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Girlschool are a long-running British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene.
Though enjoying little commercial success beyond the early 1980s, they maintain a worldwide cult following and were inspirational for many succeeding female bands.[citation needed]
Band history
Origins
In 1975, Enid Williams (bass, vocals) and Kim McAuliffe (rhythm guitar, vocals), and Tina Gayle (drums), from South London, formed an all girl rock covers band called Painted Lady. After playing the local pub scene and numerous line-up changes (Deirdre Cartright, Kathy Valentine, later of the Go-Go's), Kelly Johnson and Denise Dufort came on board and in April 1978 they changed their name to Girlschool and hit the road touring venues around France, Ireland and the UK
Career
In December 1978, Girlschool released their first single, "Take It All Away", on the independent label City Records. This led to interest from Motörhead's management and a support slot on the Overkill tour in the spring of 1979. After signing to Bronze Records later that year, the band released their first album, Demolition, in the spring of 1980, alongside the singles "Emergency" and "Race with the Devil". Tours around Europe and as support to both Uriah Heep and Black Sabbath followed.
In 1981, the band teamed up with labelmates Motörhead again, billed as Headgirl, on the classic single "Please Don’t Touch" (St. Valentines Massacre), which went silver and reached no.5 in the UK. The album Hit and Run was released in March, going gold in Canada, and a sellout tour of the UK followed. The band supported Rush, amongst others, and a Friday night headline slot at the Reading Festival maintained the band's profile. (BBC Radio 1's The Friday Rock Show broadcast the Reading set.)
After playing Japan in 1982, Enid left and was replaced by Ghislaine "Gil" Weston from the bands The Killjoys and Alternating. Girlschool recorded their third album Screaming Blue Murder, hitting the road in the U.S. to play stadiums alongside Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Scorpions and Blue Öyster Cult.
In 1983, the band went back into the studio with producers Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, of the band Slade, for their fourth album Play Dirty, charting in the U.S.
After Kelly Johnson left to live in L.A. she was replaced by Cris Bonacci on lead guitar and singer Jackie Bodimead (ex Strategy and Canis Major) on lead vocals for the 1985 album Running Wild, released on Mercury Records in the USA but not finding a release in Europe. To this day, Jackie Bodimead is only traditional lead vocalist in the band, although she did contribute keyboards in the live setting, when not on lead vocal duty. A live video from the Camden Palace, London showcases this line-up.
In 1986, Girlschool signed to GWR records and reunited with original producer Vic Maile for Nightmare at Maple Cross, minus Bodimead and now back as a four piece with Kim McAuliffe on vocals. The album included a cover of the song "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" recorded together with the original artist Gary Glitter.
The following year, after five years with the band, Gil Weston left to get married - becoming Gil Weston-Jones - and Tracey Lamb (Rock Goddess) took over on bass for their next album Take a Bite.
Kim, Cris, Denise and Enid teamed up with punk singer Toyah Wilcox under the name She Devils for the Women in Music festival in December 1990 and summer 1991 saw Lydie Gallais replacing Denise on drums under the new name Strange Girls for a three track demo, UK dates and festivals in Germany as support to the Beach Boys.
In 1992, the band released the album Girlschool, with Jackie Carrera on bass. Carrera, however, did not wish to tour the US and Tracey Lamb returned to the band. On the departure of Bonacci in 1992 Kelly Johnson rejoined the ranks and the band toured extensively, releasing the CD Girlschool Live in March 1995. As well as tracks from the back catalogue new tracks were featured.
Recent events
In 2000, original bassist/vocalist Enid and lead guitarist Jackie Chambers joined and in 2001 they released the 21st Anniversary – Not that Innocent album, recorded three years earlier with the previous line-up, now with the addition of two new tracks, "Coming your Way" and "Innocent". Since releasing their latest album Believe, Girlschool have been playing headline gigs, festivals and with Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister and support to Motörhead on tour in the UK.
The band headlined the first day of the 2007 Rock Of Ages Fest, which took place at The Palace live music venue, in Tamworth, Staffs.
2008 saw the release of new material Legacy and a DVD for the 30th anniversary of the so far longest running female rock band in the world.
For six years, Kelly Johnson battled spinal cancer before her death on July 15, 2007.
Trivia
Girlschool Lineups
The band's 'classic' lineup was the line-up that lasted 1978-1982. 'Classic' members are mentioned in bold. Unlike many heavy metal bands, Girschool never had a permanent lead vocalist, except for a brief 1985 period, with Jackie Bodimead as vocalist. Vocal duty was shared amongst Enid Williams, Kim McAuliffe, and to a lesser extent, Kelly Johnson.
- 1975–1978 (as Painted Lady)
- Enid Williams - bass, vocals
- Deirdre Cartright - lead guitar (1977)
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Val Lloyd - drums (1977)
- 1978–1982
- Enid Williams - bass, vocals
- Kelly Johnson- lead guitar, vocals
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1982 - 1984
- Gil Weston - bass, vocals
- Kelly Johnson- lead guitar, vocals
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1984
- Gil Weston - bass, vocals
- Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1985
- Jackie Bodimead - lead vocals (1984-1985)
- Gil Weston - bass, vocals
- Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1986 - 1987
- Gil Weston - bass, vocals (1982-1987)
- Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1987–1988
- Tracey Lamb - bass, vocals
- Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1990 (as She Devils)
- Toyah Willcox - lead vocals
- Enid Williams - bass, vocals
- Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1991 (as Strange Girls)
- Enid Williams - bass, vocals
- Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Lydie Gallais - drums (1991)
- Toyah Wilcox - lead vocals
- 1992
- Jackie Carrera- bass (1992)
- Cris Bonacci - lead guitar (1984-1993)
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 1993–1999
- Tracey Lamb - bass, vocals (1988-1989, 1993-2000)
- Kelly Johnson- lead guitar, vocals (1978-1984, 1993-2000)
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Denise Dufort - drums
- 2000–present - current lineup
- Enid Williams - bass, vocals (1978-1982, 2000-present)
- Jackie Chambers - lead guitar (2000-present)
- Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals (1978-present)
- Denise Dufort - drums (1978-present)
Discography
Studio albums/EPs
Live albums
- Girlschool Live (1996)
- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents in Concert (1997)
- Race With The Devil Live (1998)
Compilations
- Cheers You Lot! (1989)
- The Collection (1991)
- From the Vaults (1994)
- Emergency (1997)
- The Very Best of Girlschool (2002)
- Wild at Heart (2006)
- The Singles (2007)
Other releases
Hit singles
- Race With The Devil" (1980) UK #49
- Hit And Run (1981) UK #32
- C'Mon Let's Go (1981) UK #42
Videography
- Girlschool - Live In London (2005)
References
External links
