Back in the Jurassic period when I was first discovering music, every rock band was fueled by testosterone. It wasn’t until 1976 that an all-girl band called The Runaways changed that dynamic. With all of its members being 17 or younger when they released their self-titled debut, they would influence legions of young girls to pick up guitars and rock out like the boys. I recently witnessed a group of teen girls from nearby Elmhurst that let me know that The Runaways influence is still alive and well.
Bloody Mary is comprised of four girls, ranging in age from 14-18, with drummer Kat Cannons, a drum teacher for Chicago’s #1 Drum Lessons at the Naperville Park District. They were signed to a record deal with Dark Star Records / Sony Entertainment and released their debut CD, Coming Of Age, in 2012. They have been featured on the popular Mancow radio show, and have played huge events like the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) convention and the Indianapolis Metal Fest. We have also been lucky enough to have them at our Rollin’ On The River event in downtown Naperville.
I recently had the chance to see Bloody Mary open for Lita Ford, who was the guitarist for The Runaways. As I watched Bloody Mary, it was very clear that Ford’s labor almost 40 years ago was still giving birth to a confident and liberated generation of girls. The young ladies of Bloody Mary performed passionately for their musical mother, and the audience at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles showed their overwhelming appreciation for the newest torch bearers.
You can learn more about Bloody Mary by visiting them on the web at www.gobloodymary.com.
