Black Artists Were Essential to Rock and Punk, New Book Argues

Musician and journalist Stephanie Phillips argues that Black artists have been integral to the creation and evolution of rock and roll, punk, and alternative music, despite often being forgotten or excluded from the narrative. Her new book, "We Were Here," aims to shed light on these contributions.

Phillips, the lead singer and guitarist for the band Big Joanie, recounted her personal experience of feeling like she was betraying her race by embracing indie and punk music as a young person growing up in Wolverhampton. She felt compelled to keep this passion secret due to a prevailing notion that Black people were not interested in such genres.

"There was a particular way that I was supposed to move through the world and being super into this genre was seen as something that wasn't for black people," Phillips told the BBC. She describes the phrase "black weirdo" as capturing both her personal feelings and how others perceived her involvement in the punk scene.

The book explores the history of Black artists in rock, starting with pioneers like Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Jimi Hendrix, and continuing through various genres and eras, including heavy rock and punk acts such as Bad Brains and Pure Hell. Phillips asserts that Black artists have always been present and influential, even when deliberately overlooked or marginalized by the music industry.

Pauline Black, lead singer of the ska and 2 Tone group The Selecter, shares similar sentiments. "Although what I do still comes from the genre of black music, I was one of those weirdos in a way because I come from a folk background, and you can't get much whiter than that," she said. Black noted that in her youth, deviating from soul or Tamla music meant being misunderstood.

Phillips also addresses the ongoing challenges faced by Black artists in the contemporary music scene. She cites the example of Nova Twins, whose debut album received critical acclaim but struggled to secure a record label deal. Phillips related this to her own experiences with Big Joanie, where obtaining support for early releases was a difficult process. "You do have to work harder. It can be exhausting," she stated.

Stephanie Phillips is participating in a series of events to discuss the themes raised in her book. One such event is a conversation with Pauline Black at Warwick Arts Centre on October 15. Black expressed her anticipation for the discussion, noting that while Phillips grew up in a different generation, "I don't think the industry had changed significantly by the time she formed Big Joanie."

"I think she's done an extraordinary job, both with her band and with the book," Black added. "So it's 'up the weirdos', is what I say."

Phillips is also scheduled to appear at Supersonic Festival in Birmingham on November 18.