Vixen: The RISE & DRAMATIC FALL Of The Band

The early history of the band Vixen.
Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Fill out our google form!
bit.ly/3stnXlN
----CONNECT ON SOCIAL----
TIKOK: / rocknrolltruestory
Instagram: / rocknrolltruestories
Facebook: / rnrtruestories
Twitter: / rocktruestories
Blog: www.rockandrolltruestories.com
#vixen #hairmetal
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
These videos are for entertainment purposes only. READ OUR DISCLAIMER rockandrolltruestories.com/yo...
The rock scene of the 80’s was dominated by male musicians with big hair, but there was one band who emerged from the scene who was an all girl group who nabbed a major recording contract and had da good deal of succes, despite all the obstacles they faced. . I’m talking about the group Vixen whose career peaked in the late 80’s and early 90’s thanks to their glossy image and power ballads. Today let’s talk about the early career of vixen.
Vixen’s history begins in Minnesota in the 1970’s when guitarist Jan Koo-na-mind (keenamin) who according to the band’s own press release, was more into guitar than dolls, starting her first band in junior high with her best friend in St. Paul.. According to her own hometown paper She would later start a band named Vixen around 1973 gigging at Twin Cities establishments like the Cabooze, Duffy’s Bar, the Union and others Originally it was just the two of them playing guitar and singing, but they wanted to expand to a full band and had aspirations of hitting it big. They would find several other musicians in Minnesota and move out to Los Angeles around 1981 since there was a huge scene there and record labels were there as well. But LA was competitive and there were only so many gigs to be had - so it wasn’t uncommon for bands having to pay to play. So it was no surprise, that one by one the band's members left leaving Jan as the only remaining member. Initially she didn’t think about how some people would think it was weird for an all girl group to play rock music telling the record newspaper “it was just the kind of music that was in my blood” citing led zeppelin as one of her biggest influences adding. “Only after we started playing, and everyone kept telling us how weird it was, did we realize we were unique.”
Jan would end up first recruiting vocalist Janet Gardner. Gardner first started singing in bands in high school in montana. Gardner who moved to LA around 1984 was playing in several bands at the time including a cover band who played a show one night somewhere in the san fernando valley. Gardner recalled in the book nothing but a good time. On one of our breaks, some girl comes up to me and goes, “I know this band that’s looking for a singer that you would be perfect for. I know the manager. I’m gonna have him call you.” I’m like, “Wow. They have a manager. That’s pretty impressive!” The next night the woman returned and brought the band with Janet adding I was expecting long-haired, guy-looking people.She came up to me and he goes, “I brought the band.” I was like, “Really? I didn’t see anybody.” She goes, “Yeah, they’re right over there.” It was [Vixen guitarist] Jan Kuehnemund and a bunch of girls. I was like, “Oh … it’s a girl band.” She goes, “Yeah, but you have to keep an open mind.” I said, “Well, of course, but I don’t want to be in the Go-Go’s.”
Koonamind and Gardner along with three temporary members at the time would appear in the 1984 film Hardbddies performing as a band using the monicker diaper rash.
They would end up writing six songs for the film, which was more songs than they wrote for their debut record. The appearance led to a segment on the show entertainment tonight, an opening slot for night ranger, a tour of military bases in guam, japan and korea and an appearance on the show cagney and lacey, but they still couldn’t get a recording deal. That wouldn’t happen for another several years. They would go through some more lineup changes with the band literally having a revolving door of members with the exception of Keunhamind and Gardner,. before cementing their classic lineup in 1986.
It was in 1981 drummer Roxxi Petrucci and her sister started a band called Maadam X in Detroit. The sisters were first enthralled by hard rock and metal thanks to their older brother who brought home led zeppeli nand black sabbath records in addition to another band Petrucci highlighted, the band Fanny which was an all girls group. Fun Fact: Sebastian Bach would end up fronting Maadam X for a period of time. Roxxi was A former classical clarinetist before picking up the drums. She was soon splitting her time between symphony halls in the morning and afternoon and rock clubs in the night throwing on her leather clothes and

[@rnrtruestories]

Throw your suggestions for future topics here.

[@reprintranch]

This may be too obscure, but there was a really good all-female band from Sacramento in the late '60s., and they deserve some kinda documentary treatment. They're best known by the name She, and there's a compilation CD of their demo material called She Wants a Piece of You. Really compelling lead singer, Nancy Ross. They broke up circa 1970 after recording one single, because they hated the meddling they had to put up with from label people. She probably woulda been a much better-known act if they had played outside Northern Cali, but that didn't happen. Buncha tunes of theirs on KZbin, check 'em out.

[@alhollywood6486]

Have you done a deep dive into the Bands Reunited show? Would be interested in hearing how they came together and stuff.

[@daishi4531]

I'd be interested in hearing about Budgie, Lolita KompleX & BAND-MAID 👍

[@glennt69lol]

Paul dianno and blaze bailey - the other iron maiden singers

[@onurozuvar6299]

Wasp

[@raythackston1960]

Everybody that ran into anyone related to Sharron Osbourn would get screwed over.

[@quinnrollen]

Shady business. Her dad was no better.

[@V3ntilator]

It's revealed that Ozzy weren't much better than Sharon, so she can't get all the blame as she always did. Ozzy didn't like to pay band members either for example and Ozzy claimed to make songs Jake E. Lee did and Bob Daisley made... Ozzy got their names removed on the re-releases, so it says Ozzy were the composer instead. Everyone know that's a lie.

[@gunnarjordan6980]

$haron Osbourne is definitely her dad’s daughter. He’s a pos like her.

[@stemikger]

Yeah, I laugh how polished she portrays herself now. She was one shady business women and would get down in the gutter and screw people and lie quite often.

[@Lnps123]

Jan was one of the best female guitarist of all time. R.I.P.

[@jamestapscott9400]

I saw Vixen, Winger, and KISS on the Hot In The Shade tour. It was a great show, and all three bands hit on all 8 cylinders.

[@alhollywood6486]

The Bands Reunited episode is a good one too.

[@alexdeleon7135]

Thank you for this necessary tribute. Vixen was, and still are fully qualified musicians. Their place in history must be recognized by this new generation.

[@sethputnamsghost6538]

Still own the debut on cassette.🤘

[@lauraestrada7279]

My first "fight" with my bestie to this day was over her making fun of Vixen. When I wanted to play Edge of a Broken Heart! I was so upset that I broke the tape!! 😢😢😢😢😅😅😅. We were 12! It was 1989.

[@Taken2Serious4Life]

Dude. There's no way you are called SethPutnam'sGhost.

[@aprilkurtz1589]

I think I may have auditioned for this band, LOL! I was a female musician in the '70's and there was soooo much bullshit, especially from male musicians. Nobody took us seriously. I'm still a musician fifty years later. I don't regret anything.

[@shannonyoung3465]

The first Poison cassette I bought, I thought it was a Vixen type band... All girls🤦‍♂️😂

[@TranceMasterJack]

Might as well have been

[@michael7054]

Same with Hansen 😅

[@shannonyoung3465]

@@TranceMasterJack 😂🤦‍♂️

[@shannonyoung3465]

@@michael7054 😂🤦‍♂️

[@karakillgrave8105]

I mean...

[@aaroncostello8812]

"Love Made Me" has been one of my favorite songs since it came out and I still play "How Much Love?" sometimes. 😁

[@kenterminateddq5311]

I wondered why Vixen didn't get a second mainstream hit. They weren't as edgy as L7 or loose like The Runaways but Vixen was a pretty talented all-female rock band.

[@gunnarmarks5754]

It’s fucked up but label heads didn’t like all female bands that were about the music. They wanted a pony show … Fanny had some killer songs but never broke huge because they didn’t play into a image or have a stupid stage act

[@cchavezjr7]

@@gunnarmarks5754 male or female they want the pony show that makes money.

[@kenterminateddq5311]

@@gunnarmarks5754 What about the Gogos or the Bangles?

[@justakidfromjakku6538]

the should have let holly night wright the songs they would have had a top 10 album and head lined a world tour. Also once jan was gone they have never been able to bring that sound back, and wright great songs, No dis to brit shes great.

[@WesleyGravolet]

Are we really trying to put vixen in the same league as L7 and The Runaways??? Please, two different sounds and guitarists like Jett and Sparks would wipe the bathroom wall with the women of Vixen....

[@grr-OUCH]

If people want to know about some all-female bands, three that immediately come to mind are The Warning (three sisters, usually the guitarist sings, sometimes the drummer sings), BAND-MAID, and Burning Witches.

[@jonjackson5372]

I love Burning Witches! They’re awesome.

[@gregdrmax]

I played in a band Rok Kandi...NE Iowa in the early 80's. We were playing at Lakeside Ballroom Guttenberg IA. Vixen was coming through the area during a big snow storm. I am not entirely sure how it was set up. Either they were going to perform there, and we opened...or they contacted the ballroom possibly looking for cover from the storm. Do not know. We ended up opening up for them. Many moons ago, but remember it quiet well. Rockin ballroom right on the mississippi river.

[@Easttndude]

Very interesting. I wasn't sure what happened to the band until watching this.

[@MrKingsley16]

Vixen opened for Eddie Money at the Masonic Auditorium, in Detroit 1988. They were amazing, the songs and energy had the place all-out rockin'. Great band!!!

[@HardAndHeavyChannel]

R.I.P Jan, very talented.

[@michaellazor5667]

I saw them last year. They rocked very hard with Britt Lightning on guitar. The new singer was fantastic. I was skeptical but she won me over.

[@edwardvaca2627]

Lorraine Lewis is the "new" lead vocalist. She has been in a band called Femme Fatale. They were pretty damned good. Had a couple of minor hits "Falling in an out of Love," and "Waiting for the Big One." I believe they had been out of Albuquerque and I would sometimes see their videos on Headbanger's Ball.

[@vintagetubeamplifiers]

I've had a crush on Roxy for almost 40 years.

[@scottvincent3062]

You and me both, she's still fine today.

[@stevebondeson2852]

I've seen them live 2 times in the last 2 years . I also got to meet them when my friends band opened for them . They still put on a great show and are very nice .

[@alfonsogutierrez1392]

And now we got 3 sisters from Mexico making their way in the rock world 👍😃🇲🇽💥🥁🎸🎹🤘🤘🤘⚡🌏⚡🕯️🙏🌌🇺🇸💜☀️😎⚠️⚠️⚠️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌟🎉🌎🌍🌏🔥🔥🔥

[@billyhensley7770]

Vixen they were so beautiful

[@sfallico3]

They seem to be out and about on the touring circuit today and have kind of a cool older rocker vibe to them. Like not embarrassing or having let themselves go …. Good for them ! I loved the first album good memories !

[@twistdmojo]

Jon Butcher wrote "American Dream". It's a kick ass song and they slayed on it! I've always been a fan of both.

[@tristramcoffin926]

Dude, you should look into doing voice work if you haven't already. You do amazing narration and have the timbre to do it professionally outside of your own videos.

[@dragracer2511]

8:28 I would hardly call "Edge Of Broken Heart" a ballad!

[@michaelwills1926]

Power ballad maybe

[@Lnps123]

'Be clutch are dame forever' is the best Vixen song.

[@_vixen_4504]

@@michaelwills1926 Not really, Love is a killer is a power ballad.

[@infinidominion]

Diaper Rash 😂 sounds like an opener for Spinal Tap

[@jimthar17]

I'll bet they went to bitch school.

[@danwhitehurst6293]

I’d go see that

[@wendyhamm9722]

I loved Vixen! Too bad Jan passed away. It is just not the same without her. They are still touring but nothing like in the past. 😢

[@gatekeeperboxing5898]

Love Vixen so much, their first two albums are among my favourites to this day.

[@gwts1171]

My local girls! Also, all the clubs you mentioned are pretty much where I lived during my teen years.

[@travismiles5885]

Full in Bloom channel posted a video the other day about how Sebastian ended up in Madam X.

[@bigdaddy0614]

I love your videos but you always seem to cut them too short. I would have loved to see more about what happened after the classic line up broke up the first time.. At least do a follow up video

[@allanvanuga9196]

Great video.

[@ricdale7813]

I had seen Vixen 2x in their hey day. They were good but they followed the same formula as other Hair bands with forced ballads and TV and Radio friendly Top 40 Rock songs as priority. They got screwed but they also followed the path leading them there.

[@tomjohnson4922]

I was actually a big fan of Vixen and saw them when they opened for Ozzy where unfortunately most of the fans booed because I guess they weren't metal enough.

[@emomuzz5883]

GR8 work on this! Suggestion: 90's act out of Rhode Island "The Throwing Muses". Boston act "Tribe". U will not be sorry.

[@rnrtruestories]

Thanks! Wasn’t Tribe in rock band 1?

[@bridgetteshort3150]

Saw them way back in 89 in Panama City Beach at Spinnakers, always liked them and still do

[@hnguye22]

Vixen is my favorite band. I had a crushed on Jan. RIP, Jan. We missed you.

[@0773heidi]

Its a shame and I don’t get it I saw vixen in the uk around 1990 time they were brilliant only time I’ve ever seen them x

[@999manman]

Back around '89 Vixen came to play at our high school as a result of the kids winning a radio contest. I can only imagine what they had to think coming to our backwater burg to play for a bunch of high schoolers.

[@user-mi5yp2bt4z]

Vixen is awesome Rev it up was a great album and the first album both of them are great

[@bltvd]

It stinks there never was a Hardbodies soundtrack release. That is my favorite stuff from the band.

[@calnelson8578]

I saw them in Sacramento about 1992 i think, I was totally impressed !

[@FreeMTrider]

Wow I didn't know they went so far back. All of them are really good musicians. They can play.

[@skaz777]

i liked them, but before this video, never realized how mean they were towards people.

[@rticle15]

Their only hit was written by Richard Marx and the lead guitar on it was played by a studio musician. Good songs breed longevity. Vixen was good but I just dont know that they had the tunes.

[@RanterInShades]

Edge of a Broken Heart a ballad? Sorry, but since when were ballads that upbeat?

[@mjello3822]

There are songs that are ballads that are upbeat. A notable example from recent years is "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn. Another example would be "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat. That is an emotional song even though the production is fast tempoed. The tempo of the song doesn't matter if you can still convey an emotional message, which is what ballads are supposed to do.

[@_vixen_4504]

@@mjello3822 Well sure, however, Edge of a broken heart is not a ballad. Love is a killer is a ballad.

[@darrenp1549]

I saw them a few months ago. Impressive live..

[@erich84502a]

😂😅 many bands were dumped that didn't deserve it. Countless bands signed a contract and never charted 😢😢

[@grr-OUCH]

I liked Vixen. I had their first two of albums, did not know they had a third.

[@flatlander5054]

I love Rev It Up!

[@V3ntilator]

Lorraine Lewis were probably fired in 2024 if you read between the lines and also what Britt said. I were lucky to see Vixen with Lorraine in 2023. It were the only way for me to ever see "Femme Fatale" live too as Vixen played one song with the original singer. Earlier they played the two biggest Femme Fatale songs.

[@pops1876]

would like to see a Smashed Gladys

[@Lnps123]

'Gone maybe sealed' is one of their best song.

[@Gordini840]

"you've gotta reign in your weirdness on this one" 😂

[@travismiles5885]

Greg Bissonnet is from Detroit too. He beat out a homegirl for the DLR gig.

[@ChrisTian-rm7zm]

Hair Metal was not ready for mixed bands.

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

Miss all the high hair 😂

[@52969RST]

She used to do my teeth

[@las10plagas]

hehehe say 'Vixen' a few times more! the way it's pronounced, it sounds exacly like the german word for 'wanking/getting off' =P wichsen

[@jodieb6458]

Vixen piqued my interest, Rev It Up had my faves! I am glad Janet is still out there and Roxy is still pushing forward with the band

[@blackcurtains4710]

While you mention Vixen using outsider song writers. Cryin' was just a like-for-like cover version of the Jeff Paris song of the same name. So a one hit wonder band then?

[@woodysdrums8083]

Great band.

[@danzielinski5036]

VIXEN had potential. I had their first LP, But a lot of their songs were like any other metal band at the time. They didn't stand out as much as l hoped they would. Precious Metal and Phantom Blue, 2 other all-female bands made it to at least 2 LPs in their lineup. Its a Shame. . . Too many Chefs spoiled the broth, and not enough support from recording companies

[@kiimbel1877]

Phantom Blue was an awesome band. They should have been huge!!!

[@Mega-G-Star]

American 80’s Metal Queens.

[@DJDizzyStorms]

Its such a shame that they didn't last long & they had some awesome songs

[@jaynash2645]

Hardbodies was one of my favorite movies during the 80s…. My friend is flipping u off in 50 different languages… 😂

[@jonrossum8647]

Finally....

[@GoodDredd]

They just weren't very good and had a corporate sound. No surprise they went nowhere

[@onurozuvar6299]

Can u do wasp?

[@richardaaron4454]

Rageaholic did one on Wasp if you haven’t seen it.

[@onurozuvar6299]

@@richardaaron4454 Thanks

[@richardaaron4454]

@@onurozuvar6299 No problem, I thought he did a good job on it. He’s a huge fan.

[@onurozuvar6299]

@@richardaaron4454 sure it is over an hour long it will enjoy it

[@SanitysVoid]

Jan was so hawt.

[@williambeatty7781]

It's kind of shame their best song wasn't written by the band. Kind of takes away their credibility.

[@haliaeetus8221]

Them being women wasn't a problem for us consumers. The songs, arrangements riffs etc. weren't strong enough material. They actually got a career because of their gender. Males doing their material would've not been noticed.

[@loboblanco4426]

Do a video of the ups, downs, ups, and downs, of motorhead.

[@tommyapocalypse6096]

That would take a mini-series to cover. 😁

[@Tipp_Of_The_Mitt]

No mention of the Rock & Roll bar Maxine Petrucci ran out in the extreme sticks of Northern Michigan.

[@gearhead762]

Its time to rename the band Roxy

[@jimthar17]

Roxen

[@Ohionortheast]

The fans loved girl bands if you want to imply sexism that’s on record company’s personally heart,Joan Jett,lita ford loved them all

[@Chadsolderbrotherbrad1111]

I remember laughing at these chix 😂

[@sylentstorm8422]

John Kuh-LODD-ner

[@JPF_311]

Yup..women complaining they got ‘f’d over’. Please. If not for the fact they were attractive, no one would’ve ever heard of them.

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

🤘🏻✌🏼😊

[@metalwitch58]

In my opinion, it's not Vixen unless it has all original members! Rip Jan!!

[@MightyGreedo]

13:07

[@doylelacrua]

Diaper Rash? Why would anyone use that as a name for a serious band.

[@jimthar17]

Because it was a fake band in a movie that was an 80's comedy.

[@karakillgrave8105]

Hey diaper rash IS serious! 🤣

[@loboblanco4426]

Or do velvet underground. The fist album sold hundreds of copies yet almost every listener of the band started successful bands.

[@raythackston1960]

The second record was as good as the first. They have some great music.

[@311superfly]

Diaper rash is awesome

[@tommyapocalypse6096]

Clearly, you’ve never had it. 😆

[@ellisonlowrimore7751]

They were a solid band!! Unfortunately they were all pretty and not taken seriously.

[@phobicx5999]

😂Better makeup

[@oukeith]

I have never heard of this band and i am 90s music simp.

[@cchavezjr7]

i will admit as a teenager I was really turned off by what the critic said about the band as well. It seemed really lame to me at the time that the women bands were trying to do what the men do but turn it up to 11 that it seemed ridiculous. They would use every rockstar pose and trope every minute of every song. It felt like they were trying too hard to prove themselves. I'm not saying I was right but I think that was also the feeling of many other people as well. I heard it a lot from others making fun of them and others when they would be on MTV. The one great thing about growing older is that it is never too late to go back and appreciate what was previously dismissed.

[@zappasmoustache23]

No, it wasn’t you, I definitely got that vibe from them.

[@mmestari]

Well it seems to be true that all female rock bands proportionally much more songs that have no content, just rock something repeated or are love songs.

[@PowerTree-007]

They were good musicians.

[@loboblanco4426]

But Joan jett, the pretenders, Lita ford, and heart were not all girl babds. With the exception of heart each of the other bands had one female member cepting heart which had two.

[@paulthomasbranda7591]

Let’s face facts: they were not going to be the Beatles. Many of my fav bands never headlined U.S. Arenas. THIN LIZZY was one.

[@woodysdrums8083]

Vixen didn't fall they are still out there killing it.

[@Michael-eu1mz]

Not the original band

[@floepiejane]

You're using "would" when you dont need it. Just use the simple past forms for single events.

[@paulcaney5936]

If Don Arden was involved you new you were getting fucked...

[@woodysdrums8083]

Why do you not say the name of her best friend she started with? Bad reporting.

[@rockstarfriend2049]

1. I've seen them live twice and they really aren't very good. 2. Their hit song was written by someone else. 3. Their gimmick was being an all female band. Reality = You didn't get screwed, you just were not as good as the competition.

[@riffmondo9733]

They were late to the party and not that great anyway. Seem like a gimmick to most of us.

[@randymoran67]

Vixen wasn't a metal band just a syrupy pop band with marx penned tune

[@user-to2gh7sg3l]

This was like 40 years ago, and they sucked then too. Seems pointless.

[@youtoobe169]

None of the original members remain

[@nirv8]

They didn't get screwed over they just sucked