For 25 years, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp has made musical dreams come true by pairing casual players with industry superstars like Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler, singer Darlene Love, Kiss’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, The Who frontman Roger Daltrey, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, shock rocker Alice Cooper, guitarist Lita Ford, and many more.
Though there are a variety of Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp programs held year-round throughout the country, the event held in Los Angeles Jan. 27-Jan. 30 will be women-only for the first time ever with special guests Melissa Etheridge, Heart’s Nancy Wilson, The Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine and guitarist Orianthi.
“It’s about time and it’s about female empowerment,” said Britt Lightning, guitarist for the band Vixen and the music director for Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp during a recent phone interview.
“This is a non-competitive environment where we can openly discuss anything,” she said, sharing a story about an accomplished female guitarist who’d been the only woman in the room at a recent workshop. “It’s just all dudes and that can be intimidating. I get that. There’s a lot of male energy and people look at you like, ‘OK, prove yourself, Only Girl in the Room.’ We’re not looking for that here. We want people to grow and improve and we’re here to be encouraging and this is the perfect forum for that.”
The four-day immersive experience includes all skill levels — teenage beginners all the way to grandmas who just wanna rock — from all over the world. The attendees are placed in different bands and coached one-on-one by a stellar line-up of rock star counselors including Pink bassist Eva Gardner, Eagles of Death Metal bassist Jennie Vee, Zepparella guitarist Gretchen Menn and more.
Campers will also participate in Q&A and jam sessions with Etheridge, Valentine, Wilson and Orianthi. At the end of the program, the bands will perform live in front of friends and family at The Viper Room and the finale will take place at the Whisky a Go-Go on the Sunset Strip. With COVID-19 still affecting live events, the Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp participants will need to show proof of full vaccination and will be tested regularly throughout the event.
“The whole process of these rock camps is amazing,” said Lightning, whose given name is Brittany Denaro. “The camps just break down all boundaries. It’s this inclusive community and there’s incredible support once you get here.”
She said she’s fully aware that it can be very intimidating to play in front of some of the biggest stars in the industry, noting that once some players got wind that Jeff Beck was going to be present during a previous camp session, a few opted out because they were too nervous to play alongside their idol.
“Once you’re here though, those fears will go away,” she assures. “It’s really one big family working toward a common goal of just rocking out and being the best we can all be.”
Lightning joined the camp as a counselor in 2019 and befriended founder and music producer David Fishof. She came on as the music director the next year and during the COVID-19 lockdown, the company produced over 160 virtual master classes through the official camp website with different artists to keep former and potential campers engaged. There was even a documentary, “Rock Camp: The Movie,” released in early 2021 about the camp and its superstar players.
Camp packages range from $2,499-$5,999 and include a variety of amenities and perks. Though the price tag may seem steep, bassist and first-time camp counselor Rhonda Smith, who has played with everyone from Prince to Jeff Beck, said she wished there was a program like this available when she was coming up.
“My parents would have probably registered me in something like this,” she said during a recent phone interview. “I think this has a great vibe to it and it’s so very specialized. It has a safe vibe to it too where people can go, it’s a relaxed environment, age and skill level is irrelevant, there’s no judgment and you just get to have fun.”
Though she’s looking forward to coaching her full band, Smith said she’ll have her eye out for the bassists in the room.
“That’s my No. 1 love,” she said with a laugh. “I’m looking for some young bass players to give some help, advice, encouragement or whatever they may need.”
Lightning said they’re looking for singers, guitarists, bassists, keyboard players, but this year they’re in need of more drummers.
“Shout out to all female drummers, we need you,” she playfully pleaded.
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