25 Years Later: How Bikini Kill Shaped a Generation of Women

Throughout the 90s, a band unlike before rose to popularity after their start in Olympia, Washington. Bikini Kill, led by Kathleen Hanna, took the country by storm with their strongly female-focused lyrics and performances. After reaching peak popularity, the band toured the country inspiring women to stand up and fight back for what they believe in. 

In 1998, Bikini Kill had one of their biggest moments yet, with the release of The Singles, a compilation album of some of their biggest hits, among other groundbreaking songs. Rock royalty, Joan Jett, joined the band as a guitarist, vocalist, and producer on the album. The album, released on June 23rd, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year!

This album, among everything else the band had put out, had a HUGE impact on the Riot Grrrl movement of the 90s. Bringing together music and politics unlike ever before, the Riot Grrrl movement changed the way women thought about how they interacted with the world. Many parts of modern-day feminism stem from the Riot Grrrl era.

While this era has come and gone, the impact it had on culture within the United States certainly stays strong. Not only this but lead singer Kathleen Hanna has gone on to build an incredible music career after Bikini Kill. After the band broke up, Hanna released a solo album before going on to form the band, Le Tigre. Le Tigre signed a record deal and recorded their first album, gaining momentum in the New York scene. 

Since then, Hanna has worked on a plethora of individual and collaborative projects within music, activism, and art. Le Tigre is currently on an international reunion tour throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. The tour has been continuously selling out shows and has plans to come to Pittsburgh on July 18th.