The feminist punk ideology of ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains’
Despite the progressive politics of punk, the genre was overwhelmingly male when it began. While there were a few female artists who came to be associated with the original movement, such as Patti Smith and The Slits, it wasn’t until the riot grrrl movement of the early 1990s that the intertwining of punk and feminism became a significant phenomenon.
However, before the rise of riot grrrl, a 1982 film, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, practically predicted the movement. The movie starred Diane Lane as Corinne Burns, a teenage girl who attracts widespread attention after she appears on the news, ranting about the economic hardships of her town. Becoming recognised as a voice for other disillusioned youth, Corinne’s all-female punk band (which also consists of a young Laura Dern) begins playing gigs with the momentum from her television interview propelling them.
The band faces a series of challenges as they hit the road – the main one being that they can’t play. Their desire to spread their messages about inequality and discontentment seems to override their musical ability, although the same could be said about many real punk bands from the time. This is the very essence of punk – learning as you go, using unpolished, abrasive songs as a conduit for expression and urgency.
However, after adopting a more striking visual style, including brave new haircuts, bright makeup and matching outfits, the band gain a newfound confidence, channelling their feminist messages through their performances. It doesn’t take long for the band to attract a wealth of female fans, largely teenagers, who, for the first time, have found music they truly resonate with. The band becomes feminist icons, with gig-goers showing up to their performances dressed just like them.
The movie demonstrates the need for bands like The Stains, who boldly declared themselves revolutionary antidotes to the masculinity of punk. A genuine sense of community and understanding is honed by the atmosphere of The Stain’s gigs, allowing women and girls to share their frustrations and dance without worry. Moreover, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains also highlights the hardships faced by many female artists trying to navigate the industry during this time.
The band members experience many instances of sexism, harassment and discrimination as they try to become successful, mirroring the way that many female-led punk bands, particularly in the imminent riot grrrl wave, faced criticism from male music journalists for being ‘talentless’ and ‘amateur’, despite plenty of male punk bands with a similar lack of technical skill being heralded as geniuses.
With members of real punk bands playing parts in the film, including Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Paul Simonon, the movie is a real-time capsule of an iconic yet troublesome time in music history. The expectations placed on The Stains are much higher than the male bands they are surrounded by, and they are unfairly criticised for every move they make.
Unfortunately, much of this still rings true today. When the leader of a male punk band (played by Ray Winstone) successfully sabotages their tour by accusing The Stains of selling out, it doesn’t feel all that dissimilar to people hopping online these days and calling out the most popular new female acts as ‘industry plants’.
The movie ends with a music video of The Stains, suggesting that the band finally found success after the constant challenges they faced earlier on. Unfortunately, the production of the movie ironically saw screenwriter Nancy Dowd face opposition from Adler when it came to picking a suitable ending – despite it being her story – leading her to use a non de plume, Rob Morton, in protest.
It is a shame that the movie never became successful; it is only considered a fantastic entry to the punk rock cinematic canon years later. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains is well worth seeking out, and it is interesting to consider how it shaped the riot grrrl movement that emerged around a decade later.
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