Girlschool are a Rock Band originating from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal Scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries and friends Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band from the UK, still active after 45 years.
Girlschool enjoyed strong media exposure and commercial success in the U.K. in the early 1980s with three albums of ‘punk-tinged metal’ and a few singles.
In the 1990s and 2000s, they concentrated their efforts on live shows and tours, reducing considerably the production of studio albums. During their long career Girlschool has toured all over the world, performing at many of the biggest rock and metal festivals as well as co-headlining with or supporting some of the most important hard rock and heavy metal bands in the genre. They maintain a worldwide cult following and are considered an inspiration for many succeeding female rock musicians, such as The Donnas.
Original members Kim McAuliffe, Denise (Drench) Dufort are still in the band to this day, original member lead guitarist /vocalist/songwriter Kelly Johnson died of cancer in 2007 and was replaced by lead guitarist/songwriter Jackie (Jax) Chambers in 1999.
In 2023 FORTY-FIVE years young, the British hard rock royalty came out swinging with their 14th studio album WTFortyfive?, an outstanding and deliciously dirty declaration that age is a number that shows how much real raw attitude you have when it really counts. Kim, Denise, Jackie and Tracey leave the grit under their finger nails and the scuzz on their crusty leather boots as they riff and stomp their way through 12 statements of intent showing major attitude, some great melodies, and a consistent crunch to every guitar.
Alcatrazz
Alcatrazz is an English–American heavy metal band formed in 1983 by Graham Bonnet, Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea. They are best known for their songs “Island in the Sun” and “God Blessed Video”, and have gone through a number of line-up changes, Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea remain the bands mainstays. They are also notable for featuring a previously-unknown Yngwie Malmsteen, who was the guitarist of Alcatrazz during 1983–1984, and was subsequently replaced by Steve Vai, Danny Johnson, and currently by Joe Stump.
After breaking up in 1987, and reuniting for occasional live performances in 2017, Alcatrazz reformed once more in 2020 under Bonnet, Waldo and Shea. To date, the band has released four studio albums: No Parole from Rock ‘n’ Roll (1983), Disturbing the Peace (1985), Dangerous Games (1986) and Born Innocent (2020). Several months after the release of Born Innocent, Alcatrazz announced that they had parted ways with Bonnet, who was replaced by former Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Schenker vocalist Doogie White.
Alcatrazz are set to release their upcoming album in the fall of 2021.
Lillian Axe
This melodic rock quintet based in New Orleans, LA was formed by Steve Blaze -guitar, and featured Ron Taylor -vocals, Jon Ster -guitar, keyboards, Rob Stratton -bass & Danny King -drums. The band was taken under the wing of Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby who produced their 1988 debut, which was a fine amalgam of infectious riffs & hard-edged rock tunes. Love + War, their 2nd release, was even more impressive, featuring extended atmospheric compositions that were both anthemic & memorable. In 1990, King and Stratton were replaced by Gene Barnett (Dirty Looks) -drums & Darrin DeLatte -bass, respectively. Following the release of 1993’s Psychoschizophrenia, the band decided to call it a day, with Blaze going on to form Near Life Experience with his brother Craig Nunenmacher (BLS/Crowbar). Lillian Axe re-formed briefly at the end of the decade to promote the rarities collection, Fields of Yesterday and Live 2002. In 2007, Blaze returned to the studio with new vocalist Derrick LeFevre to record “Waters Rising” (2007), “Sad Day on Planet Earth” (2009), and “Deep Red Shadows” (2010). In 2011 Brian C. Jones took over vocals to record “XI: The Days Before Tomorrow” (2012). The band is currently on the Global Rock Records Label and released the critically acclaimed, Billboard charting concept album “From Womb to Tomb” (2022). Current line up Steve Blaze, Brent Graham -vocals, Michael Maxx Darby -bass, Sam Poitevent -rhythm guitar since 1999, and Wayne Stokely -drums (Pretty Boy Floyd).
