Girlschool / Kelly Johnson

Girlschool / Kelly Johnson

12" 20th CENTURY BOY BRONZE UK BROX 171

1983 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

10" C'MON LET'S GO / TONIGHT / DEMOLITION BRONZE UK BROX 126

1981 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP DEMOLITION BRONZE JPN VIP-6738

1980 10 TRKS insert

LP HIT AND RUN BRONZE JPN VIP-6779

1981 11 TRKS insert

10" HIT AND RUN / TONIGHT / TUSH BRONZE UK BROX 118

1981 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP PLAY DIRTY MERCURY US 814689.1

1983 10 TRKS produced by Noddy Holder (Slade)

7" RACE WITH THE DEVIL / TAKE IT ALL AWAY BRONZE UK BRO 100

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP RUNNING WILD MERCURY US 824611.1

1985 10 TRKS

LP SCREAMING BLUE MURDER MERCURY US SRM-1-4066

1982 11 TRKS

7" TAKE IT ALL AWAY / IT COULD BE BETTER CITY UK NIK 6

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve (debut 45)

7" WILDLIFE (EP) BRONZE UK BRO 144

1982 3 TRKS with pic sleeve, red vinyl

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, it was fun to follow Motorhead and Girlschool. By the British press, we were lead to believe that Girlschool were the female Motorhead. I saw Motorhead several times, but I never got to see Girlschool. This week, I read that Girlschool’s Kelly Johnson died, age 49. Gee, I’ll be 49 in a few weeks.

Girlschool was / is fun British hard rock (NWOBHM, as it were) – good songs, amusing cover versions (they even did ZZ Top’s “Tush”!). One of their LP’s was produced by Noddy Holder of Slade! (And on that they’re covering a T. Rex song!). The first two albums are on a “2-on-1” CD from England.

I visited Japan recently, and I was surprised that they hadn’t made little paper album covers of the first two Girlschool albums. All of the Bronze label Motorhead albums are waiting to come out as little paper album covers in Japan.

I know Kelly left Girlschool long ago. I always sort of wondered why she never made solo records – or if she did, I’ve never heard of them. Probably there will be a nice obit for her in Mojo or Record Collector.