Wendy Fonarow
Encyclopedia
Wendy Fonarow aka "the indie professor" is an anthropology
professor
at Glendale College
, writer and music industry professional. She is best known for the book Empire of Dirt
, and for her column Ask the Indie Professor in The Guardian
.
.
As a child she did not have much access to music, but as a teenager
she discovered the underground LA nightclubs where she danced to
post-punk
, goth music and gay anthems
.
While studying at University of California
in San Diego, she worked
at the campus radio station. There she was exposed
to bands like The Fall, Pink Industry
, Wire
, Magazine
,
and the magazine NME
. After graduating, back in LA, she started to go to concerts of similar bands.
In 1989, the Reading Festival was for the first time booked by Mean Fiddler
,
changing from metal
to indie.
She wanted to attend but discovered that she could not buy tickets
from he USA. Instead she asked Something Happens
(an Irish
band she had met when they had played the Whiskey-a-Go-Go) for help.
They put her in the guest list, which gave her backstage
access.
There a significant incident happened: an annoyed bartender
(because he was an heavy metal
fan and didn't
like the bands playing) told her: "You don't belong here.".
But Terry Bickers
, from The House of Love
defended her, telling
the bartender that she did belong
there.
So she found a home in indie music.
While attending other concerts, she noticed that the spectators (usually) obeyed
some unwritten rules, which made her interested in music performance as a ritual
.
So, when she had to chose a topic for her PhD
thesis
she choose to research indie "gigs".
She started the field work for her research during the festival
season of 1993
and stayed in the UK until near the end of 1994. About 5 months after starting she was
asked to help out at Domino Records, a credible independent
label
. Since Domino was a small label she did various
jobs there, getting to know various aspects of the music business.
In the summer of 1995 she was hired by Reprise Records
to work in the London A&R department.
In 1996 she was working at MCA Records
in Los Angeles as an A&R manager.
In 1999 she finished her PhD
thesis
and in 2006 she published her book.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Glendale College
Glendale Community College (California)
Glendale Community College is a community college in Glendale, California, USA. It was founded to serve the needs of the people in the Glendale Union High School District which at the time included La Crescenta, Glendale, and Tujunga...
, writer and music industry professional. She is best known for the book Empire of Dirt
Empire of Dirt
Empire of Dirt: The Aesthetics and Rituals of British Indie Music is a 2006 book by Wendy Fonarow.Paperback: ISBN 978-0819568113, Hardcover: ISBN 978-0819568106-Contents:...
, and for her column Ask the Indie Professor in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
Life and career
Wendy Fonarow was born in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
As a child she did not have much access to music, but as a teenager
she discovered the underground LA nightclubs where she danced to
post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, goth music and gay anthems
Gay Anthems
Gay Anthems is a series of compilation albums which have been released by Almighty Records around the world with the first release in 2006...
.
While studying at University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
in San Diego, she worked
at the campus radio station. There she was exposed
to bands like The Fall, Pink Industry
Pink Industry
Pink Industry were a post-punk band from Liverpool formed by Jayne Casey after her previous band Pink Military split up in 1981.-History:When Pink Military split up in 1981, singer Jayne Casey formed the more electronically oriented band Pink Industry along with Ambrose Reynolds Pink Industry were...
, Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
, Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
,
and the magazine NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
. After graduating, back in LA, she started to go to concerts of similar bands.
In 1989, the Reading Festival was for the first time booked by Mean Fiddler
Mean Fiddler
The Astoria 2, subsequently known as the LA2 then the Mean Fiddler, was a nightclub at 165 Charing Cross Road in London, England.The venue was connected to the London Astoria such that the two venues could function as a single venue where needed...
,
changing from metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
to indie.
She wanted to attend but discovered that she could not buy tickets
from he USA. Instead she asked Something Happens
Something Happens
Something Happens were an Irish pop-rock band whose heyday was the late 1980s – early 1990s. An earlier incarnation of the band was called 'The Dazzmen' and was fronted by singer Martin Lynch who left the band and became the frontman for another early 1980s Dublin band 'The Cracker Factory'. After...
(an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
band she had met when they had played the Whiskey-a-Go-Go) for help.
They put her in the guest list, which gave her backstage
Backstage
Backstage may refer to:* Backstage , by Cher* Backstage , an Australian drama* Back Stage , a silent film starring Oliver Hardy* Back Stage , a silent film starring Buster Keaton...
access.
There a significant incident happened: an annoyed bartender
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
(because he was an heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
fan and didn't
like the bands playing) told her: "You don't belong here.".
But Terry Bickers
Terry Bickers
Terry Bickers is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the rock bands The House of Love and Levitation...
, from The House of Love
The House of Love
The House of Love is an English alternative rock band. Formed in 1986, the band rose to prominence in the UK as a leading indie rock band in 1988 and split up in 1993, eventually reforming a decade later in 2003. The band is best known for its detailed psychedelic guitar sound and for the...
defended her, telling
the bartender that she did belong
Belongingness
stable relationships with other people." This implies a relationship that is greater than simple acquaintance or familiarity.The need to belong is the need to give and receive affection from others.-Psychological needs:...
there.
So she found a home in indie music.
While attending other concerts, she noticed that the spectators (usually) obeyed
some unwritten rules, which made her interested in music performance as a ritual
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
.
So, when she had to chose a topic for her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
she choose to research indie "gigs".
She started the field work for her research during the festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
season of 1993
and stayed in the UK until near the end of 1994. About 5 months after starting she was
asked to help out at Domino Records, a credible independent
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Since Domino was a small label she did various
jobs there, getting to know various aspects of the music business.
In the summer of 1995 she was hired by Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
to work in the London A&R department.
In 1996 she was working at MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in Los Angeles as an A&R manager.
In 1999 she finished her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
and in 2006 she published her book.
Non-fiction
- (1995) "The Spatial Organization of the Indie Music Gig" reprinted in The Subcultures Reader, Ken Gelder (Editor), Sarah ThorntonSarah ThorntonSarah Thornton is a writer and sociologist of culture. Her early work was about clubs, raves, music taste and cultural hierarchies. Thornton has authored and edited works about subcultures. She now writes principally about art, artists and the art market...
(Editor) . - (1996) "Spatial Distribution and Participation in British Contemporary Musical Performances"' Issues in Applied Linguistics, 7(1)
- (1999) “The Culture of Participation and the Morality of Aesthetics in British Independent Music Performances” PhD. Diss., University of California at Los Angeles, (Ann Arbor: UMI):
- (2006) Empire of DirtEmpire of DirtEmpire of Dirt: The Aesthetics and Rituals of British Indie Music is a 2006 book by Wendy Fonarow.Paperback: ISBN 978-0819568113, Hardcover: ISBN 978-0819568106-Contents:...
: The Aesthetics and Rituals of British Indie Music . Paperback: ISBN 978-0819568113, Hardcover: ISBN 978-0819568106 - (2008) "Portrait du chercheur en fan", Cairn.info
Influence
- Google ScholarGoogle ScholarGoogle Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines. Released in beta in November 2004, the Google Scholar index includes most peer-reviewed online journals of Europe and America's largest...
finds 28 citations of her book and 16 of her 1995 article (as of 22 April 2011). - She suggested the name of the band Mojave 3Mojave 3Mojave 3 are a British band, consisting of Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Simon Rowe, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon. Goswell, Halstead and McCutcheon previously played in Thames Valley shoegazing band Slowdive....
inspired by the Mojave desertMojave DesertThe Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
near L.A.,
Further reading
External links
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/ask-the-indie-professor"Ask the indie professor" column in The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
] - Official page
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