Girlschool are more then just a Rock band they, are an institution!!

A career spanning over three decades, they have stayed the distance longer then any other girl band. Formed in 1978 by Kim Mcauliffe and Enid Williams, they were the first real all Girl Rock Band, even before the Runaways.

Tonight, The Girls celebrated their 30th Anniversary along with the the launch of their eagerly awaited new album "Legacy", which  is dedicated to the lovely and talented Kelly Johnson. Tragically, after a six year battle with Cancer, Kelly passed away in July of last year.. 

This will be The Girls 12th Album. Enid Williams tells me that the Girls see this as their 'landmark' album and feel its a privilege that some of the worlds greatest Rock legends are guesting on it. The star studded bill includes Tony Iommi, from Black Sabbath and Ronnie Dio,   JJ and Eddie Ojeda, from Twisted Sister, Whitesnake's Neil Murray and Simon Wright, Phil Campbell and  Lemmy, from Motorhead ,who sings and plays bass (and also the Triangle)  on a song called 'Dont Talk to me'.. The late Kelly Johnson is also featured on the new album, as just before she passed away, she told the Girls that somehow she wanted to feature on the next album before she died. 

Jax Chambers faithfully promised Kelly, that one way or another she would make sure that it would happen.. with the permission of Kelly's parents, all the Girls had some of Kelly's ashes in small containers in the studio, and shook them like maraca's at the end of her song 'Legend'. 

   

 

Jackie explained to me, "it was the only way The Girls could think of including Kelly on the album". Its become quite a conversation piece and was quite surreal. As well as a new release, they a  also have a new German Record label and Management Company. The album will be out at the end of October on Wacken Records.

 

Opening up for Girlschool were 'Dirty Voice' and 'Tokyo Dragons' which I was told was  the Dragons last  ever show.Phil Martini the Dragons Drummer told me the Guys felt it was time to end the band due to fact that they felt that their record company had failed them with the release of their second album " Hot Nuts" which was barely released in Europe and Japan and then due to several other misses including Bankruptcy   they band felt  it was time as friends to move on which I think is a real  a shame cause they played a rockin   tight  and extremly entertaining  set and were  of the few Classic Rock bands that are currently left  on the circut. So good luck Guys to the future in all that you do!!.

 

Finally,The Girls took to the stage to an enthusiastic and sold out, extremely hot and sweaty 100 Club. Even though the album is not due out for release until October, Kim told the audience that the Girlschool motto has always been 'any excuse for a party'!! 

That's what i've always loved about Girlschool, is that they are true Rockers, the genuine deal! They always look great and play great, and tonight was no exception. They played a blinding raucous set. 

The audience loved it and the girls enjoyment was clearly visible from the moment they started playing. Front Girl, Kim McAuliffe, banters playfully to the audience and the girls in between numbers.... Jackie Chambers is a true Guitar Heroine, and Denise Du Fort is surely one of the most powerful and best Drummers ever, perfectly complementing Enid Williams' bass.   

Tracks from the new album, which, from what i've already heard sound great, included a poignant tribute to Kelly, entitled "From The Other Side".  'Just another day', and  the very catchy "Legend", Jax Chambers' own personal tribute for Kelly. Other new songs are 'Spend Spend Spend', 'I Spy',  'Never say Never', plus some of their older classics such as 'Emergency', 'Screaming Blue Murder', 'Fortune Flash' and their cover of the Gun classic, 'Race with The Devil'. 

The new songs do not disappoint, in the classic Girlschool way.  I'm really looking forward to hearing the album when its released, and will be reviewing it here at Soundcheck Magazine, as well as an interview with the Girls early next year. In the meantime , here's looking forward to your next 30 years girls.