FAMOUS rock stars joined a fierce debate over a ban on female singers at a Teesside pub as a series of events were organised in response to the contentious policy.

On Friday, The Northern Echo revealed that Middlesbrough’s Doctor Brown’s pub had barred women from taking to the stage because regulars thought them unable to sing rock.

The story quickly went viral and generated intense interest across the world, attracting the attention of thousands of infuriated musicians, fans and performers.

In what became a global show of solidarity for female musicians, rock bands including Garbage and Halestorm had their say.

Garbage singer Shirley Manson said the ban represented “tired old sexism and misogyny” while Halestorm’s singer, Lzzy Hale – one of the most famous women in rock today – shared The Northern Echo’s article with her followers.

She said: “It shouldn’t be about gender. It’s about talent. There are s***** female singers and s***** male singers.

“There are amazing female singers and amazing male singers. I think they need to run their establishment differently.”

To combat the idea that women cannot sing rock songs, The Northern Echo is among those in the process of organising events to celebrate female musicianship.

Our Women in Rock gig will be held early in the new year and will raise funds for charities helping women in the Teesside area, while complementing a number of events organised since the story broke on Friday.

Hosted by singers Marie Marx and Lisa Kilcar, Musicians Unite will be the first event and will be staged at The Storytellers pub in Stockton on Thursday..

Ms Marx said: “The statements from Doctor Brown’s boiled my blood and I decided to take action – my intentions are not in hate but in solidarity for all musicians.”

Hannah Sowerby, the singer who shared her story after being banned from performing at the pub, thanked everybody for their support but urged people not to boycott Doctor Brown’s.

A statement issued by her band, Revenant, said: “We believe this would only serve to cause problems for the venue and this is not in anyone’s interest – there are limited venues as there is.

“We hope that all bands regardless of their diversity, get the opportunity to play in all venues and get the support they need to help maintain a healthy live music scene.”

  • Anyone interested in performing at Women in Rock should email joanna.morris@nne.co.uk or visit facebook.com/groups/Womeninrock.
  • The team at Doctor Brown’s took to social media to deny the ban following global outrage. However, before going to print, The Northern Echo verified the story by speaking to four musicians independently of each other; viewing text messages between the venue’s team and a musician and speaking to the pub’s manager, whose comments were published accordingly.