill.”
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Linda Wolf
Fanny lead guitarist June Millington.
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Linda Wolf
