Fanny to Reunite Tonight in L.A.

For those of you familiar with my writings will know of my passion for Fanny, the early 1970's rock band which was the first all-female rock band to release an album on a major label. My discovery of them has brought me much needed joy during this never ending pandemic and comfort amid the chaos of moving twice in less than a year from New York to Atlanta and Atlanta back to Boston/Cambridge. 

What has drawn me to Fanny more than anything else is their sheer prowess as a live band. When I introduce people to Fanny, rather than draw their attention to any of their five studio albums, I refer them to their 35 minute set on the West German TV show Beat Club in 1971. I did this only yesterday when I had lunch with a couple of my former neighbors. Invariably it is both an eye and an ear opening experience. It is often the best 35 minutes of my week.

That could change in a matter of hours as Fanny will hit the stage at The Orpheum Theatre in L.A. following a showing of Bobbi Jo Hart's documentary Fanny: The Right to Rock (which I reviewed here last month) during the closing night of Outfest L.A. I would not surprise if we get another 35 minutes of essential music which leaves us wanting more.

The set will feature June Millington, Jean Millington and Alice de Buhr from the classic Fanny lineup along with Brie Howard-Darling and Patti Quatro who were with the band on their final album Rock 'n Roll Survivors. Joining them will be Jean's son, Lee John Madeloni who will play Jean's 1962 Fender Precision bass as she is unable to do so due a stroke she suffered in 2018. Aside from the ongoing challenges Jean faces from her stroke, this will also represent June Millington's first public concert since her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The fact that June and Jean are partaking in this reunion is a testament to their determination, their smiling spirits and their plain love for music. 

Unfortunately, keyboardist and Fanny's principle songwriter Nickey Barclay will not be in attendance. This comes as little surprise as Barclay has distanced herself from the band since her departure in 1975. However, removed Barclay is from Fanny she will always be a part of them.

I understand there will be guests and other surprises. Dr. Kristen Hillaire-Glasgow (who is the daughter of Fanny's late manager Roy Silver) will fulfill her dream of being Fanny's fifth member - or in this case sixth member - will join the group to accompany Jean Millington on vocals. Kristen also tells me there will be video footage of the concert on Fanny's official website and will be discussed on upcoming episodes of the Get Behind Fanny podcast which also features de Buhr and Fanny's webmaster Byron Wilkins. This will make up for not being there and not being able to see it being streamed (although Bobbi Jo Hart is evidently trying to stream the proceedings on her Facebook page). It's the first time in a long time. And it might very well be the last time.

One of the common reactions when people hear Fanny for the first time is anger. The anger is not directed at Fanny, but not knowing about them sooner. In my own case, had I known about Fanny, I could have seen them when they reunited (the Millington sisters and de Buhr) at Boston's Berklee Performance Center in April 2007. At the time, I lived in the Fenway only a 10 minute walk from the venue. Indeed, two nights after they reunited, I saw Art Garfunkel in concert there. But as de Buhr reminds us, "It's not when you discovered Fanny, it's that you discovered Fanny."

And now that I have discovered Fanny I tell everyone I can about it whether in person or through my writing. Hopefully, Fanny: The Right to Rock will soon premier in the Boston area. While I might not get to see a full-fledged Fanny reunion I hope I will get to meet June in person as she lives only two hours west of Boston. 

As for tonight, I have no doubt that those assembled at the Orpheum in L.A. will get to experience first hand how good a band Fanny is as a live act and be every bit as gobsmacked as I and millions of other people who have watched their live performances on YouTube from what should have been their heyday in the early 1970's. A Fannytastic time is guaranteed for all.