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'Girls don't play guitars!' The Liverbirds' story

Within just a few years of forming an all-female rock'n'roll band as teenagers in 1960s Liverpool, The Liverbirds were a commercial hit with adoring fans as far away as Japan.

Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders grew up in 1960s Liverpool when the music scene in the city was thriving. They dreamt of playing music themselves and with two others, formed their own band called The Liverbirds. As an all-female rock'n'roll group they defied 1960s sexism – even from a young John Lennon. Breaking new ground for women in music, they toured the world and played alongside musicians like Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones. They have written a book called The Liverbirds: Our life in Britain’s first female rock‘n’roll band.

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Sarah Kendal and May Cameron

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: The Liverbirds band. Credit: Gunter Zint/K & K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns via Getty Images)

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41 minutes

Last on

Thu 18 Apr 2024 02:06GMT

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  • Wed 17 Apr 2024 11:06GMT
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  • Thu 18 Apr 2024 02:06GMT

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