Petrol Girls

Petrol Girls is an English punk rock band formed in London in 2012 by Ren Aldridge and Liepa Kuraitė, with Joe York and Zock Astpai joining later. The band is named after the historical Pétroleuses[1][2] and is outspokenly feminist. They have released three albums on independent labels. They have received media coverage from The Independent, Kerrang!, NPR and Vice Media[2][1][3][4]

Petrol Girls
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active2012 (2012)–present
LabelsBomber Music
Laser Life Records
Panic State Records
Hassle Records
MembersRen Aldridge
Joe York
Zock Astpai
Robin Gatt
Past membersLiepa Kuraitė
Websitepetrolgirls.bandcamp.com

History

Petrol Girls formed and played their first show in 2012, after just two practises, at a house party hosted by founding member Ren Aldridge (vocals) to celebrate International Women’s Day. Retaining original bassist Liepa Kuraitė, who had never played before Aldridge invited her to join, they eventually recruited Joe York (guitar) and Zock Astpai (drums) to complete a sustainable lineup.[2][1]

Aldridge took the name from a group of 19th century French revolutionaries, les Pétroleuses, after hearing them mentioned by Laurie Penny.[2][1]

After two EPs, their eponymous self-released 7-inch from 2014 and Some Thing from 2016, the band released their debut album Talk of Violence on Bomber Music in 2017.[2][1][3]

In April 2018 the band released single "Survivor" and announced they had signed to Hassle Records for their next release - EP The Future Is Dark released on 14 September.[5]

Their second full length album Cut & Stitch was released on 24 May 2019. It received positive reviews from NPR,[4] The Skinny,[6] and Kerrang![7] - who in June also called it 'one of the best albums of the year so far'.[8]

In July 2019 it emerged that Aldridge is one of several musicians being sued by singer/rapper Jonny "Itch" Fox, seeking aggravated damages and an injunction for alleged libel.[9] The defendants are fundraising towards their legal costs.[10]

On 6 November 2019 Kuraitė posted a statement on Facebook stating she was going to leave the band by the end of the year.[11]

On 8 March 2022 (International Women's Day) Petrol Girls released the single Fight For Our Lives featuring Janey Starling. Starling, formerly lead singer of the London band Dream Nails, works for the British feminist organisation Level Up. Ren Aldridge said of the song; "I directly referenced Janey’s Dignity for Dead Women Level Up campaign in the lyrics to this track. Through this campaign, she introduced media guidelines for reporting on femicide and fatal domestic abuse in the UK – this is huge, because media narratives that place blame on the victims of femicide and abuse and treat these murders as isolated incidents are part of the problem".[12]

On 31 March 2022 the band announced their third album, Baby, would be released on 24 June that year. It was recorded with new bassist Robin Gatt, also of Personal Best.[13]

On 27 June 2022 an article penned by Aldridge was published by Kerrang! about the overturning of Roe V Wade in the US, restrictions on abortion in Europe, the requirement for Doctor's approval in the UK, and ways to counter state encroachment on bodily autonomy.[14]

Discography

Albums

EPs
  • Petrol Girls - Self Released, 7-inch EP, MP3 (2014)
  • Some Thing - Laser Life Records (EU) / Panic State Records (USA), 7-inch EP, CD, MP3 (2016)[3]
  • The Future Is Dark - Hassle Records, 12-inch EP, MP3 (2018)

References
  1. "Petrol Girls For Fans Of: Against Me!, Fugazi, Muncie Girls". Kerrang!. London: Wasted Talent Ltd. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  2. Dedman, Remfry (15 November 2016). "Petrol Girls – Talk of Violence: Exclusive Album Stream". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  3. Knox, Ron (19 January 2016). "Petrol Girls Singer Ren Aldridge Reflects on Visiting Displaced Residents in the Calais "Jungle"". Noisey. Vice Media. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  4. Gotrich, Lars (16 May 2019). "Scream And Grow With Petrol Girls' Raging 'Cut & Stitch'". NPR. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  5. Hall, Makky (6 April 2018). "Petrol Girls Unveil 'Survivor'". Broken Arrow Magazine. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  6. Turner-Heffer, Adam (22 May 2019). "Petrol Girls – Cut & Stitch". The Skinny. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  7. Pearlman, Mischa (26 May 2019). "Album Review: Petrol Girls - Cut & Stitch". Kerrang!. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  8. "The 25 Best Albums of the Year (So Far)". Kerrang!. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  9. Bowcott, Owen; Snapes, Laura (26 July 2019). "King Blues singer Jonny Fox suing five women over 'sexual predator' allegations". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  10. Wheaton, Oliver (18 October 2017). "Group who reported musician's 'treatment of women' facing defamation case". The Metro. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  11. "Petrol Girls - Hey, Liepa here. With a very heavy heart I..." Facebook.com. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  12. Carter, Emily (8 March 2022). "Petrol Girls and Janey Starling release Fight For Our Lives on International Women's Day". Kerrang!. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  13. Carter, Emily (31 March 2022). "Petrol Girls announce third album Baby, share new single Clowns". Kerrang!. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  14. Aldridge, Ren (27 June 2022). ""Abortion bans are an all-out war on women and anyone with a uterus"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  15. Payne, Helen (14 March 2019). "Petrol Girls Announce New Album 'Cut And Stitch', Announce UK And European Dates". Stereoboard. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
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