Hired Guns: Portraits of Women in Alternative Music by Amanda Kramer and Wayne Byrne explores the lives and careers of the female musicians who have played vital roles in shaping the sound of modern music—often without the spotlight. Through candid interviews and cultural commentary, the book shares firsthand stories of life on tour, in the studio, and within the shifting landscapes of scenes like California hardcore punk and the Minneapolis alt-rock explosion.
Among the musicians featured are Gail Ann Dorsey, who performed with David Bowie, Tears for Fears, and Indigo Girls, and Sue Hadjopoulos, known for her work with Joe Jackson, Simple Minds, and Cyndi Lauper. Clare Kenny has played with Sinéad O’Connor, Orange Juice, and Shakespears Sister, while Susan Miller was a founding member of Frightwig and Bad Posture. Tracy Wormworth’s basslines can be heard in The Waitresses, with Sting, and in The B-52’s.
Joy Askew toured with Joe Jackson, Laurie Anderson, and Peter Gabriel, and Sara Lee brought her signature style to Gang of Four, Robyn Hitchcock, and the Thompson Twins. Lori Barbero helped define the sound of Babes in Toyland, and Caroline Dale brought strings to the work of David Gilmour, U2, David Gray, and Page and Plant. Angie Pollock rounds out the list with her performances alongside The Lightning Seeds, Goldfrapp, and Peter Gabriel.
With a foreword by L7’s Jennifer Finch, Hired Guns is a powerful tribute to the women behind the music who’ve thrilled millions while remaining just out of frame—until now.