Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk

Kathleen Hanna, the original riot grrrl and legendary frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, has written an electric, searing memoir. Rebel Girl takes us from her tumultuous childhood home to her formative college years in Olympia, Washington, and on to her first years on tour, fighting hard for gigs and for her band. Hanna opens up about falling in love with Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys and her debilitating battle with Lyme disease, and she brings us behind the scenes of her later bands, Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin. She also writes candidly about the Riot Grrrl movement and its decline, documenting its grassroots origins but critiquing its later exclusivity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 14 May 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Rebel Girl, a searing memoir by the original riot grrrl and legendary frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, delves into the life and career of Kathleen Hanna. The book offers a raw and insightful account of her journey, from her tumultuous childhood home to her formative college years in Olympia, Washington, and her early years on tour.

Being a member of a 'girl band, particularly a punk girl band, in the 1980s and 1990s was not an easy or safe proposition. Hanna candidly discusses the male violence and antagonism she faced, as well as the endless determination it took to survive as a singer who was a lightning rod for controversy.

However, the relationships she developed during those years were a source of strength and support. She formed deep connections with her bandmates Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, and Billy Karren, as well as her friendship with Kurt Cobain and her introduction to Joan Jett. These relationships were a testament to the true punk world's nurturing and caring nature.

Hanna also shares her experiences of falling in love with Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys and her debilitating battle with Lyme disease. She takes readers behind the scenes of her later bands, Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin, and provides candid insights into the Riot Grrrl movement and its decline.

In her uncut voice, Hanna reveals the darkest and hardest times, as well as the moments of joy and triumph. Rebel Girl is a powerful memoir that celebrates the resilience and determination of a woman who has left an indelible mark on the punk scene and beyond.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 241 x 162 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008365349