Slammin’ Babes play their rock ‘n’ roll for Diversity Week
They used to be called Fanny.
But, Wednesday night, the now-called Slammin’ Babes, the first all-women rock group to be signed to a major record label, rocked Utah State University, drawing a diverse crowd of about 100 people.
“They can really rock,” said Gabe Carter, Associated Students of USU diversity vice president. “They can really put some noise out there.”
The band played in the Taggart Student Center Sunburst Lounge. Subliminal Conversion opened for the show.
June Millington, a 56-year-old, half white and half Philippino vocalist and guitarist and her sister, Jean Millington, a 55-year-old guitarist, are the principle players in the group.
June said she and her sister began their musical career in the Philippines playing ukuleles.
They came to the United States when Jean was 12 and June was 13, she said. The duo formed a high school band. In 1965, they became a rock ‘n’ roll legend by signing to a major record deal with Reprise records along with two other women. Back then, they called their band Fanny.
June said her main motivation for starting the all-girl group was to “prove that they could play like guys.”
Fanny was at their best from 1965 through 1973, June said. During that time the group produced four hit albums.
“We played rock ‘n’ roll and that’s all we did and we were very good at it. We really broke down the barriers for other all girl bands to come along,” June said.
According to an article which appeared in June 2003 issue of The Women’s Times, David Bowie called Fanny extraordinary and said, “They wrote everything. They were just colossal and wonderful.”
June was once called, “one of the hottest female guitarists in the industry,” according to The Women’s Times.
Besides being a successful rock ‘n’ roll artist, Carter said June is also a women’s right activist.
When June quit Fanny, she began to mobilize a nonprofit organization called the Institute for Musical Arts (IMA) in 1987.
According to the Women’s Times story, the organization was, “to promote the art and business of women in music.”
At IMA, June teaches a “recording 101” class, engineering workshops and lead guitar instruction.
June said she feels the IMA is a way she can give back. She said she has a lot of knowledge to pass on to the younger generation of girl rockers.
“I want to synthesize women’s music and rock ‘n’ roll and what I’ve learned. I want to give back through IMA,” June said. “I love that there’s so much I can pass on.”
During the concert, June paused and said, “Keep breathing and don’t stop. It’s pretty interesting that things have become really cyclical. Things change and people change and it’s pretty amazing how much hope there really is and how much we can do for each other. Let’s do the best we can.”
-kap@cc.usu.edu
June millington rocks the stage in the TSC Sunburst Lounge with her sister, Jean, Wednesday night as part of Diversity Week. (Photo by Michael Sharp)