GIRLS THAT ROCK
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Female rocker blurs gender lines PART 1: Metal Chick Lennon Murphy scowls and growls with the big boys By KELLI FADROSKI Daily Titan Staff
For decades, women have rocked the music world. Billie Holiday once dominated the jazz scene, Etta James singing her soulful “At Last” had America swooning, Carol King wrote her Tapestry, Diana Ross and the Supremes brought soul, the outrageous Patty Smyth had pretty girls wearing skin-tight leather, Melissa Etheridge claimed “Yes I Am,” and Gwen Stefani set out to prove she was more than “Just a Girl.” In a male-dominated industry, these women were able to break through, and destroy, the gender barrier. In the current rock music scene, males dominate the charts. Females in rock appear to be dwindling or crossing over to other various music genres and only a few hip-hop and pop ladies have been able to dethrone the men. In the seemingly sleepy female arena, there are many ladies working within a more independent scene, just waiting for their moment to break through. Twenty-year-old metal-rocker Lennon Murphy, also known as just Lennon, is out to prove that just be-
cause she’s female, doesn’t mean “No one really wants to see an she can’t growl and scowl with the opening band,” Lennon said. “We big boys. don’t even want to see an opening “Honestly, I’m not that big of a band because they suck and sound fan of female singers,” Lennon said. like everything else and personally, “I have always adored Ani DiFran- I’d rather be drinking or smoking. co, but for me, I don’t look at artists But some people look and they say as either male or female. I’ve always they see the way I look and then debased my love of music on lyrics cide to listen for a minute. They say and being able to make a connec- the looks got them there first, but tion with the music. Ani DiFranco the music kept them there. To me, … I respect what she’s done, she’s a that’s the greatest comment I can very honest writer but I don’t look get because the music was able to at her as a ‘female’ writer, I just look keep someone listening that would at her as a writer.” not normally listen to this music or Lennon has had a bumpy ca- even care about the band to begin reer. She’s been knocked down with.” and kicked around Although by an industry that Lennon is used failed to give her to touring with Don’t make yourand her band the hardcore acts self a female artcredit their fans like Mushroomist, make yourself felt they deserved. head, The Cult Lennon’s debut aland Otep, she’s an artist. bum 5:30 Saturday not at all intimiMorning was redated in front of Lennon Murphy leased on Sept. 11, a predominately Female metal-rocker 2001 and overshadmale audience. owed by terrorist “We opened attacks. Her metal edge with tracks up for Mushroomhead on Hallowsuch as “Property of a Goatfucker” een,” Lennon said. “I don’t scream, kept her from receiving any air-play so right there, that’s a disadvantage during an ultra conservative and and I’m female, and if we’re gonna sensitive time. Ultimately Lennon get killed, those are the shows we’d was dropped from Arista Records get killed at … but we had one of and forced to take her talents else- the best mosh pits going on.” where. Now she’s back and workEven with live performance sucing on a new album with her band, I cess, Lennon’s songs were never Am. She’s not afraid to strut out on picked up by radio stations. stage and show the crowd what’s in “I’ve had radio stations tell me her soul. that I can’t get play because I am
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a female artist,” Lennon said. “They love the song, think I’m great live, respect me and I’m one of their ‘buddies’ but they can’t play me because I’m female.” Lennon is skeptical about the music business, but continues to perform the music that crawls beneath her skin and reminds herself that guys go through the same things on stage. “Don’t make yourself a female artist, make yourself an artist,” Lennon said. “If you’re beautiful, then use what JOHN GALT ENTERTAINMENT you’ve got. You’re Lennon Murphy fits in with the best of the boys. putting on a show. Guys do the same thing when they have great music, that’s great, but go on stage. It’s just like being in a you have to get someone to listen to play or the circus, in the movies or it and figure out how to keep them any form of entertainment. If you to listening to it.”
