How
do you think women fared in punk ?? There were a lot of strong women
characters, Westwood, Jordan, Sue Catwoman, Siouxsie etc but really not a
lot of musicians till later. How much
of an influence do you think you were ?? Do
you think punk showed the possibilities for women to express themselves
in music ?
OK. Yes. People have since told me
that I influenced them, which is nice. I think
punk spawned women in bands that were a lot more exciting than the boring female singers that came
before.
You
were without doubt and you didn't want it a punk pin up ( c'mon I was 13
!!) Did you and the band resent the attention you got because of your
looks. I know you were conned by stiff for the first single but as I
said the cover is a classic. You also got a media attention not all of
it positive.. what was your reaction to it ? Was it not inevitable that
a good looking women with a strong image and guitar they would be drawn
to you especially in 77 ???
Yes. I did resent it, and so did
the drummer. The media would concentrate on
(to me) irrelevant things like clothes, or be extra critical of my
playing in the same way that some men
are prejudiced against women drivers.
How
was it being a woman in a band ?? What was the reaction from a other
punk bands and other bands . Any ' She's a woman ..she can't play !!! Or
did you think of it as 'I'm in a band...so what '
I'd rather have been a man in a
band! I suppose it was an advantage in some ways, I got to meet more
people and other bands - probably because I talked more
than the rest of the Adverts! I always found people in other punk bands
very supportive and positive.
Why
did so many women pick up the bass ( Gem- Killjoys, Tessa-Slits) and
what made you ??
I had always been more interested
in the bass than other instruments, and decided
to learn how to play as a diversion from the boredom of living in
North Devon. Going to gigs was a rare
event in those days. I can't speak for anyone
else.
How important was fashion in
punk for women to express themselves.. ie as provocative and rebellious
?? Sexuality...punk was very androgynous and very hard but was still
very sexual if not lyrically and musically but fashion wise. Do you
agree ???
I think the clothes that most
female punks wore - eg black laddered tights, PVC
etc - were not worn in a sexual way, more rebelliously. People did think
clothes should make a statement. I've
never been into fashion particularly, and
probably spent less on clothes than anyone else in Britain, but it was
good fun wearing yards of toilet chain
as bracelets!
What
did you make of the Slits and their antics ??
I didn't follow their stuff much,
but they were maybe the original riot girrls.
Ari took me to meet them once, so they could ask me to join them. I
didn't feel like a female though, I'd
always hung out with boys.
Do
you think punk changed things for women at all ??
It certainly spawned a lot more
women in bands, and maybe that wouldn't have happened
otherwise.
Gaye |
