Janet Robin Interview - Part 3


Tom: What was your first electric guitar?

Janet: My first one was a 1977 white Stratocaster and I got it from Fender. My uncle had a connection at the company and we went down and picked up that guitar along with a Fender Bronco - a little practice amp, which I still have. The guitar, unfortunately, got stolen out of my mom's station wagon. But from the insurance, when it got stolen, we went and bought a '78 black Les Paul from Guitar Center because, you know, Randy had played a white Les Paul and everything he did, I wanted to do. So, I got the Les Paul and I continued lessons with him. There was no other girl, from what I know, at the time that was taking from him. Not one girl. I was the only one. I mean, I was a bit of a tomboy and all that, but still, he never questioned …

Tom: Made it a thing?

Janet: Yeah. He never questioned any of it. Never made a comment about me being a girl. Nothing. The only comment … I remember his last comment to my mom was, "When she gets to be around my age she's going to be really great." That's the few little words that he did say because he rarely spoke. He just didn't talk very much. He was a very quiet little guy. He'd sit there in the little practice room with his guitar - his Les Paul - and his big, giant cup of Coca-Cola. Every day, that's what he did. He was amazing. It was great. I was sort of like a sponge. I took it all in. I think I was just sort of adept at playing guitar or playing music. I guess I had some of it in me, and he never told me to practice. Nobody ever told me to practice. I was always in my room playing, anyway.

Tom: When did the garage bands start?

Janet: Oh, I was really young. Like around 11. My neighbor played drums - this boy that I used to hang out with. And he knew some guy that played bass or whatever. It was always guys. Of course, there were no girls back then. I know I'm dating myself and giving away my age, but I really don't give a rat's ass about that.

Tom: What year were you born?

Janet: '66. [ Pause ] Yep. I mean, I don't really care. I don't play that whole game. I am what I am, you know? So back then, there just really were not a lot of girls playing rock 'n' roll instruments.

Tom: Did that cross your mind at the time? You knew at an early age that you wanted to make something out of this. Did the lack of women in the business mean anything to you?

Janet: No. It never crossed my mind. I would go in my brother's room and look at his walls. He had all the rock posters. Do you remember the magazine Circus ?

Tom: Sure.

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[ Source : Tom Watson of Modern Guitar Magazine ]