Girl Germs
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Girl Germs was a zine created by University of Oregon students Allison Wolfe and Molly Neuman, both members of the band Bratmobile.
Published just before the emergence of Riot Grrrl, it helped pave the way for this movement, along with other proto-Riot Grrrl zines such as Tobi Vail's Jigsaw, Bikini Kill by Vail and Kathleen Hanna and riot grrrl by Wolfe, Neuman and Hanna. Feminism was influential in the Pacific Northwest in the early nineties: Girl Germs heralded an explosion of zines that accompanied the birth of Riot Grrrl, which included Ms America,Satan Wears A Bra, Fantastic Fanzine, I (heart) Amy Carter and others.
Contributors to Girl Germs included Kathleen Hanna; Jean Smith of Mecca Normal; Sue P. Fox; Kaia Wilson; the editors of Double Bill, G.B. Jones, Jena von Brücker, Caroline Azar, Johnny Noxzema and Rex; Jen Smith; and Erin Smith of Bratmobile. Groups interviewed by Girl Germs editors include Calamity Jane, Unrest, 7 Year Bitch, Jawbox and Fastbacks.
Girl Germs records the coming together of Bratmobile as a band at the same time as it created the foundation for Riot Grrrl. Allison would go on to play with Cold Cold Hearts, Partyline, and Hawnay Troof and Molly played with The Frumpies and The PeeChees.
[edit] Quotes
- "The first two issues were pretty funny. The next three got more serious. It's kinda hard for me to look at those zines now, I get so embarrassed! I never was a very focused writer." -Allison Wolfe, on the zine
- "We're helping open male audience members minds. Like, 'Oh wow, you're women and you can play!' But it's like, No shit!" - Selene, of band Seven Year Bitch, on sexism in music (issue 18)
