Film on Fanny, ‘70s first all-female rock band led by Fil-Ams, airs tonight on PBS

Fanny was founded 50 years ago by queer teenagers led by Filipino American sisters June (lead guitar) and Jean Millington (bass) who moved from the Philippines to California. David Bowie counted among their fans in rock’s stardom.

A documentary on Fanny, the first all-female rock band in history to record an album with a major label (Warner/Reprise, 1970) is airing tonight, May 22, on PBS at 10/9Central.

Fanny was founded 50 years ago by queer teenagers led by Filipino American sisters June (lead guitar) and Jean Millington (bass) who moved from the Philippines to California.

The other original band members were Alice de Buhr on drums, Nickey Barclay on keyboards and Brie Brandt on lead vocals and percussion.

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 The documentary “Fanny: The Right to Rock” recalls the band’s rise, split up and revival, using performance archives, photographs and interviews about the band’s impact with music icons including Bonnie Raitt, Todd Rundgren. David Bowie counted among their fans in rock’s stardom.

The band members wrote their own songs about identity, sexual freedom and relationships and masterfully played their instruments, releasing Top 40 hits and five albums in the ‘70s.