I first heard Karen Neal when she was on myspace as part of the Queen Bee trio. I featured her and her musical journey as a kickass bass player, singer, and performer back in Women Music March in 2022. When I saw Jim’s prompt for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, I immediately thought of her. I’ve included several YouTubes, but you are under no obligation to watch them all. If you are going to listen to just one, I recommend “Somethin’ for You.”
From Bass Girls International (clicking the image link takes you there)
Gear: Fender Precision Bass(EMG pickups), Ampeg SVT 350 original tube head, Ampeg 410 guitar cabinet, Boss Bass Overdrive pedal.
Current band: Queen Bee / They Never Sleep (aka Thrall)
First bass: Peavey T40
First band: Inside Out (all-female!)
Favourite band: Dead Kennedys (original)
Favourite place: Austin, Texas
My hero: Jello Biafra
I also play guitar, vocals, drums & keys
myspace.com/queenbee
As you can see, the format for today’s post is different from the others, because most all of the others included information from Wikipedia and there is no entry for Karen Neal or any of the bands she’s been in there or at most of the usual places I look. That’s a real shame also because each band is talented in its own way. With each you’ll see what a kickazz bass player and singer Karen Neal is. I did find out in my research that Jack White’s Record Company, Third Man Records, is starting to record Motown acts. Hey Jack, wake up and sign Karen Neal and support her as a GRRRREAT musical artist! I’d love to see some quality remasters of the Inside Out and Queen Bee discs at minimum.
I was able to piece together a musical history for Karen Neal, but I’m sure I’ve missed a lot. I would love to do an interview with her or ask someone who has experience doing interviews with musical artists to do one. I really want to know more about her!
from Discogs:
Inside Out (Detroit USA) was an all-female power trio of Cathy Carrel, Karen Neal, and Lynda Mandolyn who formed in 1985, and specialized in a brand of hardcore punk / grunge / psychedelia in the vein of female grunge bands such as Babes in Toyland and L7. They released a number of singles in the period 1990 – 93, along with 2 LPs. The singles were on Meantime Records, Icon Records and Anti-Music Records. The LPs were both released by Meantime Records.
Thrall, aka Th3yN3v3rSl33p, was American noise-rock / post-punk band from Detroit, Michigan, that included Adam Berg, David B. Livingstone, Karen Neal, Mike Hard, and Terry Bradley. They released one album by Mad Queen Records in 2009.
From soundclick:
Queen Bee formed in 1998 after Karen Neal and drummer Terry Bradley left the band Thrall. They released one 7” single in 1999 and an EP in 2000, where the line-up was Karen Neal, Mike Kish, and Terry Bradley. At some point John Hajec replaced Mike Kish on lead guitar and Neal, Bradley, and Hajec released “Girl On Top” on Hotpants Records, Detroit in 2006.
One thing to share: I first heard Queen Bee on myspace and absolutely loved the music. When other social media sites pushed myspace out of the way, the playlists faded also. It’s only through my search for material for today’s post that I realized all of Karen’s musical history.
Official website: youtube channel
Here’s one final song, BRAND NEW from 3/17/22:
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week, Jim wants a song from a band or artist that had potential, but never got their due.
Tao Talk 
Thanks for sharing your music, Lisa and I enjoyed the song Somethin’ for You. I thought Karen Neal has a nice voice, and she is a great bass player.
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You are welcome, Jim. Looking forward to hearing what others chose this week. Yes she is!
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I was hoping you would pull from your Chick’s in Music line up and you did not disappoint!
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V, I knew you would like this music! I have to wonder, are there ANY record labels run by women?
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Karen Neal is new to me Li. Then again most of what I am going to hear today will likely be new to me, right? 🤣 I enjoyed listening to her song, Somethin’ For You. Women who play electric guitar are so badass aren’t they? 🥰
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Christine, thank you for giving her a chance. She’s the bass player but I know what you mean. Am just about ready to visit the SLS musical trail. Happy Sunday!
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Great choice Li
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Thank you. She is a Wild Woman in the best of ways.
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You did so well creating this history for her Lisa, what a talented woman, great bass player – sad to say I have never heard of her before today – so thanks for sharing🤘
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Ange, she should have become big. You are welcome <3
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Excellent write up, Lisa. Killer bass player.
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Yes, she is <3
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Great vocals and a superb bass player
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Glyn she is the best. Thanks for giving her a chance.
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All new to me, possibly bc they are after the 80s when I stopped following new music. I particularly enjoyed the first video.
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Marina, thanks for giving her a chance, and happy to introduce her to you. I don’t think she or any of the bands she was expanded outside of the Detroit area. With the right promotion, Queen Bee could have been BIG.
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You made me panic a little with this one…when you mentioned March…I thought what? Is it here already I gotta write something! lol. A huge variety with this mix.
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Yes, she is definitely versatile, Max. ha ha on March. please, not yet! :)
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Badass bassist, for sure. You absolutely should reach out and see if Karen would do an interview… you would rock that, Lisa!
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Steve, I appreciate the encouragement. You never know…
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Go for it!!! 😎
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Very interesting reading about her and listening to the music. :)
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Barbara, do you remember when myspace ruled, before facebook came along? Queen Bee ruled back then. I expected them to make it big. Happy to hear you taking the time to listen <3
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Wish she’d have gotten more attention. Especially interesting because my grand-daughter plays bass and drums, too. … No, myspace was before my time on computers. We were even pretty late coming to FaceBook! :)
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Barbara, I hope you share Karen’s music with your granddaughter. Myspace, iirc, was all about the music. Once fb came along, it faded into the shadows, which is a shame because fb doesn’t have music as its focus.
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Thanks again for posting about her, and I’ll let my grand-daughter know about her, too. :)
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<3
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