Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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GIRLSCHOOL

UK heavy metal group formed '78: Kim McAuliffe, rhythm guitar, vocals; Kelly Johnson, lead guitar; Enid Williams, bass; Denise Dufort, drums. McAuliffe and Williams ex-Painted Lady; recruited others and released "Take It All Away' on South London indie label City. Supported Motorhead on '80 tour, gaining exposure, no. 28 chart entry for Demolition '80: no-frills heavy metal LP of Johnson/McAuliffe compositions with cover of Gun's "Race With The Devil' a minor hit single. Hit'N'Run '81 no. 5 LP, incl. cover of ZZ Top's "Tush'; title track was their best chart placing with solo single at no. 35; EP St Valentine's Day Massacre made no. 5 on singles chart under name Headgirl (Girlschool and Motorhead together); lead track was cover of Johnny Kidd's "Please Don't Touch'. EP Wildlife no. 58 with lead track "Don't Call It Love'; LP Screaming Blue Murder '82 prod. by Slade's Noddy Holder/Jim Lea team, showed touches of that band's tongue-in-cheek approach; incl. obligatory cover (Marc Bolan's '20th Century Boy'); made no. 27 LP chart. By Play Dirty '83 Williams had left (formed shortlived group with Sham 69's Dave Parsons), replaced by ex-Killjoys bassist Gil Weston; by Running Wild '85 band had left the Bronze label for Polygram, boasted new members Chris Bonacci and Jacki Bodimead. Image change saw glitzy clothes replace denim'n'leather, nearer to the style of the Runaways. Girlschool were big in Japan, where they released Live And More; strong enough musically to transcend "girl group' novelty tag. Hit single with Gary Glitter '86, LP Nightmare At Maple Cross on new GWR label, group slimmed to Bonacci, Dufort, Weston, McAuliffe. Further albums were Take A Bite '88, compilation Cheers You Lot '89.