The trials, triumphs and unique experiences of women in music bands form the core of three new books. One of these, which stands out among the others, is ‘The Liverbirds’. This book, a memoir of the famous band from Liverpool in the 1960s, was written by music biographer Lucy O’Brien and based on interviews with band members Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders, the only two who are still alive.
The narrative begins by highlighting their life in Liverpool during the post-war era, but quickly turns into a gripping rock memoir. It gives first-hand accounts of their interactions with renowned bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks, along with their unsettling experiences with personalities like Jimmy Savile and Gary Glitter.
The Liverbirds’ journey began with John Lennon, during a backstage encounter at a Cavern club, telling them that girls weren’t supposed to play guitars. Nonetheless, they quickly rose to fame, receiving management proposals from Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles, and Larry Page, manager of The Kinks. Their adventurous spirit, however, led them to Hamburg, where they joined Manfred Weissleder’s Star-Club, home to the biggest music bands of the time.
While witnessing music history unfold before them, The Liverbirds had some captivating experiences, such as their first time hearing The Kinks play ‘You Really Got Me’ in their studio, and discovering the unique distorted guitar sound. After five fruitful years and two successful albums, the band had to disband due to pregnancy and unfortunate incidents. One can’t help but ask, ‘what’s it really like to be a girl in a band?’
The subsequent phases of their lives are almost as captivating as their initial periods in the band. Having co-authored the 1977 hit Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, McGlory’s spouse Frank Dostal provided them with a comfortable lifestyle. Meanwhile, Saunders and her husband relocated to Spain to manage bars. Nonetheless, for leading vocalist Pamela Birch and guitarist Valerie Gell, life post-band came with hardships and sorrows.
The accounts given in the book are magnificently graphic, portraying the impoverished Liverpool, Hamburg’s red-light district or Benidorm’s pub culture, each conveyed with impeccable clarity. More than a social chronicle highlighting northern Britain’s evolution from the post-war 1950s to the revolutionary sixties, the book offers a personalised record of a young girl’s upbringing in that era and the pursuit of her dreams in a male-privileged field.
Showcasing a blend of drama, wit, sorrow, sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, The Liverbirds memoir is an engaging read, even settling some past disputes as the band rebukes Keith Richards for derogatory remarks in a Rolling Stones biography.
It prompts you to ponder the possible outcomes had they agreed with Epstein or Page. Regardless, McGlory states, “Things unfolded the way we desired, and we wouldn’t alter anything.”
In her well-received seventh novel, RTE Morning Ireland presenter Rachael English explores similar themes with ‘Whatever Happened to Birdy Troy’. A former member of the 80s all-female rock band The Diamonds, Birdy vanished just as they were on the cusp of mega-stardom, having moved to London, procured a record contract, and topped the charts with their debut single after signing a management contract with Dublin-based manager Kieran Mitchell.
In Dublin, four decades on, Stacy Nash is conducting a search for information on the whereabouts of a former band. She hosts a podcast focused on tracing and sharing the narratives of past celebrities who have faded into obscurity. On the other hand, Kieran Mitchell has risen to be one of the leading music managers globally, yet The Diamonds remain missing. The narrative alternates between Stacy’s modern-day investigations and the personal history of the band in the 1980s. Its poignant theme illustrates the fragile nature of youth, the significance of comradeship and the misuse of authority, all set against the vivid and nostalgic backdrop of Dublin in that period.
Kristin Hersh, an accomplished figure in the rock scene, has authored The Future Of Songwriting, an elaborate essay part of a new series by Melville House that encourages artists to portray their vision for the future in their respective fields. Hersh launched her career in the 80s as the youthful lead singer of the Rhode Island band Throwing Muses, which also included her half-sibling Tanya Donnelly, an original member of The Breeders and Belly.
As time went on, Hersh performed alongside rock trio 50 Foot Wave and pursued solo ventures. With three memoirs already under her belt, this essay appears as a free-flowing dialogue between Hersh and a friend who is a comedian, which simplifies multiple discussions through a composite character. Hersh argues that music and creativity have fallen victim to capitalism, prompting her to contemplate the significance of being an artist without the objective of commodity sales.
Rachel Cockerell’s Melting Point presents a chilling chronicle of Jewish refugees journeying through Texas.
‘Every one of us possesses the innate capability to compose a song, to pick our very own apple, but this belief is lost when big corporations assert that this domain operates like any other under specialized culture’s control, and only those boasting a musical persona, attracting attention and accruing wealth (professional implies earning money) possess the wherewithal to compose our soundtrack.’
This summarises the general mood but primarily it’s a relaxed examination of her contempt for the commercialisation of art. Although this might be of interest only to a limited audience, for artists and musicians grappling with the reality of not earning from their creative work, this could provide a novel outlook and potentially, a glimmer of hope.
What does it feel like to be a female part of a music band? In the perspective given by these novels, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages, however the majority of what was gathered by this reader (and previous female band participant) was a sense of motivation from the possible outcomes of pursuing your dreams bravely. As outlined by McGlory from The Liverbirds: “We were youthful ladies daring to take a chance… Establishing The Liverbirds provided us with all opportunities and boosted our faith in fulfilling more.”