MEMPHIS MINNIE

One of the first blues artists to experiment with an electric guitar, the ‘queen of country blues’ paved the way for the likes of Chuck Berry and the Stones, not to mention countless guitar-slinging female acolytes for whom she rewrote the rule book. Memphis Minnie played just as hard and just as well as the guys, and did it all wearing a fabulous frock, all the while chewing tobacco and taking shit from no one – unheard of in the 1920s Born Lizzie Douglas, she had a tough life (running away to Memphis at 13 and playing on street corners, supplementing her income with prostitution) which she poured into passionate chops that evolved from her country blues prime in the 20s to electric tunes in 50s Chicago.

Over the years her work has been covered by artists from Led Zeppelin to Mazzy Star. PG

Listen to this: Me And My Chauffeur Blues (single, 1941)