October 1982
INTRODUCTION
The Editors
...Well, for one thing, you're not going to see us do a Men In Rock special—so that's probably the point. Inside these pages, CREEM Close-Up takes a look at the women who've been making waves since rock 'n' roll's early days. Writer Jim Feldman focuses on the '60s girl-group phenomenon”—a topic so interesting that, as Feldman points out, Alan Betrock recently wrote a book on the subject.
CONTENTS
CREEM CLOSE-UP
She was one of the hottest acts of the '60s and early '70s, even taking credit for teaching Mick Jagger some of his steps. She’s still one of the hottest acts of the '80s, one of a few bona fide queens of rock 'n' roll!
GIRL GROUPS OF THE '60s: WHO LED THE PACK?
Jim Feldman
The uniquely American girl group phenomenon had a relatively brief lifespan: it arose in the late '50s at the tail end of the first onslaught of rock 'n' roll; it flourished in the early '60s, a period given over mostly to light pop and pop-oriented R&B; and it fell by the wayside in the second half of the '60s as the British Invasion, increasingly sophisticated music, and emerging stylistic hybirds such as folk-rock swiftly revolutionized popular music.
JOAN JETT IS A VERY NICE GIRL
Iman Lababedl
The Public’s Vindication Of An Ex-Runaway
Stevie Nicks, MACRAMÉ GODDESS
Sylvie Simmons
Confronting the gates of Elmo.
WOMEN IN REVOLT! Real Men Shiver While Eve Trashes The '80s
Susan Whitall
We’re only three months into 1980, but the fad of the year is already here—women! What? They’ve been around for years? Sure, ex-hippie dope, but not coming through your FM headphones. 1980, and it’s Pat Benatar snappin’ her spandex at one end of the dial, and Chrissie Hynde fingering her leather chappies at the other.
HOTL BALTIMORE’S (NOT JUST) FOR CHILDREN: Nice Girl Finishes First & Demands Recount
Richard Riegel
Columbia, Maryland, is a “planned community” nestled among scads of functional greenery, midway between Baltimore and Washington D C. Columbia was laid out according to the best sociological and architectural theories of the 60’s and 70’s, and as such, tends to be as rational and good-liberal as this month’s Alan Alda brainscan.
GOING TO A GO-GO WITH THE GO-GO'S: & THE BEAT GOES ON!
Sylvie Simmons
The Go-Go’s are Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey and Belinda Carlisle. Kathy comes from Texas, Gina comes from Baltimore but as far as we’re concerned they’re an L.A. band. The Dickies called them “Girl Beatles,” they called themselves the Misfits, and in May of ’78, when this whole thing began, they settled on the Go-Go’s.
GIRLS TALK
Toby Goldstein
• Why Pat Benatar dresses mean: “Everyone’s first reaction was either to pick me up or pat me on the head like a five-year old.” —Glamour, June, 1982 • “If you can’t get yourself a girl, a guitar makes a wonderful substitute. Take it from a guy who knows.”
CHRISSIE DON’T YA TALK SO LOUD
Susan Whitall
The Pretenders stop our sobbing.
THE FUTURE OF FEMALE ROCK!
With the phenomenal success of the Go-Go's Ms. Benatar and the other musical wonder women of the '80s, it appears that the new onslaught of "girl" rockers is just beginning. In the following pages we'd like to introduce you to the current crop of "up-and-coming" female rock artists.
Debbie Harry
I will NEVER appear in a PHOTO in this magazine again !!! For a month!
ANOTHER MUSIC IN A DIFFERENT KITCHEN: WOMEN SHOULD BE SEEN AND HEARD
Iman Lababedi
The cover was a stark functional photograph: black and white with a lightly tinted grayish line. In the background was a wall, in the foreground was Patti Smith, chin slightly tilted with an indifferent, knowing look, her plain face flanked by dank dark hair.
CONCLUSION
The Editors
We hope you've enjoyed this CREEM Close-Up devoted to women in rock. Of course, this magazine could only begin to hint at the recent advancements made by women in a formerly male-oriented medium, and we imagine someday soon we ll see a female performer as big and immensely popular as some of yesterday's most famous rock superstars.