Bikini Kill
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Bikini Kill was a punk band of the Riot Grrrl movement formed in Olympia, Washington in October of 1990 (see 1990 in music). The group was infamous for its radical feminist lyrics and fiery performances.
While occasionally collaborating (politically and creatively) with high-profile acts such as Nirvana and Joan Jett, Bikini Kill was well known for shunning major labels and the mainstream rock press. After four full-length albums and several EPs, the group disbanded in 1998.
History
The band was formed at Evergreen State College by Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox and Tobi Vail. They began working together on a fanzine called Bikini Kill, and with the addition of Billy Karren, formerly of The Go Team on guitar, formed a band of the same name. Hanna wrote most of the band's songs and encouraged a female-centric environment at their shows, urging girls to come to the front of the stage and handing out lyric sheets to them.After an independent demo cassette, Revolution Girl Style Now, Bikini Kill released The Bikini Kill EP on the indie label Kill Rock Stars. Produced by Ian MacKaye of Fugazi, the album began to establish the band's audience. In 1993 (see 1993 in music), Bikini Kill went to England and began working with Huggy Bear, releasing a joint recording together and touring the UK. The tour was the subject of a documentary film by Lucy Thane entitled . By the following year, Riot Grrrl was receiving constant attention in the media and Bikini Kill were increasingly referred to as leaders of the movement. Hanna called for a "media blackout" amongst Riot Grrrls, as those within the group felt the band and the movement were being misrepresented and commodified.
Upon their return to the United States, the group began working with Joan Jett of The Runaways, whose music Hanna described as an early example of the Riot Grrrl aesthetic. Jett produced the single "New Radio/Rebel Girl" for the band. Vail and Wilcox began songwriting in 1994 (see 1994 in music), with the release of Pussy Whipped. The band's final album was Reject All American (1996, 1996 in music), and the band broke up in 1998 (see 1998 in music). Shortly before the breakup, a collection of singles released only on vinyl between 1996-1998, titled was released.
Post-Breakup
After the demise of Bikini Kill, Tobi Vail and Billy Karren began to perform and record together, with Molly Neuman of Bratmobile, as The Frumpies. Vail later resurfaced in a band called Spider and the Webs.Kathleen Hanna first contributed to an LP as a member of The Fakes, and then turned to more dance-based, electronic music (with similar feminist lyrical themes) on her solo debut, Julie Ruin. She is currently a member of the political dance-pop outfit Le Tigre, which has seen Hanna become far more comfortable with major record labels and the press.
Discography
Albums
- Revolution Girl Style Now! self released cassette (1991)
- Bikini Kill EP on Kill Rock Stars (1991)
- Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah split LP with Huggy Bear on Catcall Records in the UK, Kill Rock Stars in the US (1993)
- "New Radio/Rebel Girl" 7" single on Kill Rock Stars (1993)
- Pussy Whipped LP on Kill Rock Stars (1994)
- The Anti-Pleasure Dissertation EP on Kill Rock Stars (1994)
- "I Like Fucking/I Hate Danger" 7" single on Kill Rock Stars (1995)
- Reject All American LP on Kill Rock Stars (1996)
Compilations
- Kill Rock Stars on Kill Rock Stars LP/CD (1991)
- Throw: The YoYo Studio Compilation on YoYo Records (1991)
- "Daddy's Li'l Girl" on Give Me Back LP Ebullition Records (1991)
- "Suck My Left One" on There's A Dyke In The Pit, Outpunk Records (1992)
External links
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