Women of the Underground

December 15, 2010
The 10 women who are interviewed in this entertaining collection are all in their own way counterculture figures, some, like Laurie Anderson, better known than others. Von Burden calls them incendiary revolutionaries and cultural engineers, which are apt descriptions since each one forged her distinctive identity without commercial considerations. Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson, a contemporary of Elvis Presley (she toured with the King), and Ana da Silva, the founder of the all-female postpunk band the Raincoats, were ahead of their time. Others are known because of their associations with seminal bands: Maureen Tucker was the drummer for the Velvet Underground; Pauline Black was lead singer for the Selecter, a popular English ska band. Von Burden is a skilled interviewer, asking astute questions, managing to get even the most reticent subjects to open up. Quite often, the answers can be startling. When asked what has been the most satisfying aspect of her career, Anderson answers simply, The fact that I can continue. A fascinating and important collection for anyone with an interest in the role of women in popular culture.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)