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The Rockrgrl Music
Conference
The Rockrgrl Music Conference 2000 gave women musicians something to
rock on about for a long, long time
Carla DeSantis and her crew put on a one-of-a-kind-weekend last
November that will go down in herstory as one of the most inspirational events to
come out of the last century in honor of women in the music industry. Designed
to "promote and celebrate women’s achievements in the music industry," the
Rockrgrl Music Conference also showcased many up-and-coming women
performers, hosted celeb panel discussions, and sported surprise guests, including
Courtney Love and her entourage.
Starting with a Woman of Valor award to Ann and Nancy Wilson from
Heart, the conference was a mix of big- and little-name women in music, mixed with
guitar and drum workshops and panel discussions that went to the heart
of what it’s like to be a woman in the music industry. Discussions such
as, Do Music, Chicks & Politics Mix?, Internet Radio vs. Commercial Radio, and
The Secret Life of Groupies (with Pamela des Barres and the real Pennie
Lane from "Almost Famous"), where just some of the topics covered. Pennie Lane
spoke about her two-and-a-half years as a groupie and why she decided to quit
the lifestyle, cold turkey, by the time she was 19. "It just didn’t feel
right anymore and I had my fun." Groupies today, recalled Stefanie Eulinberg
from Kid Rock, are all out to get something. "They are downright mean and
want to be famous," she said. Groupies in Pennie Lane’s day, on the other hand,
took care of other groupies moreso than the band members they were groupies
for. What she gained most from her experiences were the strong friendships
she created with her other "Band Aids"—the name for the girls in her
groupie group.
"When I met Kate Hudson," the soft-spoken Lane recalled, "I thought,
‘there’s no way this young woman can accurately portray me in this movie. She
was absolutely nothing like me back then. But I guess that’s why they call
it acting. I think Kate should be nominated for her performance. The
spotlight should be on her." Lane, who is now a successful businesswoman in
Oregon, says that she learned valuable lessons from her groupie days, which
have helped her tremendously in the business world. Men in positions of
power do not intimidate her, she said, "because I could be there with these
powerful men, in their board rooms, listening to them talk, and be thinking,
‘You have no idea who I’ve been with and what I’ve experienced.’ They did not
intimidate me. Being a groupie was an empowering experience which I
carried on in my life."
Amy Ray from the Indigo Girls gave an incredible speech and impromptu
performance on the second evening with a rendition of a song aimed at
Jenn Wenner’s "Rolling Stone boys club," soon to debut on her first solo
album, "Stag." Ray noted that the Indigo Girls have never been featured on
the cover of Rolling Stone, most likely because of their sexual orientation
and beliefs rather than lack of record sales. She also spoke articulately
about low-power FM and gaining control of the airwaves, the future of women
in music, house concerts and other ways of touring, and the importance of
maintaining one’s identity as a woman in this industry.
To the surprise of attendees, a sign went up the last day in front of
the main ballroom that read that Courtney Love would be appearing for a Q&A
session at 6. The line to get in started at 5. By 6:30, DeSantis,
maintaining her cool, went up to the mic and apologized for the ordeal leading up
to the session (we had to get rid of recorders and cameras and take our seats
immediately) explaining that "Courtney’s kinda a high-maintenance
chick." Then out she came, blonde hair spilling over her fur-collared ‘70’s
leather jacket. With the assistance of a pack of smokes, Ann Powers from the
New York Times, and DeSantis, Love took questions for more than an hour from
hands raised all over the audience. Her insightful and savvy comments about
women in the rock biz, the internet, and the importance of creating one’s own
look, had people at times laughing and writing notes—then pitching her tapes
when she mentioned her difficulty in finding a decent bass player. "OK,
hands up, how many of you can really play more than 3 chords?" she asked
jokingly. Love also warned about "trolls" in the industry as she described Jimmy
Iovine, a mogul from Interscope, the need for a female Eminem ("where are you?")
and about being a rocker mom to daughter, Francis Bean, who asked her how
come she doesn’t have a father and why her life is so different from the
other girls.
Since tape recorders and cameras weren’t allowed, you’ll have to take
my word for it for now, until the Rockrgrl Magazine issue comes out with the
full story this March. Don’t miss it. I’m sure they’ll have all the details
on the Conference overall, plus application forms for next year’s event (which
every woman in music should attend), and quotes and stories from other
panelists, stunning showcases, and more. —Kathleen Gasperini
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