Prepare to be Vixen-ized as the only all-female platinum-selling rock band of the 1980s performs live at Kansas City’s The Scene K.C. Rock Bar on Saturday, August 13 featuring Jan Gardner (vocals), Roxy Petrucci (drums), Share Pedersen (bass) and Gina Stile (guitar).
Founded in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1973 by guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, Vixen went on to gain notoriety playing the Sunset Strip. An early roster appeared in the comedy film “Hardbodies” (1984), leading to a cross-country move to Los Angeles in 1985 to further the band’s career. After some initial changes in crew, Kuehnemund formed the classic lineup with Gardner, Petrucci and Pedersen. In 1988, the girls signed with EMI and recorded their self-titled debut album.
That record went to No. 41 on the Billboard 200 and featured two hit singles, “Edge of a Broken Heart” (No. 26) and “Cryin” (No. 22). Vixen toured as a supporting act and garnered a tremendous following before returning to the studio to produce its follow-up album. “Rev It Up” (1990) reached No. 52 on the albums chart and added two additional hit singles to the band’s arsenal, “How Much Love” (No. 44) and “Love Is A Killer” (No. 71). After a year-long tour of headlining their own shows, the band members went separate ways.
A couple of alternate arrangements reformed during the ‘90s and early ‘00s. At the end of 2012, Kuehnemund was set to reunite the classic lineup, which brought the band its herald success. Merely days before the announcement in early 2013, however, she was diagnosed with cancer delaying the news. Sadly, she passed in October of that year. Today, Gardner, Petrucci and Pedersen continue to carry on the band’s legacy in Kuehnemund’s honor with guitarist Gina Stile who was part of the 1997 renewal.
Join Vixen in celebrating its founder and reliving those classic hits as the girls blow the roof off of The Scene. Advance tickets for the show are just $20 and available online through Stubwire. The venue is located at 14816 E. US 40 Hwy in Independence, Missouri. Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm.
