Pantara-Temper Temper

Bio By She Rox All Female Bands: It is no secret that the music industry is flawed, long forgotten are the days when real musicians became successful by hard work and dedication to their craft. Successful artists are merely replicated and made overnight, thanks in part to the many mundane competition shows overloading modern day music. The road for women musicians has always been far from easy, having to prove themselves as competent, if not better to their male counter parts. The music industry has left many, that should have been successful, a mere footnote in a long history of undiscovered gems. The 1980’s as a musical decade was progressive by many standards, women musicians were far from inconspicuous, but the idea of a band solely of women was still quite the novelty, even by the 1980’s. A handful of early all female bands broke the barriers and re-wrote music history, New Jersey based hard rockers, Pantara were indeed one of these bands. Formed in 1982, by guitarist Sabrina Lauren and drummer Barbara Sehr, the friends set out to crash the boy’s only club of the east coast rock and metal scene. Along with bassist Dawn Stephans and vocalist Elena P. (Leyna) McLaughlin, the band begin honing in their sound, playing locally they soon found themselves at the forefront of the emerging east coast hard rock scene of the early 1980’s. Originally known as Pantera, the girls changed the band name to Pantara after discovering the name was also being used by a Texas based metal band. Although many have debated who indeed originated the now famous band name, it remains a mystery as both bands began within a year of one another. By 1984, Pantara brought in guitar virtuoso, Gina Grace Lugiano a recent graduate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Gina’s masterful skills added dimension to the band, a true guitar shredder who skills rivaled the perfectly pitched, Ann Wilson-esque lead vocals of Elena P. McLaughlin. Bassist Dawn Stephans would opt to work with the band behind the scenes leaving founder Sabrina Lauren to fill in on the bass duties and with drummer Barbara Sehr, the band’s line-up would be solidified. Pantara would spend the next few years writing, recording their own material and earning a name for themselves within the east coast music scene. With a growing fan base and a demo under their belt, the band was quickly embraced by the local club circuit both in New Jersey and New York. Filling shows easily in such infamous clubs as L’Amours, The Ritz, and CBGB’s to name a few, Pantara were the first all-female hard rock band to rival their male counterparts at the time, other local all-female bands such as Missdemeanor and Meanstreak would follow soon after. Still as progressive as the 1980’s may have been, the band was far from exempt of resistance and criticism by some of the boy bands, who were threatened by the band’s sheer talent and growing popularity, sadly a fact that most all-female bands faced during this era of music. This however never deterred the band, music videos followed along with major press articles in such heavy weight magazines from Guitar World and Kerrang! To name a few. Described by many as Pat Benatar meets Led Zeppelin, Pantara’s guitar driven hard rock was both commercially viable as well as radio friendly, and found fans in such major artist as Joan Jett and Ace Frehley among others. By 1987, the hard rock music genre was at its peak in popularity, bands were being signed quickly and reaching mainstream success. Record companies sought after Pantara as well, but when suggestions by a record company and other music industry personnel who were interested in the band, caused so much friction within the band they decided to call it quits in 1988. Even though the dizzying heights of success may have eluded them, the doors the band helped open for other female musicians in hard rock is undeniable. With the invention of the internet and various forms of music media readily available, new fans are rediscovering bands like Pantara, and rediscovering a time past when real music was played by real musicians who are finally being given respect for paying their rock dues. An in this age of instant fame and uninspired music, bands like Pantara have a legacy far richer than many artists littering the current day mainstream music industry.
Pantara: Sabrina Lauren-Bass, Elena P. McLaughlin-Vocals, Barbara Sehr-Drums, Gina Grace Lugiano-Guitar * Temper Temper from the 1986 demo Electric Lady.
Huge Thanks to Gina Grace & Sabrina for band info and pictures, along with Elena, Barbara and Frank Teger for all the amazing rare band pictures!
Like Gina's music page at: / fuseensemble
Like Elena's band at / crsbandnj
Like us at / sheroxallfemalebands

[@enzobinelli9397]

Excelente banda de hermosas mujeres del hard rock de los 80 sin lugar a dudas la década de oro de la música internacional tendrían que publicar videos clips de ellas❤😊💋🤘😈🤘🧛🔥🥰

[@rockmetalandsynthfan6588]

Yet, another overlooked obscure band that was very good and should have become famous.

[@elenapagonis2301]

Thank you so much! This is Elena the singer from Pantara. We had some good times back then.

[@johnniesoesbee7015]

I was lucky enough to have seen them live, and i definitely wasn't disappointed 🤘👌🤘🤘

[@elenapagonis2301]

Thanks Johnnie! this is Elena, the singer from Pantara. We had a good time back then.

[@garytom1935]

Awesome cool jam 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@williamduckworth305]

Who ever said girls cant rock as good as the boys...has not listened to bands like this or phantom blue....

[@alrockman9173]

And Vixen, this is pretty good

[@teago4046]

Honored to have so many of my live shots in this video !

[@elenapagonis2301]

You’re shots were the best!!

[@lejlatiric7037]

Great shots!! 👑💗

[@monstergirl7695]

I recall seeing them at Mother's on Rt. 23 in Wayne, NJ. They were great. They should have been huge.

[@elenapagonis2301]

Thank you! So nice to hear that. This is Elena the singer from Pantara. It was a long time ago. Mothers was my favorite place to play.

[@error4159]

I'm amazed these ladies didn't blow-up cause their music rocks. It's Shout At the Devil era Motley Crue but with a much better singer.

[@sheroxallfemalebands3196]

Agree, her voice is perfection!

[@FurioMil]

🖤

[@rexgeorg7324]

💀 wicked Track !!

[@michelmurray831]

good songs all Time

[@jamesnettleton68]

A heavier version of Fleetwood mac and heart.Sounds like a fairly tight band .With a singer that has a vocal range.

[@twikirobot6897]

Killer song. 🤘

[@80srocknheavyjohannhawk52]

Tremendo! Gracias por compartir.

[@dlr0u812]

I can't find this on Google play music. Anyone have ideas where to find these rocking ladies?

[@sheroxallfemalebands3196]

The band does have some live videos on KZbin, the guitarist Gina, is working on getting more of the 1986 demo out there but for now not much eles :(

[@dlr0u812]

Thanks keep on rocking!!!!

[@teago4046]

There was 1 album that came out that was a compilation called LadyKillers that had the song Torn Away on it. These ladies played Temper, Temper at my wedding in 1986, LOL

[@sheroxallfemalebands3196]

@@teago4046 forgot about Ladykillers album, yes we were going to do Torn Away, we have the lp too :) but thanks to Gina who sent us Temper Temper! And thanks again for the amazing pics you had of the band!