The iconic feminist-punk-activist queen, Kathleen Hanna, has released her memoir, Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk.
Kathleen Hanna is probably best known as being the frontwoman of Bikini Kill, and for her role in the Riot Grrrl scene. This book sees her talk us through her life leading up to Bikini Kill, and later, Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin.
Discovering Bikini Kill as a teenager was my introduction to feminism, and led to me discovering a lot of bands I still listen to today. As a millennial, I grew up “too late” for the original 90’s riot grrrl scene, as I’m sure a lot of others did (okay, I was on tumblr, I know a lot of others did!). Kathleen shares a lot of stories from this period, and her honesty and humor allow us to get a taste of what it was really like, without romanticising it. Importantly, she isn’t afraid to examine the flaws of the original scene. Plus, the fangirl in me loved seeing the roles played by other people I recognise (the other members of Bikini Kill, Allison Wolfe, Ian MacKaye, Joan Jett, Kurt Cobain, to name a few).
Kathleen writes honestly and openly about the traumatic parts of her life, while somehow never losing the sense of humour that punctuates her stories. She resists the urge to place herself in a victim or hero position, and while the media were quick to paint her as a “leader” of the riot grrrl movement, Kathleen manages to write about what happened without centering only her own experiences. Which, for a memoir – a book that is literally about her own experiences – is quite the achievement!
There are so many stories from this book that meant a lot to me, and it was tempting to try and recount some of them here – unless I just directly quote entire paragraphs though, there’s no way I can do them justice. They deserve to be told in Kathleen’s voice. What I will say though, is that even stories that may be familiar to hardcore fans – the night Kathleen wrote the words “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit” on a bedroom wall, or where the name Bikini Kill came from, for example – are still very much worth reading, and I still found myself learning more.
I’d looked forward to this book from the moment it was announced, so there was a part of me that worried it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype I’d created in my own head. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint, and I basically inhaled this book. As a long time admirer of Kathleen, this book left me with an even deeper appreciation of her, and the many other women I admire from the riot grrrl movement. I’m glad Kathleen has been able to tell her story, on her terms and in her own words.
Bikini Kill are currently touring – check out our live review of the London show – remaining dates below:
16 – Birmingham, UK @ The Crossing (early show) w/ R.AGGS SOLD OUT
August 2024
15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern w/ The Ghost Ease TICKETS
16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern w/ Death Valley Girls TICKETS
18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield w/ The Ghost Ease TICKETS
19 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield w/ Black Belt Eagle Scout TICKETS
21 – Forest Grove, OR @ Grand Lodge w/ The Ghost Ease TICKETS
23 – Olympia, WA @ South Sound Block Party TICKETS
25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Union Event Center w/ Cheap Perfume, Blisster TICKETS
27 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom w/ Sweeping Promises TICKETS
29 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Riverside Theater w/ Shadow Show TICKETS
30 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed (Indoor) w/ Shadow Show TICKETS
31 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre w/ Shadow Show TICKETS
September 2024
03 – Toronto, ON @ History w/ Retail Simps TICKETS
04 – Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia w/ Retail Simps TICKETS
06 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre w/ Sweeping Promises SOLD OUT
07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount w/ Birthday Girl TICKETS
08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount w/ Sweeping Promises TICKETS
10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall w/ Sweeping Promises TICKETS
11 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage w/ Sweeping Promises SOLD OUT
12 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage w/ Birthday Girl DC TICKETS