A guide to the lesser-known British riot grrrl bands from the 1990s
If you’re the slightest bit familiar with the riot grrrl movement, you’ll know Bikini Kill. Led by Kathleen Hanna, the band emerged as one of the pioneering groups from the era, singing feminist and politically-charged lyrics over frenetic punk instrumentals, urgently trying to get their messages of female disillusionment and anger across. Riot grrrl wasn’t just a style of music, though; made with female listeners in mind, these bands encouraged girls to the front of gigs and promoted a sense of community and unity.
Elsewhere, these musicians and their fans often made and distributed DIY zines espousing ideas of fighting against the patriarchy and sparking a female-led revolution against various forms of oppression. It was an angry and impassioned era of punk, yet one that was also playful and fun, leaving a lasting imprint on the wider genre. Bikini Kill formed in Olympia, Washington, where the riot grrrl movement found its main home, and soon, other bands, like Bratmobile, Excuse 17, and Heavens to Betsy, all formed within the same area.
The scene is associated with the West Coast of America, yet across the pond, there were a handful of British riot grrrl bands who helped to bring the movement and its beliefs to a new audience. It made sense that British riot grrrls began to crop up because bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile were predominantly inspired by English female punk bands such as The Raincoats and The Slits.
So, while riot grrrl enthusiasts might know the British band Huggy Bear, the main British export from the movement, there were a handful of others who helped to spread feminist punk ideals across the island. Let’s start with Huggy Bear, though, who worked closely with Bikini Kill. They formed in 1991 in the seaside town of Brighton, with the main difference being the inclusion of two male members, one of which, Chris Rowley, often took on vocal duties. The band released two albums over three years, with their first, Our Troubled Youth, appearing as a split record with Bikini Kill, whose Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah appeared on the other side.
The band became relatively popular, but they remained staunchly independent. As a result, they garnered a cult following, with journalist John Robb writing in Melody Maker, “Huggy Bear are plotting their own self-destructive course, retaining an air of desperate danger that is so often missing from even the most incendiary pop outfits.” From there, several members also performed in the groups Blood Sausage and The Element of Crime.
The other prominent British riot grrrl band was Skinned Teen, who were incredibly young when they started out. Barely in their teens, the band were active zine makers and possessed a truly DIY sound. Their music bled with youthfulness and pure energy, and with their unmistakable British accents, they sounded slightly different from other riot grrrl bands that were popular at the time. Still, they are arguably one of the most interesting; listen to ‘Pillow Case Killer’ for example, in which the girls chant “You’re gonna be a pillowcase kisser/ Making out with your pillow every night.”
Another band to emerge from London was Mambo Taxi, who released one album, In Love With…, in 1994 and a handful of singles. Two members of the band, Ella Guru and Anjali Bhatia, then went on to form Voodoo Queens, who were championed by John Peel. Also hailing from the big city was Linus, one of the country’s quintessential riot grrrl bands. The band were more significantly involved in the scene, releasing various EPs and LPs, writing zines, and organising events for the British riot grrrl community. They were also associated with the indie record label Wiiija, which released various tracks by bands from the movement.
Angelica, which featured a future member of The Lovely Eggs, Holly Ross, was another band associated with riot grrrl, although they didn’t release a full-length album until 2002, with their music veering more towards punk and indie rather than outright riot grrrl. Additionally, Britain was responsible for various riot grrrl zines during the 1990s that are now hardly remembered, but they were an important part of the scene nonetheless. GirlFrenzy, founded by Erica Smith in 1991, featured bright-coloured front covers which unlocked a world of feminist activism, interviews, and gorgeous illustrations.
Evidently, there was a riot grrrl movement in Britain, but it just didn’t gain the same traction as the American scene. There were many other popular music scenes in the country at this time, such as Madchester, shoegaze, the burgeoning Britpop scene, and other alternative rock acts, so perhaps riot grrrl just didn’t reach enough people. Still, it is important to remember these bands, who made powerful feminist stands against the male-dominated music industry.
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