OK, I’ll admit it. Up until about a month ago, I knew very little of musician Kim Gordon or her band, Sonic Youth. Yes, get your jaws off the floor. I know this makes me sound terribly old and decidedly unhip.

It all started when the planning committee for Lawrence Public Library’s 780s Series extended an invitation to Gordon to visit Lawrence as our special guest. This series, named for the Dewey Decimal range for music, invites accomplished musicians to share the stories that influenced them.

We were thrilled when Gordon agreed to visit Lawrence. She’ll be here on Tuesday, May 17, and Kansas Public Radio’s Laura Lorson will serve as the interviewer for the event.

With the date firmly in place, I set out to learn more about Kim Gordon. The first thing I did was check out her 2015 autobiography, “Girl in a Band,” which details Gordon’s life journey, which I soon found to be an amazing adventure.

Kim Gordon is oh-so-much-more than a “girl in a band.” She can do anything. Gordon is a musician, artist, record producer, author, and fashion icon. She has been called the godmother of grunge for her role as co-founding member of experimental underground rock legends Sonic Youth, and played with the band from 1981 until its final show in 2011. As a member of Sonic Youth, Gordon witnessed punk rock enter the music mainstream in the 1990s. She is a bright spot in a male dominated music world and has inspired scores of female musicians to boldly be themselves.

“Girl in a Band” gives details of Gordon’s childhood, family history, making music, hanging out with famous people (she does not care for Courtney Love), starting a fashion line, being a mom and a feminist, and her marriage to and break up with Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Among the surprises of her book is that Gordon’s father was a native Kansan, and her parents met in Emporia where they were college students. Gordon comes from a long line of strong women, and that quality shines through.

“Girl in a Band” is honest and intelligent, well written, and a great story. (Check it out at the library, 782.4216 Gordon K.)

The 780s Series with Kim Gordon is made possible through a generous grant from the Harrison Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation and in partnership with Eleven Productions and KPR. The event will be held at Liberty Hall on May 17 at 7:30 p.m. Doors are open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will not be distributed, as general admission seating will be available on a first-come basis. The Raven Bookstore will sell books for a book signing at the conclusion of the event.

— Kathleen Morgan is the Development & Strategic Partnerships Director at Lawrence Public Library.