Girlschool emerged from the highly prolific New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement which dominated the UK rock scene in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and spawned the likes of Iron Maiden, Saxon, Def Leppard and Diamond Head. Originally operating as a covers band under the moniker Painted Lady, the band changed their name to Girlschool in 1978, releasing their debut single Take It All Away the same year. This led to interest from Motörhead’s management and a support slot on the Overkill tour in early 1979. The tour brought the band to the attention of Motörhead’s label Bronze Records who signed Girlschool and issued their debut album Demolition in the spring of 1980.
1981 saw the release of their second album Hit And Run, a sell-out UK tour and a headline slot at the prestigious Reading Festival. Their notorious collaboration with Motörhead – the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre EP – also appeared in ’81, hit No. 5 in the charts and helped make this the most successful period in their career. After releasing Screaming Blue Murder in 1982, the band hit the road in the U.S. for stadium tours alongside Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Scorpions and Blue Öyster Cult. Their fourth album, Play Dirty, followed in ’83.
Line-up changes and a softening of the band’s signature sound saw both their profile and popularity dwindle as the ‘80s progressed, and they would spend the greater part of the 1990s inactive after the release of their eponymous 1992 album. They eventually returned in 2002 with the 21st Anniversary – Not that Innocent album, rebuilding their fortunes from the ground up and issuing Believe in 2004 and their latest full-length Legacy last year. 2008 also saw the release of a 30th anniversary DVD celebrating the career of the longest running female rock band in the world.
Click Here to view the GIRLSCHOOL Bloodstock Band Profile page .
GIRLSCHOOL – Play Dirty - BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2009.
Regards
Bloodstock Team
