Bikini Kill

Bikini Kill were the driving force behind the ’90s riot grrrl movement, which brought feminist views and politics to the forefront of underground punk circles. Not only did this occur via their music—especially the rallying cry “Rebel Girl” and defiant “Suck My Left One”—but the band’s calls of “girls to the front!” at concerts literally put their female fans first. Led by vocalist Kathleen Hanna, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail, Bikini Kill came together in Olympia, WA, in 1990, releasing the Revolution Girl Style Now demo the following year. That was followed by an Ian MacKaye-produced self-titled EP and Pussy Whipped, both of which crystallized the band’s mission statement. Bikini Kill broke up in 1997, a year after the release of the full-length Reject All American. Hanna moved on to front the dance-punk act Le Tigre, but after a low-key performance in 2017 at a celebration for UK punk band The Raincoats, the band reunited in 2019 for full-scale live shows, which went so well that they booked additional tour dates that stretched into 2022.