On sale date: April 22, 2025
The extraordinary true story of Lithuania’s first all–women rock band.
In 1965, inspired by The Beatles, Lithuanian musician Jūratė Dineikaitė founded a rock band called The Bees. This spirited ensemble of six women toured throughout the Soviet Union during the ’60s and ’70s — turning heads with their blue jeans, mop-tops, and modern rock sound. For these women, taking the stage was at once an electrifying expression of their artistry and an audacious political act.
Based on interviews with Jūratė herself, this graphic novel vividly captures episodes of the group’s lived experiences — from thrilling performances to chilling encounters with the KGB. An authentic portrayal of a fascinating true history little known outside of Lithuania, The Bees is adapted with vibrant colors and a charmingly handcrafted style by cartoonist Akvilė Magicdusté. This edition also features a photo gallery with period snapshots of the band in action, plus a playlist of their original songs!
The first 100 orders of The Bees on Fantagraphics.com will receive an exclusive, 11.7" x 16.5" poster drawn by the Akvilė Magicdusté!
Praise
"The book is fascinating and gives us a window into a time period when rock was blasting in every corner of the world and a band of Lithuanian women sung and played their way into history." — AIPT Comics
"If you dig rock n' roll and/or obscure 20th century history, then get stoked for The Bees... A super cool introduction to a piece of niche overseas musical history, likely to inspire more than a few trips down a musical/cultural rabbit hole," — Scout Magazine
"By putting Jurate's story into a comic book, both [cartoonist and musician] talk about the same things — creativity, freedom and a woman's place in the world of men." — Moteris (Woman) Magazine
"[In Akvile's] work, a pleasing palette of pastel blues and peaches subtly shifts with the mood of her characters. ... This style in combination with her short, sharp copy, really defines the strong tone of voice portrayed throughout." — It's Nice That
Specs
- Pages
- 168
- Format
- Paperback / Softback
- Color
- Full color.
- Dimensions
- 7.3" × 9.1"
- ISBN-13
- 9798875000843
