Girlschool

Girlschool is a London-based heavy metal and hard rock group active since 1978 and associated with the NWOBHM scene. The band begins in South London in 1975 as an all-female rock covers act called Painted Lady, formed by Enid Williams on bass and vocals and Kim McAuliffe on rhythm guitar and vocals. Kelly Johnson and Denise Dufort later join, and the group adopts the name Girlschool in April 1978.

Early career and breakthrough

The band’s first single, Take It All Away, appears on City Records and leads to a support slot with Motörhead on the Overkill tour in 1979. Later that year Girlschool signs to Bronze, the label run by Lemmy, and releases its first album, Demolition, in 1980.

Line-up changes and 1980s releases

After touring Japan in 1982, Enid Williams leaves and Gil Weston, previously of The Killjoys, joins the group. Girlschool records its third album, Screaming Blue Murder, with that line-up. When Kelly Johnson leaves to live in Los Angeles, she is replaced by Cris Bonacci on lead guitar and Jackie Bodimead on lead vocals for the 1985 album Running Wild. Over the following years the band undergoes further line-up changes and records for several labels.

Later work

Williams rejoins the band in 2000, along with Jackie Chambers. In 2002 Girlschool releases 21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent. Its later studio and re-recorded output includes Hit and Run: Revisited, and the band continues to tour in Europe, South America and Japan in the 2010s. In 2015 Girlschool records Guilty as Sin with producer Chris Tsangarides, and later releases WTFortyfive?.

Members

Over its history, Girlschool includes Enid Williams, Kelly Johnson, Denise Dufort, Kim McAuliffe, Gil Weston, Jackie Bodimead, Cris Bonacci, Tracey Lamb and Jackie Chambers. In 2019 the band parts ways with Enid Williams again and Tracey Lamb returns on bass. The 2023 line-up consists of McAuliffe, Dufort, Lamb and Chambers.

Discography

The band’s albums include Demolition, Hit and Run, Screaming Blue Murder, Play Dirty, Running Wild, Nightmare at Maple Cross, Take a Bite, Girlschool, 21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent, Believe, Legacy, Hit and Run - Revisited, Guilty as Sin and WTFortyfive?