The early history of the band Vixen.
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The rock scene of the 80’s was dominated by male musicians with big hair, but there was one band who emerged from the scene who was an all girl group who nabbed a major recording contract and had da good deal of succes, despite all the obstacles they faced. . I’m talking about the group Vixen whose career peaked in the late 80’s and early 90’s thanks to their glossy image and power ballads. Today let’s talk about the early career of vixen.
Vixen’s history begins in Minnesota in the 1970’s when guitarist Jan Koo-na-mind (keenamin) who according to the band’s own press release, was more into guitar than dolls, starting her first band in junior high with her best friend in St. Paul.. According to her own hometown paper She would later start a band named Vixen around 1973 gigging at Twin Cities establishments like the Cabooze, Duffy’s Bar, the Union and others Originally it was just the two of them playing guitar and singing, but they wanted to expand to a full band and had aspirations of hitting it big. They would find several other musicians in Minnesota and move out to Los Angeles around 1981 since there was a huge scene there and record labels were there as well. But LA was competitive and there were only so many gigs to be had - so it wasn’t uncommon for bands having to pay to play. So it was no surprise, that one by one the band's members left leaving Jan as the only remaining member. Initially she didn’t think about how some people would think it was weird for an all girl group to play rock music telling the record newspaper “it was just the kind of music that was in my blood” citing led zeppelin as one of her biggest influences adding. “Only after we started playing, and everyone kept telling us how weird it was, did we realize we were unique.”
Jan would end up first recruiting vocalist Janet Gardner. Gardner first started singing in bands in high school in montana. Gardner who moved to LA around 1984 was playing in several bands at the time including a cover band who played a show one night somewhere in the san fernando valley. Gardner recalled in the book nothing but a good time. On one of our breaks, some girl comes up to me and goes, “I know this band that’s looking for a singer that you would be perfect for. I know the manager. I’m gonna have him call you.” I’m like, “Wow. They have a manager. That’s pretty impressive!” The next night the woman returned and brought the band with Janet adding I was expecting long-haired, guy-looking people.She came up to me and he goes, “I brought the band.” I was like, “Really? I didn’t see anybody.” She goes, “Yeah, they’re right over there.” It was [Vixen guitarist] Jan Kuehnemund and a bunch of girls. I was like, “Oh … it’s a girl band.” She goes, “Yeah, but you have to keep an open mind.” I said, “Well, of course, but I don’t want to be in the Go-Go’s.”
Koonamind and Gardner along with three temporary members at the time would appear in the 1984 film Hardbddies performing as a band using the monicker diaper rash.
They would end up writing six songs for the film, which was more songs than they wrote for their debut record. The appearance led to a segment on the show entertainment tonight, an opening slot for night ranger, a tour of military bases in guam, japan and korea and an appearance on the show cagney and lacey, but they still couldn’t get a recording deal. That wouldn’t happen for another several years. They would go through some more lineup changes with the band literally having a revolving door of members with the exception of Keunhamind and Gardner,. before cementing their classic lineup in 1986.
It was in 1981 drummer Roxxi Petrucci and her sister started a band called Maadam X in Detroit. The sisters were first enthralled by hard rock and metal thanks to their older brother who brought home led zeppeli nand black sabbath records in addition to another band Petrucci highlighted, the band Fanny which was an all girls group. Fun Fact: Sebastian Bach would end up fronting Maadam X for a period of time. Roxxi was A former classical clarinetist before picking up the drums. She was soon splitting her time between symphony halls in the morning and afternoon and rock clubs in the night throwing on her leather clothes and