Track 26 - Women In Punk L.A. with Backstage Pass

LINER NOTES:

On this track, Kris sits down with classic, 70's LA based punk band, Backstage Pass, to discuss a new documentary short brought to you by Dr. Martens, Women in Punk LA.

Check the documentary HERE.

More about Backstage Pass:

Backstage Pass was a mostly-female American punk-pop band from Los Angeles. The band was formed in 1976, and is known as one of the city’s earliest punk bands. They are also recognized for helping to build and launch Hollywood’s most iconic punk venue, The Masque.

Marina Del Rey (Marina Muhlfriedel) started the band on a whim with bassist Joanna Spock Dean. Before they ever played a note, Backstage Pass was announced in Britain’s “Melody Maker” and “Sounds” music newspapers, and in Rodney Bingenheimer’s “Phonograph Record Magazine” column. Genny Body (Genny Schorr), Ché Zuro, and Barrakuda Majors (Holly Beth Vincent) were other key members of the group. There were several incarnations of the band, all comprised of female musicians, except for an assortment of male drummers. Drummer Rod “The Perve” Mitchell played with Backstage Pass longer than any other drummer. Mike Ruiz from Milk n’ Cookies also performed in various lineups.

The band spent its first months rehearsing at Cherokee Studios in a room with a one-way mirror, through which Alice Cooper, David Bowie and others would watch them try to figure out their instruments. Their relationship to Stiff Records founder Jake Riviera, Elvis Costello, and British punk band The Damned coaxed them out of the rehearsal room and onto the stage. They played extensively in Southern and Northern California on bills with Devo, The Mumps, Wall of Voodoo, The Nuns, Elvis Costello (opening his first US tour!), The Screamers, The Weirdos and others. Backstage Pass was often featured in seminal punk publications including “Backdoor Man,” “Slash Magazine,” “Flipside” and others, photographed by notable rock photographers including Jenny Lens, Brad Elterman, Donna Santisi and James Stark.

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About the Podcast:

‘TEXT PROSE AND ROCK N ROLL’- is the only podcast dedicated to the written account of musicians. From artist memoirs to band bios, and anything in between. You'll hear first accounts from those who lived the lifestyle; a Book Club that rocks - literally.

It was Created, Hosted & Executive Produced by Kris Kosach.

It was Produced & Edited by Charlene Goto of Go-To Productions.

For more on the show, visit the website.

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Follow Producer Char on Social Media: @ProducerChar