They were the first all-female rock band signed to a major label. All Filipina American teenagers from Sacramento. They had queer members, released five albums, and most people have never heard of them.
Chris LaSalle saw this one on PBS for Pride Month and highly recommended it!
Trailer for “Fanny: The Right to Rock”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Nearly 50 years after their original run, surviving members reunite and land a new record deal, finally getting recognition many fans believe should have happened decades earlier.
- Rock legends Bonnie Raitt and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott appear in the doc as outspoken fans. They argue that Fanny was one of the most underrated bands in rock history.
Watch “Fanny: The Right to Rock”
You can stream “Fanny: The Right to Rock” for free on Kanopy with a library card or watch it through PBS.org.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 72/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Release Date: May 22, 2022
Director’s Note: Director Bobbi Jo Hart tells this story less like a traditional rock documentary and more like a long-overdue correction to the historical record.
Other Unique Stuff
- Fanny faced a challenge few bands in rock history have dealt with: they were fighting sexism, racism, and homophobia at the same time.
- Many music journalists and record executives seemed more interested in talking about the band’s gender than their songs. The documentary shows how often interviews focused on the novelty of an all-female band instead of their music.
- June Millington later founded the Institute for the Musical Arts, a nonprofit that helps girls and women develop careers in music. A fitting next chapter for someone who spent her life proving women belonged in rock.
Wrap Up:
If you love music documentaries that uncover forgotten history, “Fanny: The Right to Rock” is a good watch.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc