90s guitar music podcast - RIOT GRRRL Special! / E45

[@julesvan]

Bikini Kill was literally formed because Kathi attended a Hole performance and was so inspired by it that she asked Courtney for advice. Love supported the Riot Grrrl movement until 1993. Last April Melissa Auf der Maur talked about the 1995 incident for the Women in Music BBC special. What she saw is somewhat different from what has been reported

[@stupidandcontagiouspodcast]

We referenced Kathleen Hannahs account of the incident but as with a lot of things there are two sides to every story! INteresting intel on the Hole / Bikini Kill connection although I think it's well documented that there was no love lost between them. We do encourage people to get involved in the comments though, the subjects we cover aren't beyond examination and we encourage conversation so thanks for taking the time and watching!

[@julesvan]

@@stupidandcontagiouspodcast i think it's hilarious (and also kind of pathetic) that Bikini Kill and Courtney Love hate each other so much to the point of erasing how connected they were in the early 90's. Really, all should grow up and at least be honest with their past. The BK fanzines where they published Courtney's reply when Kathi asked her for advice are no longer available (as well as those where they list Hole as one of their favourite bands). As for Courtney, she never acknowledges how proud and supportive she was when they formed. Luckily for archivists, they cannot erase Melody Maker articles with Everett True quoting Kathi from the fanzine "seeing Courtney was almost a religious experience" or with Courtney saying "I'm very supportive of BK, on a personal level" (MM, 19 Dec 1992). Also, there's this 1991 Courtney interview over here where she talks about the letter Kathi sent asking for advice and how proud she was of BK opening for Nirvana (Hole - interview January 1991) You said it better, no love lost between them! Thanks for the reply and for the video :)

[@stupidandcontagiouspodcast]

@@julesvan That is a shame for sure, I guess egos often surpass these things, I'm sure in some way they were part of a single movement paving the way for women to express themselves, they just did it in different ways? And thatnk you for watching!

[@lisad82648]

This scene passed me by more or less, but I need to introduce my 12 year old niece to some of it - she's got so much more understanding of feminism than I ever did and is becoming a bit of of a punk 😁. It's interesting looking back, as I felt safe at gigs, but I was definitely the coat hanger and way too scared to go anywhere near the mosh pit with my male mates - 5ft 1 and skinny back then! That means I missed out on being near the front by the band and staying with my mates. I'll check out some of the bands you talked about.

[@stupidandcontagiouspodcast]

It’s a really interesting movement and love the whole creating a safe space down the front for girls, the musics pretty special too 🤘🏻

[@Katesutcliffe73]

Love that Frank Carter makes a safe space for women in his snakepit now. Not aware of anyone else that does this still.

[@stupidandcontagiouspodcast]

That’s a great idea! 🤘🏻

[@rocket69218]

Other than being aware of the bands, this whole scene kind of passed me by. I just don't think I could relate or understand what it was really about at the time. Ned's (especially) had a massive female audience, as did Senseless Things and MC4. I also think that gigs in the UK (in that scene anyway) were very safe for girls and women and had a very good vibe... but that's a totally different vibe to a DC Hardcore show I imagine. Do Silverfish tie into this at all? I remember at Reading 1991 loads of girls wearing that Silverfish t-shirt with "Hips, Lips, Tits, Power" emblazoned on the back in bold letters. They played before Nirvana and I always wonder if Kurt requested that.

[@stupidandcontagiouspodcast]

Silverfish were certainly involved in feminism, as a UK band, nit strictly Riot Grrrl. That T Shirt was huge at the time, I remember it at many a festival!

[@CaptainAndy]

Hole were never part of Riot Grrl. Courtney Love openly derided the women involved in it as being too easily offended, which is standard facile anti feminist rhetoric. There was a controversy a number of years back when the supposedly trans-inclusive Kathleen Hannah performed at a trans exclusionary festival. As far as I’m aware, she’s never apologised. 🙁

[@stupidandcontagiouspodcast]

We cover the punchup between Courtney & Kathleen in the podcast! Can’t comment on the trans festival, don’t have the info I’m afraid 🤘🏻