THE RISE OF KATHLEEN HANNA AND KATHI WILCOX

Originally starting in Olympia, Washington, Bikini Kill was one of the greatest radical femenist grung rock band from the Seattle, Washington punk rock scene.  Not only was Bikini Kill credited in playing a crucial role in establishing the Riot Grrrl scene, they typified the movement with a privately released zine publication entitled Bikini Kill.  With a lineup consisting of Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox, Tobi Vail and Billy Karren, Bikini Kill recorded only three albums before breaking up.

Kathleen Hanna started to record a brand new album under the rock band name Julie Ruin.  Kathleen Hanna however, was the only member of the rock band Julie Ruin.  She sang and played all the musical instruments.

In order to go on tour to support her Julie Ruin rock group album, she needed to recruit musicians so that she won't have to play all the musical instruments herself.  So Kathleen Hanna recruited Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning to complete the Julie Ruin rock band lineup for touring purposes.  Julie Ruin changed it's name to Le Tigre after the tour to support the Julie Ruin album.  Sadie Benning eventually quit the Julie Ruin/Le Tigre project and was replaced by JD Samson (the stage name for Jocelyn Samson).

 Meanwhile, Kathi Wilcox got together with former Bikini Kill bandmates Tobi Vail and Billy Karren along with Bratmobile drummer Molly Neuman to create a brand new rock group called the Frumpies which was essentially another Bikini Kill album without Kathleen Hanna.

When the Frumpies broke up after only one album, Kathi Wilcox formed a rock band called the Casual Dots with Christina Billotte and Steve Dore.  The Casual Dots also broke up after only one album leaving Kathi Wilcox unemployed yet again.

 Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox got together to resurrect the rock band Julie Ruin along with brand new Julie Ruin members Sara Landeau, Carmine Covelli and Kenny Mellman.

And so with Kathleen Hanna reunited with her Bikini Kill bandmate Kathi Wilcox on a brand new version of her Julie Ruin rock band, both women are poised for a brand new chapter in their career in the music industry.  Here are some photos of Kathi Wilcox.

 

 

 

Kathleen Hanna and Kathi Wilcox