First published 2024
Kathleen Hanna chronicles her journey from a troubled childhood through her rise as the fierce frontwoman of Bikini Kill. She details her college years and early performances in the male-dominated punk scene of the 1990s. Hanna faced constant threats and violence as a lightning rod for controversy, requiring immense determination to survive. Her relationships sustained her through these challenges, including bonds with bandmates Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, JD Samson, and Johanna Fateman. She formed friendships with notable musicians like Kurt Cobain, Ian MacKaye, Kim Gordon, and Joan Jett who showed her the punk community could nurture its members. Hanna reveals her romance with Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys and her devastating struggle with Lyme disease. She takes readers inside her musical evolution with Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin. Her account of the Riot Grrrl movement balances affection for its grassroots beginnings with honest criticism of its exclusionary aspects. Through an unfiltered narrative voice, Hanna exposes both her darkest moments and greatest joys, showing how these experiences continue to drive her art and music.
Genres: biography, american, feminism, music, punk, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, overcoming-adversity
Period: 1990s
326 pages · Hardcover · Ecco
Content warnings: abuse, depression, violence