By Thomas Semioli

They were extraordinary: they wrote everything, they played like motherfuckers, they were just colossal and wonderful, and nobody’s ever mentioned them. — David Bowie

She anchored what is arguably the first all-female rock ensemble to garner commercial and critical success and prove once and for all that girls could rock just as hard and funky, if not more so, than the boys.

An accomplished vocalist, Jean Millington’s pocket/ song player bass style exudes a decidedly soulful disposition.  Signed to Reprise in 1969 by producer Richard Perry, Fanny dispatched with the then typical girl-band “cuteness.” The Bangles and Joan Jett cite Fanny as a major influence.

Jean also did session work aplenty; that’s her on backing vocals with Babs Streisand, John Simon, and with David Bowie on “Fame” and his rendition of John Lennon’s “Across the Universe.”

Dig Jean on “You’re The One” https://youtu.be/Q80UWYkKNzk

Dig Jean with Fanny live in ‘72 https://youtu.be/Zcb1HpH42N8