I'm another soon to be 62 year old punk rock drummer. Formed a band with my closest friends in 1980 called the Vicious Girls (Sex Pistols fans) We were all very inexperienced musicians but it didn't matter - we had a bunch of fun and were badass (at least we thought we were) That was the beauty of punk - attitude was the main driver of the music.
Love this! (said this 58-year-old mom whose band — formed through a similar program to the one described here — has been on hiatus since COVID infiltrated our lives, and is hoping to get back to it some day soon).
Feb 24, 2022·edited Feb 24, 2022Liked by Sari Botton
Cool story, cool sounding band, but part of a longer tradition than it might seem! The Poison Girls’ Vi Subversa was already in her 40s when she strapped on a guitar and stared down Crass fans half her age. Ana and Gina from the Raincoats are still going in their 60s and 70s. Exene Cervenka, Lydia Lunch and Joan Jett continue to tour and release records frequently. As punk has shifted older in general, it’s turned out to be a great fit for the older but not necessarily more mature or less radical. (It has to be - I’m going to be 56 and need peers at shows!)
I hope to learn more about these artists that you just mentioned. We are a group of 5 women - all but one of us are in our 60s and we started our rock band two years ago. We play modern rock, Billy Idol, the Romantics - stuff to keep you moving and grooving! Something the past the time away in -30° weather!
This makes me so goddammed happy.
I saw Your Mom in Baton Rouge a few years ago. I am a 62 year old rock drummer, and they MADE ME SO HAPPY.
Hi Jessica! Another 62-year-old female rock drummer (& writer) here. Maybe we're not such a rare breed. :) Robin
I'm another soon to be 62 year old punk rock drummer. Formed a band with my closest friends in 1980 called the Vicious Girls (Sex Pistols fans) We were all very inexperienced musicians but it didn't matter - we had a bunch of fun and were badass (at least we thought we were) That was the beauty of punk - attitude was the main driver of the music.
Amazing. So glad you posted this. I love hearing people's stories.
Very punk rock!!! 🤘🤘🤘
Love this! (said this 58-year-old mom whose band — formed through a similar program to the one described here — has been on hiatus since COVID infiltrated our lives, and is hoping to get back to it some day soon).
Cool story, cool sounding band, but part of a longer tradition than it might seem! The Poison Girls’ Vi Subversa was already in her 40s when she strapped on a guitar and stared down Crass fans half her age. Ana and Gina from the Raincoats are still going in their 60s and 70s. Exene Cervenka, Lydia Lunch and Joan Jett continue to tour and release records frequently. As punk has shifted older in general, it’s turned out to be a great fit for the older but not necessarily more mature or less radical. (It has to be - I’m going to be 56 and need peers at shows!)
I hope to learn more about these artists that you just mentioned. We are a group of 5 women - all but one of us are in our 60s and we started our rock band two years ago. We play modern rock, Billy Idol, the Romantics - stuff to keep you moving and grooving! Something the past the time away in -30° weather!
Don't forget Alice Bag - she just started a NEW feminist punk band @ 63 !