*** Welcome to piglix ***

Bikini Kill

Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill in 1991.jpg
Bikini Kill in 1991
Background information
Origin Olympia, Washington, United States
Genres Punk rock, riot grrrl
Years active 1990–1997
Labels Kill Rock Stars, Wiiija
Bikini Kill Records
Associated acts The Frumpies, Julie Ruin, Le Tigre, Star Sign Scorpio, Suture
Website bikinikill.com
Past members Kathleen Hanna
Kathi Wilcox
Tobi Vail
Billy Karren

Bikini Kill was an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington, in October 1990. The group consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band is widely considered to be the pioneer of the riot grrrl movement, and was known for its radical feminist lyrics and fiery performances. Their music is characteristically abrasive and hardcore-influenced. After two full-length albums, several EPs and two compilations, they disbanded in 1997.

Bikini Kill formed in Olympia, Washington, in October 1990, by Kathleen Hanna (vocals), Billy Karren (guitar), Kathi Wilcox (bass), and Tobi Vail (drums). Hanna, Vail, and Wilcox met while attending Evergreen College in Washington. They began working together on a fanzine called Bikini Kill, and with the addition of former Go Team guitarist Billy Karren, formed a band of the same name. The band wrote songs together and encouraged a female-centric environment at their shows, urging women to come to the front of the stage and handing out lyric sheets to them. Hanna would also dive into the crowd to personally remove male hecklers. Such male concertgoers would often verbally and physically assault Hanna during shows when the tickets were still inexpensive and easily procured. However, the band's reach included large male audiences as well as young women.

Fellow riot grrrl musician, Lois Maffeo originally adopted Bikini Kill as a band name, inspired by the 1967 B-movie The Million Eyes of Sumuru. She and her friend Margaret Doherty used the name for a one-off performance in the late 1980s where they donned faux fur punk cave girl costumes. Vail liked the name and appropriated it after Maffeo settled on the band name Cradle Robbers.


...
Wikipedia

...