Riot Grrrl Bands

Here are a couple of bands who were / are associated with riot grrrl

Babes In Toyland- formed in Minneapolis in 1987, and featured riot grrrl icon Kat Bjelland on voocals and guitar. Bjelland often dressed in the 'kinderwhore' type look, a contrast between her raw vocals and agressive lyrics. Babes In Toyland were icons and inspirations to most who were involved in the riot grrrl movement, although they were never direct participants. The band as it was began to disarm around 2000 when members started to leave and be replaced.

Bratmobile- was formed after Alison Wolfe and Molly Neuman created the zine Girl Germs, and first played in the home to riot grrrl Olympia. Their first and classic album Pottymouth was released on the Kill Rock Stars label. The band broke up, on stage, and blamed the media scrutiny and pressures of the riot grrrl movement. They reunited five years later for a few years until in 2004 they disbanded and went their separate ways.

Hole - Probably the most comercially well known riot grrrl band, whether it's because Courtney Love was married to Kurt Cobain, or because they went more commercail with their music, or something in between or totally different, who knows. They formed in 1989 and broke up for good in 2002. During this time there was a succession of bassists and drummers, including Kristen Pfaff who died of a heroin overdose and Melissa Auf der Maur who went on to be with The Smashing Pumpkins for a while. The three of Holes officially released albums are all distinctly different. Pretty on the Inside was punk influenced and raw, Live Through This (which is reviewed in another blog) is similar yet more refined, and Celebrity Skin is a poppy type commercial release.

Huggy Bear- An English riot grrrl band formed in 1991. The band refused to be photographed, interviewed, or give their full names. They released their debut album on indie label Wiiija, and began to work closely with Bikini Kill creating a split album. They disbanded in 1994 just 3 years after forming.

L7 - Formed in 1985, and in 1991 formed Rock For Choice which was, and still is actively today, a pro-choice womens rights group. It was supported by other bands of that era including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Rage Against The Machine. The band is famous for the incident at the 1992 Reading Festival, when vocalist and gutarist Donita Sparks removed her tampon on-stage and threw it into the crowd as a protest against the things being thrown from the audience. Sparks has also pulled her pants down on a UK entertainment program, and the band once offered the prize of sleeping with one of the band members in a raffle. The winner claimed his prize on the tour bus. They played Lollapalooza, and in 2001 did not officially split, but stopped touring and making music.





Lunachicks- Formed in New York City in 1987 this riot grrrl band mixed punk and heavy metal. They released 6 albums, breaking up in 2000 but have played 2 reunion shows since.

Nitocris- I have put this on the list as they are an all female touring band from Sydney. They formed in 1992 when all but one of the band members were under 18. They played the 1994 Big Day Out and then released their debut EP Ten Stories Down, which was followed up by their album Screaming Dolorous and a tour of the East Coast with the Alternative Nation festival. Their fan base never really made it out of Sydney until they toured nationally and created a poppier sounding record which got some airplay and they played the Big Day Out again, in 2001 as well as scoring an ARIA nomination. Not long after, the band split .