Girlschool releasing a new album & touring North America

Girlschool back in the day

Although the Runaways preceded them by several years, Girlschool was one of the first all-female outfits to emerge in the male-dominated world of heavy metal/hard rock, helping to pave the way for similar groups of the future. Originally formed in South London during 1977 by bassist Enid Williams and vocalist/guitarist Kim McAuliffe (along with a few other members), the group was first known as Painted Lady. Eventually the pair came across permanent members Kelly Johnson (guitar, vocals) and Denise Dufort (drums), and switched their name to Girlschool by 1978.

…The quartet’s 1980 debut, Demolition, reached the U.K. Top 30, but was surprisingly not issued in the U.S. (despite spawning four popular singles back home: “Emergency,” “Nothing To Lose,” “Yeah Right,” and “Race With the Devil”). Girlschool’s sophomore effort, 1981’s Hit & Run, proved to be even more successful, peaking at number five on the British album charts, while a collaboration with their pals in Motörhead, an EP called The St. Valentines Day Massacre, hit number five on the British singles charts (due in part to the irresistibly raucous track, “Please Don’t Touch”). Hit & Run would also turn out to be the first Girlschool album issued stateside. [Allmusic]

British hard rock/heavy metal vets Girlschool are planning to release their 13th album, Guilty As Sin, produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, etc), this summer, and they’ll head out on a North American tour this spring.

The tour brings them to NYC for a show on June 14 at Saint Vitus with Crucified Barbara, Old James and Velvet Black. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

All dates are listed, with a couple videos, below…

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Girlschool — 2015 Tour Dates
22nd April – Kildare, Cassino (Italy)
23rd April – Closer, Roma (Italy)
24th April – Exenzia, Prato (Italy)
25th April – Work In Progress, Albignasego, Padova (Italy)
20th May – Mainstage, Ramona, CA (USA)
21st May – Count’s Vamp’d Rock Bar & Grill, Las Vegas, NV (USA)
22nd May – Whisky a Go Go, W. Hollywood, CA (USA)
24th May – Slim’s, San Francisco, CA (USA)
27th May – Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR (USA)
28th May – Studio Seven, Seattle, WA (USA)
29th May – Venue, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
31st May – The Fault Line, Bozeman, MT (USA)
3rd June – The Scene, Kansas City, MO (USA)
4th June – Pickle Park, Fridley, Minneapolis, MN (USA)
5th June – Reggies, Chicago, IL (USA)
6th June – The Token Lounge, Westland, Detroit, MI (USA)
7th June – Hard Luck Bar, Toronto, ON (Canada)
11th June – Mavericks, Ottawa, ON (Canada)
12th June – Coop Katacombes, Montreal, QU (Canada)
13th June – Biddeford Arena & Expo Center, Portland, ME (USA)
14th June – Saint Vitus, Brooklyn, NY (USA)
11th July – Metal Magic Festival (Denmark)