PBS PREMIERE– The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) and PBS announced the May 22nd broadcast premiere and streaming launch for the critically-acclaimed documentary FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK. The film, directed by Bobbi Jo Hart and winner of the coveted Hot Docs Audience Choice Award, chronicles the life and revival of this groundbreaking all-female rock group in 1970s America, revealing the fascinating untold story of a phenomenal band that were dubbed the “female Beatles”. FANNY THE RIGHT TO ROCK will premiere on PBS nationally Monday, May 22, 10 pm ET, and stream on PBS.org and the PBS App.
Synopsis: Sometime in the 1960s, in sunny Sacramento, two Filipina-American sisters got together with other teenage girls to play music. Little did they know their garage band would evolve into the legendary rock group Fanny, the first all-women band to release an LP with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970). Despite releasing 5 critically-acclaimed albums over 5 years, touring with famed bands from SLADE to CHICAGO and amassing a dedicated fan base of music legends including David Bowie, Fanny’s groundbreaking impact in music was written out of history… until bandmates reunite 50 years later with a new rock record deal. With incredible archival footage of the band’s rocking past intercut with its next chapter releasing a new LP today, the film includes interviews with a large cadre of music icons, including Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, Bonnie Raitt, The Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine, Todd Rundgren, The Runaways’ Cherie Currie, Lovin’ Spoonful’s John Sebastian, The B52’s Kate Pierson, Charles Neville and David Bowie guitarist and bassist Earl Slick and Gail Ann Dorsey. Fighting early barriers of race, gender and sexuality in the music industry, and now ageism, the incredible women of Fanny are ready to claim their hallowed place in the halls of rock ‘n’ roll fame.
FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK, Directed by Bobbi Jo Hart
Premieres Monday, May 22, 2023, at 10 pm ET on PBS
For more information on the premiere and related special events, read the full press release: https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/fanny-the-right-to-rock-premieres-may-22/
Visit the FANNY page on the PSB website for clips, photos, and more: https://www.pbs.org/show/fanny-right-rock/
This project is supported by a California Documentary Project Grant.
