Indigo Girls Talk Being a Queer Band in the '80s and '90s in New Doc Trailer: “People Feared for their Careers”

In the news trailer for Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After AllAmy Ray and Emily Saliers discuss the challenges of being a queer band in the late '80s and beyond, from not fitting in to the lack of mainstream media coverage.

Breakthrough duo Indigo Girls — who released their debut album, Strange Firein 1987 — were one of the few bands to come out publicly at a time when marriage equality seemed impossible and homophobia and misogyny were rampant.

“Something about what you were supposed to be as a girl didn't match who we wanted to be as Indigo Girls,” Ray says in the trailer.

Saliers adds: “Back then, there were very few artists who were out. Very little. People were afraid for their careers.”

The Alexandria Bombach-directed documentary, which debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film festival, will be released in theaters via Oscilloscope Laboratories for one day on April 10 at select US theaterswith a digital release to follow on May 7.

In addition to the general lack of acceptance for queer bands at the time, the Indigo Girls also lacked mainstream media support, Ray says. “The Indigo Girls have never appeared in a mainstream rock magazine — I'm talking about Spin and Rolling rock. They tell me the reason for the lack of press is the lack of radio play, but I know it's the fact that we're political lesbians.”

Their talent and persistence paid off, deservedly, with several gold and platinum records. Last year, their 1989 hit from their second self-titled album, “Closer to Fine,” soundtracked a center stage at Barbiedemonstrating the duo's timelessness and appeal almost a quarter of a decade later.

Alongside their career achievements, the Indigo Girls remain advocates for the environment, gay rights and more. As one fan says in the clip, “They helped me figure out who I was and who I wanted to be. The Indigo Girls absolutely saved my life.”