Girlschool

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Girlschool
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Heavy metal
Punk rock
Years active 1977–present
Label(s) City Records
Associated acts Motörhead
Website www.girlschool.co.uk
Members
Kim McAuliffe
Enid Williams
Denise Dufort
Jackie Chambers
Former members
Deidre Cartwright
Gil Weston
Kelly Johnson (deceased)
Cris Bonacci
Jackie Bodimead
Jackie Carrera
Tracey Lamb

Girlschool are a long-running English all-female heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

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]

Contents

[edit] Band history

[edit] Origins

In 1975, Enid Williams (bass, vocals) and Kim McAuliffe (rhythm guitar, vocals), both 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 GoGos), 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

[edit] Career

In December 1978 they released their first single, "Take It All Away", on the independent City Records label which 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 of The Killjoys and Girlschool recorded their third album Screaming Blue Murder, hitting the road in the U.S. to play stadiums alongside Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, The Scorpions and Blue Öyster Cult.

In 1983 the band went back into the studio with producers Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, of legendary 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 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 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.

[edit] 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.

2008 sees the release of new material 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 15th, 2007.

[edit] 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)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio

[edit] Live

  • Girlschool Live (1996)
  • Girlschool Live: King Biscuit Flower Hour (1996)
  • Race With The Devil Live (2000)

[edit] Hit Singles

  • Race With The Devil" (1980) UK #49
  • Hit And Run (1981) UK #32
  • C'Mon Let's Go (1981) UK #42

[edit] Videography

  • Girlschool - Live In London (2005)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

http://www.myspace.com/girlschool1 (Official Myspace)