June Millington is an Aries warrior—one who survived the tumult of an indifferent, or outright antagonistic, music industry in the ’70s with her groundbreaking, all-female band, Fanny.
June Millington is an Aries warrior—one who survived the tumult of an indifferent, or outright antagonistic, music industry in the ’70s with her groundbreaking, all-female band, Fanny.
“Rock and roll isn’t for wimps,” she says.
But far from being knocked down by an episodic career of good and not-so-good plot elements, she continues to rock like a demon today. In fact, Millington—whose commitment to empowering and educating female musicians prompted her to establish (with Anne Hackler) the Institute for Musical Arts in Ashfield, Massachusetts, in 1986—recently rejuvenated Fanny’s legacy.
Hangin’ in the barn—Some of the guitars Millington used for Fanny Walked the Earth.
Last year, she recorded Fanny Walked the Earth [Blue Élan] with her Fanny cohorts, sister Jean Millington (bass) and Brie Darling (drums) at the IMA studio complex. The record is not only a tribute to three inspiring classic-rock veterans—it’s also a brilliant document of how the life experiences of great musicians, when funneled through a youthful mindset and unwavering passion, can deliver music for the ages.
What was it like recording a Fanny record after 40 years with your sister and Brie?
It was like going down a slide. “Wheee!” It was transformative all over again, and we just couldn’t let go of it. We had the chops, the attitude, and the creative energy, but you’ve got to go back to our high-school band, the Svelts, or you don’t have Fanny Walked the Earth. Our internal feel—especially the groove thing and vocals—had been dialed in when we were 16 years old. It was like just walking into the same skeleton and muscles with a slightly different wisdom-filled self.
How does the Svelts era manage to inform your musicality to this day?
When you’re 16, and you play “Walking the Dog,” and everybody rushes to