Here's something to add to the growing pile of '90s reissue nostalgia: riot-grrl rock act Bikini Kill, who announced earlier this year the acquisition of their own back catalogue, is prepping the first physical reissue from that discography: a 20th anniversary edition of their debut EP.
From 1990 to 1997, Bikini Kill were at the forefront of a punk movement that saw empowered women expressing their views through good old-fashioned rock and roll. Singer/songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox and drummer Tobi Vail were abrasive and in your face, and critics championed not only their unique voices, but others that rang out alongside them, from Sleater-Kinney and L7 to Bratmobile and Jack Off Jill.
Late last summer, well in advance of the group's 25th anniversary, the band announced the creation of Bikini Kill Records, a label designed to sell the band's catalogue, as well as side projects Casual Dots (spearheaded by Wilcox) and The Frumpies (the Bikini Kill lineup with Karren swapped out for Bratmobile guitarist Molly Neuman). While the band's discography is available digitally through the Bikini Kill website, iTunes and eMusic, it looks like the forthcoming vinyl and CD reissue of the band's 1992 self-titled EP - the first standalone release of the EP on the latter format - will be the first of a few physical reissues.
Produced by Minor Threat and Fugazi frontman Ian McKaye and released on the Olympia, Washington record label Kill Rock Stars (from where the band originated), the Bikini Kill EP will not feature any extra audio content, but it will feature an expanded package, including a poster and a fanzine consisting of archival photos, excerpts from original Bikini Kill fanzines, interview excerpts with McKaye and new liner notes by Layla Gibbon of fellow riot-grrl act Skinned Teen.
The reissue is due out November 20; keep it here for order links when they're available on October 20, according to the band's Twitter feed.
Simon Franklin says
Great band - highly recommended to anyone new to riot grrrl and 90's underground punk.