3 2 SXS W O R L D | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 | SXSW.COM
Among the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's
2018 inductee class was a long-
overdue accolade to a more obscure
performer who had been gone for 45
years, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Some
80 years ago, Tharpe's hit songs
showcased her rhythmic electric
guitar style, which is widely credited
as inspiring, if not outright inventing,
rock and roll.
The same year Tharpe was hon-
ored, She Shreds, a magazine
devoted to supporting women
guitarists and bassists, celebrated
its sixth anniversary. This is no
mean feat for a print publication
these days, let alone one promoting
new values that seek to close the
gender equality gap.
"Back when I first started playing
guitar, when I was nine in early
2000? Which is not really that long
ago," ponders She Shreds Editor-
in-Chief Fabi Reyna. "There really
wasn't anyone for inspiration who
wasn't a white male. That wasn't
just in the media, but something also
supported by teachers; supported
by community. There was a lot
running against you as a young girl,
or a young underrepresented voice
outside of the norm."
By the time Reyna was 18 and playing
in bands, she experienced the music
scene's unlevel playing field and down-
right sexism firsthand and decided
to do something about it. "It's really
the baby of my anger as a teenager;
as a young, queer brown girl, and also
Guitar Magazine Helps
Build Equality's New Foundation
By Linda Laban
Fabi Reyna. Photo by Ashley Anderson
