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Bikini Kill is a Punk Rock band, formed in Olympia, Washington in October of 1990 (see 1990 In Music ). At the forefront of the " Riot Grrrl " movement of the 1990s, the group was infamous for its radical feminist lyrics and fiery performances.

While occasionally collaborating (politically and creatively) with high-profile acts such as Nirvana and Joan Jett , Bikini Kill was well known for shunning Major Labels and the Mainstream Rock Press . After two full-length albums and several EPs, the group disbanded in 1998 .


THE BAND


The band was formed at The Evergreen State College by Kathleen Hanna , Kathi Wilcox and Tobi Vail . They began working together on a Fanzine called ''Bikini Kill'', and with the addition of Billy Karren , formerly of The Go Team on Guitar , formed a band of the same name. Hanna, a former stripper, wrote most of the band's songs and encouraged a female-centered environment at their shows, urging girls to come to the front of the stage and handing out lyric sheets to them.

After an independent demo cassette, ''Revolution Girl Style Now'', Bikini Kill released ''The Bikini Kill EP'' on the ''. By the following year, riot grrrl was receiving constant attention in the media and Bikini Kill were seen as leaders of the movement. At this time the group called for a "media blackout" to be executed by all riot grrrls, since they felt the band and the movement were being misrepresented and commodified.

On their return to the United States, they began working with '' was released.


POST-BREAKUP


After the demise of Bikini Kill, Tobi Vail and Billy Karren began to perform and record together, with Molly Neuman of Bratmobile , as The Frumpies. Vail later resurfaced in a band called Spider and the Webs.

Kathleen Hanna first contributed to an LP as a member of The Fakes, and then turned to more dance-based, electronic music (with similar feminist lyrical themes) on her solo debut, '' Julie Ruin ''. She is currently a member of the political dance-pop outfit Le Tigre , which has seen Hanna become far more comfortable with major record labels and the press.


DISCOGRAPHY


Albums

  • ''Revolution Girl Style Now!'' self released cassette (1991)

  • ''Bikini Kill'' EP on Kill Rock Stars (1991)

  • ''Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah'' split LP with Huggy Bear on Catcall Records in the UK, Kill Rock Stars in the US (1993)

  • "New Radio/Rebel Girl" 7" single on Kill Rock Stars (1993)

  • ''Pussy Whipped'' LP on Kill Rock Stars (1994)

  • ''The Anti-Pleasure Dissertation'' EP on Kill Rock Stars (1994)

  • "I Like Fucking/I Hate Danger" 7" single on Kill Rock Stars (1995)

  • ''Reject All American'' LP on Kill Rock Stars (1996)



Compilations

  • ''Kill Rock Stars'' on Kill Rock Stars LP/CD (1991)

  • ''Throw: The YoYo Studio Compilation'' on YoYo Records (1991)

  • "Daddy's Li'l Girl" on Give Me Back LP Ebullition Records (1991)

  • "Suck My Left One" on ''There's A Dyke In The Pit'', Outpunk Records (1992)



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