Teenage Daydream by Debsey Wykes review – coming of age in an all-girl guitar band

Debsey Wykes' Memoir Captures the Chaos of 80s Girl Power with Unflinching Honesty.

In her memoir Teenage Daydream, singer and bassist Debsey Wykes takes readers on a journey through the highs and lows of forming an all-girl band in the early 1980s. Wykes recounts how Dolly Mixture's rambunctious energy, inspired by punk and girl groups, captivated critics like John Peel and NME, earning them spots opening for iconic acts like the Jam, Madness, and U2.

The band's story is one of perseverance in the face of sexism and financial hardship. Wykes chronicles their struggles with male executives who rejected their input, leading to a defiant decision to self-release an album instead. This bold move paved the way for future female-fronted bands, including riot grrrl.

Wykes' writing is infused with the devil-may-care optimism of adolescence, which led her and her bandmates, Rachel Bor and Hester Smith, to pursue music despite having little experience. The book is also filled with vivid depictions of their chaotic lifestyle, from living in cramped conditions to performing in front of hostile crowds.

However, some sections feel like they're stretching the narrative a bit too thin. Wykes often includes fan letters that don't add much to the story, disrupting the flow. Nevertheless, Teenage Daydream remains an essential read for anyone interested in the history of 80s girl power and the struggles faced by women in music.

The final chapter brings the book full circle as Wykes reunites with her old bandmates in Brighton, reflecting on their wild adventure and the lasting impact of Dolly Mixture's legacy. Despite not achieving mainstream success, they managed to stay friends and create a lasting influence on future generations of musicians.

Wykes' unwavering dedication to telling Dolly Mixture's story is a testament to the enduring power of 80s girl bands like no other. With unflinching honesty, Teenage Daydream offers an unforgettable glimpse into a bygone era of rebellion and creativity.

think about it like this, when Debsey Wykes' all-girl band Dolly Mixture faced those male executives who didn't want to give them a chance, they could've easily given up or compromised their art. but instead, they chose to self-release an album and take control of their own destiny it's not always easy to stand up for yourself, but sometimes that's exactly what you gotta do to create something truly remarkable

can't believe how many women were fighting for their rights in music back then it's crazy to think that Dolly Mixture paved the way for riot grrrl and all those other amazing female-fronted bands their story is like a beacon of hope, proof that even when faced with sexism and financial struggles, you can still make your mark on the world and wykes' decision to self-release an album was like totally revolutionary for its time it's so inspiring to see how she and her bandmates held onto their vision despite all the obstacles in their way

I'm not buying that this memoir is entirely accurate... or at least, she's not revealing the whole story . There are some pretty convenient coincidences with famous acts like U2 opening for her band, and it seems a bit too perfect to be true . Where are these fan letters coming from? Is Wykes trying to create a narrative that'll appeal to the '90s grunge crowd as well? Not buying it... need some actual sources before I start celebrating the legend of Dolly Mixture

OMG I'm totally obsessed with this memoir!!! Debsey Wykes' writing is SO honest and raw it's like reading a diary entry from your fave girl band The part about self-releasing the album and rejecting male executives is just WOW what a bold move!! And I love how she talks about the chaos of living in cramped conditions and performing in front of hostile crowds - it's like, totally relatable . Sure, some sections feel a bit thin but overall this book is SO worth reading especially if you're into 80s girl power history! The ending where she reunites with her bandmates is just the most heartwarming thing I've ever read

omg i'm literally obsessed with this memoir!!! Debsey Wykes' story is so inspiring, especially when she talks about how they self-released that album despite all the rejections from execs... it's like, totally empowering to see a female band take control of their own destiny . and i love how Wykes writes about the chaos of the 80s girl power scene - it feels so raw and unfiltered . yeah, maybe some parts feel a bit slow with all those fan letters... but overall, this book is like a time capsule of an era that's totally worth reading

I'm low-key obsessed with this memoir! I love how Debsey Wykes is unafraid to share the raw, messy truth about forming Dolly Mixture in the 80s girl power scene. It's wild to think about all the sexism and financial struggles they faced, but it just goes to show that perseverance and determination can take you far! And I love how the book doesn't shy away from showcasing their chaotic lifestyle - who else gets to say they lived in cramped conditions and performed in front of hostile crowds? The only thing I wish was different is a bit more editing to get rid of those extra fan letters, but overall it's an absolute must-read for anyone into 80s music history. The reunion chapter at the end is just perfect - it's so beautiful to see how Dolly Mixture's legacy lives on even if they didn't achieve mainstream success.

I'm tellin' ya, this memoir thingy sounds super suspicious . I mean, think about it, Debsey Wykes is only comin' forward now, 40+ years after all the drama went down? That's just too convenient for my taste . And what about all those fan letters she includes in the book? Just a bunch of BS to make her look like the victim, if you ask me .

And don't even get me started on the way she's presentin' Dolly Mixture as these super trailblazin' female-fronted bands. I mean, sure, they were rebellious and all that jazz, but what about the systemic sexism and racism that was just built into the music industry? That's not exactly somethin' you can gloss over or ignore, know what I'm sayin'?

But hey, if it makes for a good read, then so be it. Just don't expect me to swallow all this nostalgia and hero-worship without a healthy dose of skepticism . The truth is always more complicated than what we're told, and I'm here to uncover it .

LOL what's up with all these band stories? anyway gotta say, Debsey Wykes is kinda inspiring - the fact that she & her crew stuck it out despite everyone telling them they'd never make it... sounds super relatable tbh. and yeah, female-fronted bands in the 80s were total game-changers for feminism in music

but omg can we talk about how cramped living conditions are tho? like, I thought I had bad adulting problems but girlz on tour got some real issues... and btw what's up with all these fan letters taking up space? felt like they were just there to pad the page

OMG I'm literally buzzing about this memoir!!! Debsey Wykes' story is so inspiring it gives me chills . I mean, can you even imagine forming a band in the 80s with no experience and still managing to make a name for yourself? The part about them self-releasing an album because of sexist executives had me gagging . It's wild how that move paved the way for future female-fronted bands like riot grrrl. I need to pick up this book ASAP, the more I read about Dolly Mixture's struggles and triumphs, the more I'm reminded of the power of DIY ethos .

I'm kinda disappointed in how long this memoir read takes up space on my feed... feels like I just got done reading an entire year's worth of news updates instead of getting a concise recap of the story. And can we please do something about these super long threads? 200 words is way too much to scroll through every time someone posts. It's like, I know I want all the deets but come on! How about just keeping it to 2-3 paragraphs max and we're good to go?

I'm totally loving Debsey Wykes' memoir ! It's like, you get this super vivid sense of what it was like to be part of that radical girl power movement in the 80s . I mean, I can only imagine how tough it must've been to deal with sexism and financial struggles while trying to make music . And I love how she talks about self-releasing an album - that's so brave!

I also appreciate how Wykes stays true to her story, even if some parts feel a bit disjointed at times . But overall, it's this really honest and raw look at what life was like for female musicians back then . And the ending, where she reunites with her old bandmates in Brighton? That's just so beautiful .

It's crazy to think that Dolly Mixture's legacy is still influencing new generations of musicians - that's pretty amazing !

omg i love debsey wykes' memoir teenage daydream its like a wild ride through the ups and downs of forming an all girl band in the 80s i mean who wouldn't want to read about the struggles of sexism and financial hardship, but also getting to party with the jam madness u2 lol seriously tho its inspiring to see how debsey wykes and her bandmates persevered and paved the way for future female-fronted bands like riot grrrl. i wish more memoirs would be this raw and honest about the music industry tho

just read about debsey wykes' memoir and it's so inspiring i mean, these girls were literally on the edge, fighting for their music and their place in the industry, and they still managed to create something truly special it's amazing how much perseverance and determination can lead to lasting impact. also love that she didn't shy away from sharing the hard parts of their story - it's not always pretty, but it's real

just read about Debsey Wykes' memoir & I'm totally inspired by her story it's so refreshing to see a woman who refused to back down from the music industry's sexism

I'm totally obsessed with this memoir! The way Debsey Wykes captures the raw energy and chaos of the 80s girl power scene is just mesmerizing . I love how she's not afraid to share the struggles they faced, from sexism to financial hardship – it's so inspiring that they persevered despite all the odds against them . And can we talk about how bold they were to self-release an album? That's some serious trailblazing right there . My only gripe is that some sections feel a bit meandering, but overall, I think Teenage Daydream is a must-read for anyone who loves 80s music or just wants to learn more about the history of female-fronted bands . It's like Wykes is giving you this huge hug and saying "girl power is still here, and it's still fierce ".

OMG, just read the most epic memoir about 80s girl power, #DollyMixture is my spirit animal!!! Debsey Wykes' raw honesty is so inspiring, I mean, who wouldn't want to join an all-girl band in the 80s? The struggles they faced with sexism and financial hardships are so relatable, #GirlPowerForLife! I'm obsessed with how they self-released their album, it's like a lesson for modern-day artists to take control of their music. And the riot grrrl movement is still alive today, yay feminism!

I'm telling you, this whole thing feels off . First off, why did Debsey Wykes decide to write her memoir now, after all these years? Is she trying to cash in on the 80s revival or something? And what's with all these fan letters scattered throughout the book? It feels like an attempt to manipulate the narrative and make it more " relatable" for modern readers. I mean, can't we trust her account of events without all that extra fluff? The way she describes the band's struggles with sexism and financial hardship also seems a bit too convenient. Are they trying to spin this as some kind of feminist anthem or something? It just doesn't add up...

OMG u guys i just read this memoir about debsey wykes & her band dolly mixture & i'm literally dying they went through so much struggle in the music industry back in the 80s but still managed to create this iconic legacy it's crazy how sexism & financial issues almost brought them down, but they refused to give up their story is like a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions & i'm here for it anyway, while some parts feel a bit slow, the final chapter where debsey reunites with her old bandmates is SO satisfying it's amazing how dolly mixture's impact still lives on today