Bikini Kill to Reissue ‘Revolution Girl Style Now’ Demo
Vaunted riot grrrl band Bikini Kill are preparing the reissue of their 1991 demo tape Revolution Girl Style Now. On September 22nd, the band’s inaugural collection of work will be available on vinyl, CD and digital formats for the first time.
A trailer for the reissue features footage filmed by Brian Ruff from Bikini Kill‘s first Olympia, WA show. Band members Kathleen Hanna and Kathi Wilcox edited the clip, which features a selection of Bikini Kill-related graffiti, including one wall that reads “Women, Revolt!” Pre-orders for the album are available on the band’s website.
The feminist punk band recorded the demo the day after one of their first shows and self-released the track in May 1991. Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto mixed the reissue while John Golden mastered it.
Along with the original track list, which included songs like “Suck My Left One” and “Double Dare Ya,” the band has included three previously unreleased tracks: “Ocean Song,” “Just Once” and “Playground.” On the latter, listeners can hear the tape run out as the band records the track.
Bikini Kill began to reissue their back catalog in 2012. The band launched their own label as well a Bandcamp page where their releases could be streamed and purchased. The documentation of their history began as a celebration of the band’s 25th anniversary and launched with their self-titled 1992 EP.
In April, the city of Boston honored lead singer Kathleen Hanna with the declaration of “Riot Grrrl Day.” She was presented with the proclamation at discussion and performance she hosted in the city. “A $10 Bikini Kill record isn’t worth $7.70,” wrote Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “A woman today shouldn’t make 23% less than a man.”