Fanny Returns to New York

To quote Yogi Berra, it was case of deja vu all over again.

Back in November, I came down to New York City to see Fanny: The Right to Rock which was followed by a short performance by Fanny members June Millington, Patti Quatro and Brie Howard-Darling. 

Much the same happened on Friday night, but with some slight variations.

Last fall, Fanny: The Right to Rock was shown as part of the Doc NYC Festival at the Fashion Institute of Technology. At the conclusion of the show, staff practically ejected people from the theatre including those who were attempting to buy Fanny merchandise much to my annoyance and that of Fanny superfan J.C. Richards who was running the merch table.

This time around the film was being shown at The Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village. While the staff was friendlier, things were far less organized. The proceedings were delayed by 30 minutes which staff indicated was due to a sound check. Whatever sound check was done overlooked two amplifiers which didn't amplify. Two of the three microphones had to be held by hand. New York City might have removed the last public phone booth, but they overlooked the one Fanny had to perform inside. The ladies on the stage however made the best of things by reprising the three song set they performed last November ("Girls on The Road" and "When We Need Her" from the 2018 Fanny Walked The Earth album with "Butter Boy" sandwiched in between). In the audience was Vini Poncia who produced the song which appeared on Fanny's 1974 album Rock 'n Roll Survivors. 

The Q & A session (which also included Fanny: The Right to Rock producer and director Bobbi Jo Hart) also did not include any audience participation. However when June Millington expressed how much she missed playing with sister Jean Millington, someone in the audience asked, "How is she?" June indicated that Jean had celebrated her 73rd birthday this past Wednesday and was managing things while enjoying time with her grandchildren. 

This marked my sixth time watching Fanny: The Right to Rock. Yet it was the first time I truly noticed the scene before we learn of Jean's stroke. In it, we hear Jean's bass solo and see her hands playing the bass. In a sense that scene symbolizes the last time we ever see or hear Jean play bass. Jean's presence in Fanny is very much missed and June along with Brie and Patti agreed she was the glue who held the band together. Although Jean did sing during the L.A. premiere of Fanny: The Right to Rock last August, Fanny members and fans alike still hold out hope that one day Jean will be able to play bass once more.

Unlike last November, I did briefly meet Brie who called over Patti to have our picture taken together. I also spoke with June and she introduced me to her high school friend Judy who sang on the very first song she wrote more than 60 years ago, "Ms. Wallflower of '62".

Less than two years ago, I had never heard of Fanny. Today, I cannot conceive of rock 'n roll without them. But they were nearly consigned to the ash heap of history. But as June told the audience she didn't want to think about Fanny because the memories were "too painful" for her despite the efforts of Jean, June's late mother Yolanda, Fanny drummer Alice de Buhr and Toshi Reagon (who was in the audience) to acknowledge Fanny. It was only when June had to listen to Fanny material for Rhino's 2002 CD box set First Time in a Long Time: The Reprise Recordings did June appreciate the magnitude of Fanny and her contributions to it. 

I have certainly enjoyed my Fanny journey which has now twice given me the opportunity to travel to New York to see an iteration of the group. I look forward to my next stop on this journey.