Genevieve Schorr has spent most of her life in music both on stage and behind the scenes. She grew up listening to Chubby Checker and Elvis Presley, influenced by her babysitter Jill (with the beehive hairdo) at age 5 and became captivated with the British Invasion after hearing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan in 1965. Soon after her family moved to North Hollywood and she learned to play acoustic guitar from babysitter, folk singer and artist, Cookie Morrison and quickly fell in love with the California sound of The Beach Boys and The Byrds at age 8.

Inspired by The Kinks, Genny convinced her parents to buy her a Les Paul Jr. guitar and Marshall amp in the early 70’s but struggled to find other female musicians or kindred spirits in her quest to play Rock ’n’ Roll. After high school she finally met like-minded women at a Dr. Feelgood record company party in Hollywood and joined Backstage Pass at the beginning of the LA Punk scene in 1976.

Backstage Pass was known for bridging the gap between Glam and Punk and encouraging other kids hanging out to pick up instruments. They helped to build the scene, playing local gigs in Hollywood as well as San Francisco in support of a variety of bands such as Quiet Riot, The Mumps, Devo, The Nuns and opening a weekend of shows at The Whisky for Elvis Costello and The Attractions in 1977. They are also known for co-signing the lease on the punk venue The Masque for Brendan Mullen, as well as building the first rehearsal studios on the premises with The Skulls and The Controllers. They did a series of demo tapes at Cherokee studios with singer-songwriter and producer Dirk Etienne (Virgin band). Their song, “Legend, Come On Up To Me” was released on a compilation on Rhino Records with other punk bands, The Weirdos, The Dils and Needles and Pins in 1978. In 2019 “Let Me Show You Love” was included on It’s a Youth Explosion on Heavy Soul Records in England along side other unsigned punk bands from the era. They were photographed by Jenny Lens, Brad Elterman, Melanie Nissen and James Stark and featured in many fanzines most notably Slash Magazine with The Damned and The Screamers and Flipside Magazine.

In 1978, Genny eventually settled on a career as a wardrobe stylist, (her second love), and co-owned a boutique, Strait Jacket, which catered to musicians during the MTV era with rock manager, Jake Riviera and his then wife, clothing designer Antoinette (Tony Riviera) Sales. They had many clients including The Bangles, Bruce Springsteen, The Cars, The Cramps, Elvis Costello and The Attractions, The Go- Go’s, Josie Cotton, Nick Lowe, The Plimsouls, The Psychedelic Furs, Split Enz, Squeeze, and X the band.

After the closure of Strait Jacket in 1983 she was put on retainer by Linda Ronstadt as her personal wardrobe stylist for the next 4 years. She started out dressing her for the “Get Closer” summer concert tour and Randy Newman Live at The Odeon. She then went on to design and procure vintage attire for Linda Ronstadt and her combo Red and The Red Hots (named by Genny) for her next musical venture with Nelson Riddle. This would include a trilogy of videos for “What’s New”, an album covers for Lush Life, For Sentimental Reasons, and Round Midnight, as well as accompanying videos, tours and television appearances in the United States, Japan and Australia. She also accompanied Linda Ronstadt for an extended stay in New York City as her dresser and personal assistant when she was cast in the role of Mimi for Joseph Papp’s, La Boheme. Other projects with Linda included Hail, Hail Rock ’n’ Roll with Chuck Berry, Trio: “To Know Him is to Love Him” video, “Somewhere Out There” video with James Ingram and The Smokey Robinson Revue television episode with Culture Club.

During the eighties Genny worked consistently with The Bangles on album covers and videos, “If She Knew What She Wants”, Walking Down Your Street”, “Manic Monday”, “Hazy Shade of Winter.” She toured with them in 1987 both in the U.S. as well as England, Germany, France, and Italy for television promotion and live shows. In 1989 she went on to work for Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) at his recording studio in Tarzana and assisted in putting his band together, The Spiritual Cowboys and also served as their wardrobe stylist for their album cover, tours and videos including “Party Town” which was featured in the movie Flatliners.

What’s New?

Genevieve is in the reformed version of Backstage Pass since 2018 when they played for the first time in almost 40 years at The Radio Free Hollywood Reunion Show at The Bootleg Theater. Backstage Pass original members, Genny Schorr, Marina Muhlfriedel and Joanna Spock Dean have been interviewed for articles about the birth of the LA Punk scene including “The Rad Women Who Crashed the 70’s Punk Scene”- Vice and books including Live at The Masque – Brendan Mullen, Ask The Angels – Donna Santisi, Hard + Fast – Melanie Nissen, Under The Big Black Sun – John Doe and Tom De Savia. They were featured in Dr. Martens Presents Feminism in Punk directed by Ali Roberto, along side Exene Cervenka, Patty Schemel (Hole), LA Witch and The Linda Linda’s.

Genny co-hosted and was co-creator of Metal Priestesses Podcast in 2020/2021, with an impressive lineup of guests and episodes including Suzi Quatro, Kim Mcaullife of Girlschool, Alice Bag, Carlene Carter, Linda Ronstadt together with Susanna Hoffs, Kathy Valentine, Wes Beech and Richie Stotts (Plasmatics guitarists reunion), author Nancy Barrile with Jack Grisham (TSOL) and others.

Genevieve is also an author and her stories have been featured in Crime and Punkishment – Brenda Perlin, Play That Last Thing One More Time-A Tribute to Rocklike Part 2 – Rikard Bengtsson. She is also a frequent guest at the Rock ’n’ Roll story telling show, “Our Lips Unsealed” – hosted by Marina Muhlfriedel. Genny is currently working at Kosh Design Studios as a design consultant and archivist and recently worked on the cover of Linda Ronstadt’s book Feels Like Home: A Song for the Sonoran Borderlands. She has rebooted her wardrobe styling career, working with Susanna Hoffs to create a new signature look for This Bird Has Flown, book tour and the band Cosmo Gold (daughter of Andrew Gold). She has resided in Silverlake since the early nineties and is mother to musician and art space manager, Eden Hain.