I was behind the scenes during peak indie sleaze. What happened to all the women?
The author reflects on the 'indie sleaze' music era of the 2000s, noting that the scene was dominated by male bands and male-led industry roles. The piece questions why women were largely excluded from the narrative and why this gender imbalance persists in modern revivals of the era.
Why it matters
This cultural critique highlights systemic gender disparities within the music industry and the importance of recognizing diverse contributions to historical music movements.
Music I was behind the scenes during peak indie sleaze. What happened to all the women? The Noughties indie scene sold itself as young, rebellious and outside the mainstream, but its mythology was overwhelmingly male, Janine Warren remembers. Now, as the era is revived through anniversary tours and ‘classic album’ shows, those same male bands still dominate centre stage. What happened to the few women who made it through?
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A t the millennium's turn, guitar music seemed to be exploding out of every basement club and back-room rehearsal space. Everyone knew someone in a band or thought they were about to get famous.
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