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Taken off 1983's "Play Dirty" Album
1. Going Under 04:16
2. High And Dry 03:10
3. Play Dirty 05:04
4. 20th Century Boy (T. Rex Cover) 03:28
5. Breaking All The Rules 03:03
6. Burning In The Heat 03:20
7. Surrender 03:24
8. Rock Me Shock Me 04:28
9. Running For Cover 03:12
10. Breakout (Knob In The Media) 03:23
Total playing time 36:48
Line Up:
Kim McAulliffe - Vocals/Guitar
Kelly Johnson - Guitar
Gil Weston - Bass
Denise Dufort - Drums
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Girlschool are a long-running British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene.
Though enjoying little commercial success beyond the early 1980s, they maintain a worldwide cult following and were inspirational for many succeeding female bands.
In 1975, Enid Williams (bass, vocals) and Kim McAuliffe (rhythm guitar, vocals), and Tina Gayle (drums), 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 Go-Go's), 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
In December 1978, Girlschool released their first single, "Take It All Away", on the independent label City Records. This led to interest from Motörhead's management and a support slot on the Overkill tour in the spring of 1979. After signing to Bronze Records later that year, the band released their first album, Demolition, in the spring of 1980, alongside the singles "Emergency" and "Race with the Devil". Tours around Europe and as support to both Uriah Heep and Black Sabbath followed.
In 1981, the band teamed up with labelmates Motörhead again, billed as Headgirl, on the classic single "Please Dont 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 followed. The band supported Rush, amongst others, and a Friday night headline slot at the Reading Festival maintained the band's profile. (BBC Radio 1's The Friday Rock Show broadcast the Reading set.)
After playing Japan in 1982, Enid left and was replaced by Ghislaine "Gil" Weston from the bands The Killjoys and Alternating. Girlschool recorded their third album Screaming Blue Murder, hitting the road in the U.S. to play stadiums alongside Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Scorpions and Blue Öyster Cult.
In 1983, the band went back into the studio with producers Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, of the band Slade, for their fourth album Play Dirty, charting in the U.S.
After Kelly Johnson left to live in L.A. she was replaced by Cris Bonacci on lead guitar and singer Jackie Bodimead (ex Strategy and Canis Major) on lead vocals for the 1985 album Running Wild, released on Mercury Records in the USA but not finding a release in Europe. To this day, Jackie Bodimead is only traditional lead vocalist in the band, although she did contribute keyboards in the live setting, when not on lead vocal duty. A live video from the Camden Palace, London showcases this line-up.
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 McAuliffe on vocals. The album included a cover of the song "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" recorded together with the original artist Gary Glitter.
The following year, after five years with the band, Gil Weston left to get married - becoming Gil Weston-Jones - 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.
In 1992, the band released the album Girlschool, with Jackie Carrera on bass. Carrera, however, did not wish to tour the US and Tracey Lamb returned to the band. On the departure of Bonacci in 1992 Kelly Johnson rejoined the ranks and the band toured extensively, releasing the CD Girlschool Live in March 1995. As well as tracks from the back catalogue new tracks were featured.
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