A bar in the UK sparks outrage after it bans female-fronted bands
A bar in the UK has sparked outrage after it said it will no longer allow female-fronted bands to perform.
Staff at Doctor Brown's in Middlesbrough say the decision was made after they received a number of complaints from regular customers.
Despite a hugely negative reaction, bar owners have defended the controversial move claiming it “isn't sexist.”
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Doctor Brown's manager, Paula Rees, said: “We had female singers on in the past and customers just didn’t like it – we’re a rock bar and they don’t think that women should sing male rock songs.”
“It’s nothing to do with me, it’s the pub’s regulars who come in every week, they won’t come in if there’s a female singer.”
She continued: “We have got to keep our regulars happy, I’m not a rock fan so can’t judge myself but I’ve been told that some women can sing and some can’t, but they can’t sing heavy rock.”
“If we put a poster up and our regulars know there’s a woman in the band, they won’t give them a chance – they’re my bread and butter and we can’t risk nobody coming in.”
While Paula may claim the decision was made in the name of business, we can't help but think that excuse is a bit of a cop-out – and we're not the only ones.
It shouldn’t be about gender. It’s about TALENT.There are shitty female singers and shitty male singers,There are Amazing female singers and Amazing male singers. I think they need to run their establishment differently. https://t.co/d6fL66rZ7o
— Lzzy Hale (@LZZYHALE) December 9, 2017
Hopefully any band worth anything will no longer be playing at Doctor Brown's in Middlesbrough https://t.co/NZpxO1hbuK
— Jonny (@BlindDrunkMouse) December 8, 2017
If you’re in Middlesbrough and you care about equality, and, heck, living in the 21st century, don’t patronise Doctor Brown’s. Their owners (and clientele, it seems) are stuck in the bloody Middle Ages. They don’t book female-fronted bands. Yep. It’s true. https://t.co/1zFjFrSzsW
— Billy Lunn (@billysubway) December 8, 2017
A live music pub – Doctor Brown's in Middlesbrough – has banned female-fronted bands because they 'can't sing rock'. So, umm: https://t.co/Lqe32YDKjT
— Andy Silvester (@silvesterldn) December 8, 2017
Hey 'regulars'! Ever listen to the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Blondie or Paramore?
No? Didn't think so.
Oh well, your loss.
