Even now, a “girl drummer” in an all-boy band is a rare thing. Back in the 1960s, it was unheard of. Which is why Honey Lantree, drummer for the Joe Meek-produced The Honeycombs, stands out. Still. Lantree just died at the age of 75. When she joined the band, she was working as a hairdresser. She had never played the drums before, but she took to it. She learned quickly. People refused to even believe it. People thought she was “pretending” drumming to a track already laid down. I know, it’s outrageous.
I wrote a tiny bit about The Honeycombs’ biggest hit – “Have I the Right?” – here. It was #1 in the UK, and #5 in the United States. The Honeycombs didn’t “go the distance” as a band, they were a one-hit wonder, but people still remember that song. It’s an ear-grabber for sure.
Interestingly enough, just last month Honey Lantree came up in a discussion on Facebook. Someone linked to the Elvis talk I gave in Memphis, in which I referenced the absolutely BONKERS final moment of Spinout. Someone in the comments section, a woman, posted a picture of Elvis’ “band” in Spinout, all boys, with – a girl drummer. A spunky sassy one-of-the-boys girl drummer.
I said, in response, “Hey, it’s like The Honeycombs” and the woman who posted the Spinout pic said, “The girl drummer in Spinout and Honey Lantree inspired me as a kid to become a drummer.” Karen Carpenter also said that when she saw The Honeycombs on The Ed Sullivan Show, it inspired her to become a drummer.
One-hit wonder? Okay. But you never know “how far that little candle throws his beams.”
R.I.P. Honey Lantree.
Here are The Honeycombs performing “Have I The Right?”:
I’ve always loved how much fun she looks like she’s having
I agree!
Sad news. In addition to Karen Carpenter, the road to Fanny, the Runaways, the Go-Go’s, the Bangles and beyond would have been a LOT longer and harder without Honey Lantree. Not just because she played on a hit, but because she played on THAT hit, one that was Stomp or nothing. For the future to arrive, somebody has to go first. R.I.P. indeed.
// Not just because she played on a hit, but because she played on THAT hit, one that was Stomp or nothing. //
NJ – I love how you put this!!