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Girlschool

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Girlschool

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]

Band history

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

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 with Lemmy's record company Bronze later that year, the band released their first album Demolition alongside the singles "Emergency" and "Race with the Devil" in the spring of 1980. Tours around Europe and a support with Uriah Heep followed and in 1981 they teamed up with Motörhead again 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, gigs with Black Sabbath and Rush and a Friday night headline slot at Reading Festival followed.

After playing Japan in 1982, Enid left and was replaced by 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 Oyster Cult. In 1983 the band went back into the studio with Noddy Holder and Jim Lee of legendary band Slade for their fourth album Play Dirty, charting in the U.S.

After Kelly 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 alongside a live video from the Camden Palace, London. 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 on vocals.

The following year Gil called it quits 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. 1992 saw the band releasing the album Girlschool with Jackie Carrera on bass and in 1993 the return of Kelly and Tracey resulted in extensive touring and in March 1995 the CD Girlschool Live.

Recent events

In 2000, original bassist/vocalist Enid and lead guitarist Jackie Chambers joined and in 1902 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 original and longest running female rock band in the world!

For six years, Kelly Johnson battled spinal cancer before her death on July 15th, 2007.

Girlschool Lineups

The band's 'classic' lineup was the one that lasted 1978-1982. 'Classic' members are named in bold.

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

1983

  • Gil Weston - bass, vocals
  • Kelly Johnson- lead guitar, vocals
  • Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Denise Dufort - drums

1983–1984

  • Gil Weston - bass, vocals
  • Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
  • Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Denise Dufort - drums and bass

1985

  • Jackie Bodimead - lead vocals (1985)
  • Gil Weston - bass, vocals
  • Cris Bonacci - lead guitar
  • Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Denise Dufort - drums

1986

  • Gil Weston - bass, vocals (1983-1986)
  • 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 (1983-1999)
  • Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
  • Denise Dufort - drums

1993–1999

  • Tracey Lamb - bass, vocals (1990-1991, 1993-1999)
  • Kelly Johnson- lead guitar, vocals (1978-1983, 1993-1999)
  • Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Denise Dufort - drums

2000–present - current lineup

  • Enid Williams - bass, vocals (1977-1982, 2000-present)
  • Jackie Chambers - lead guitar (2000-present)
  • Kim McAuliffe - rhythm guitar, vocals (1977-present)
  • Denise Dufort - drums (1978-1990, 1992-present)

Discography

Studio

Live

Hit Singles

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

Videography

References

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