Blogzine 7

Our July 2021 printed zine is a beautifully-presented longform artefact where we talk with the women who have influenced, and been influenced by punk. This is our seventh print-only issue  and we’re amazed by the wisdom, the resilience and the humour we find in the female musicians and artists we talk with.

Throwing Muses was an essential US alternative band in the 80s and 90s, but founder Kristin Hersh has made great music with 50 Foot Wave and as a solo artist since then, after she refused to bend to the demands of a major record label. Now Kristin writes books, continues to record and tour and has a whole lot of advice for us.

There’s a big Scotland theme to this issue of the zine. Rose McDowall of Strawberry Switchblade talks music, marmosets and being the most morbid child at the bus stop; her song Since Yesterday  gives the title to a documentary film being made about Scottish girl bands. The film maker is Carla Easton of Glasgow’s Teen Canteen, who we also talk with and find out about the many women in bands in Scotland from the 1960s onwards.

The violin player in Dexys Midnight Runners plays the introduction and lead part in number one hit, Come on Eileen. Helen O’Hara spoke with punkgirldiaries about letting down the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra to go touring with Dexys, fulfilling her dream of being lead violin in a pop band, and playing with Tanita Tikarum and Everything But The Girl. After 24 years parental leave with the violin stashed, unplayed in the wardrobe, Helen has started playing again, and will soon be on tour with Tim Burgess.

We were thrilled to speak with Toyah about her early acting career in Jubilee and Quadrophenia. She showed us a very special guitar and explained how happy she feels that her early albums are being re-released by Cherry Red Records. Toyah is now having huge success on YouTube, and has a new album out in August. We recognise the great impact she had with her confidence, dyed hair and grand visions, and it was a pleasure to talk with Toyah for blogzine 7.

The zine also includes writing about Blondie and the rise of Blu-tack, the writing of Because the Night lyrics by Patti Smith, a critique of parenting using the case study of Lena Zavaroni, a look at jelly shoes, moaning about ashtrays and some well-known women musicians talking about their experiences when recording a John Peel Session. There’s art, comic strips and all. It’ll take you a long time to read it, and your friends might want to borrow it after. We make it just for you.