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Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk
An electric, searing memoir by the original rebel girl and legendary front woman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre.
Hey girlfriend I got a proposition goes something like Dare ya to do what you want
Kathleen Hanna’s band Bikini Kill embodied the punk scene of the 90s, and today her personal yet feminist lyrics on anthems like “Rebel Girl” and “Double Dare Ya” are more powerful than ever. But where did this transformative voice come from?
In Rebel Girl, Hanna’s raw and insightful new memoir, she takes us from her tumultuous childhood to her formative college years and her first shows. As Hanna makes clear, being in a punk “girl band” in those years was not a simple or safe prospect. Male violence and antagonism threatened at every turn, and surviving as a singer who was a lightning rod for controversy took limitless amounts of determination.
But the relationships she developed during those years buoyed her, including with her bandmates Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, JD Samson, and Johanna Fateman. And her friendships with musicians like Kurt Cobain, Ian MacKaye, Kim Gordon, and Joan Jett reminded her that, despite the odds, the punk world could still nurture and care for its own. Hanna opens up about falling in love with Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys and her debilitating battle with Lyme disease, and she brings us behind the scenes of her musical growth in her bands Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin. She also writes candidly about the Riot Grrrl movement, documenting with love its grassroots origins but critiquing its exclusivity.
In an uncut voice all her own, Hanna reveals the hardest times along with the most joyful—and how they continue to fuel her revolutionary art and music.
Hey girlfriend I got a proposition goes something like Dare ya to do what you want
Kathleen Hanna’s band Bikini Kill embodied the punk scene of the 90s, and today her personal yet feminist lyrics on anthems like “Rebel Girl” and “Double Dare Ya” are more powerful than ever. But where did this transformative voice come from?
In Rebel Girl, Hanna’s raw and insightful new memoir, she takes us from her tumultuous childhood to her formative college years and her first shows. As Hanna makes clear, being in a punk “girl band” in those years was not a simple or safe prospect. Male violence and antagonism threatened at every turn, and surviving as a singer who was a lightning rod for controversy took limitless amounts of determination.
But the relationships she developed during those years buoyed her, including with her bandmates Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, JD Samson, and Johanna Fateman. And her friendships with musicians like Kurt Cobain, Ian MacKaye, Kim Gordon, and Joan Jett reminded her that, despite the odds, the punk world could still nurture and care for its own. Hanna opens up about falling in love with Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys and her debilitating battle with Lyme disease, and she brings us behind the scenes of her musical growth in her bands Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin. She also writes candidly about the Riot Grrrl movement, documenting with love its grassroots origins but critiquing its exclusivity.
In an uncut voice all her own, Hanna reveals the hardest times along with the most joyful—and how they continue to fuel her revolutionary art and music.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2024
841 people are currently reading
22174 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,515 reviews
May 21, 2024
Read this to interview Hanna for Design Matters. Always interesting to learn more about unique women in the music industry. Boys to the back!!
February 1, 2024
As a Kathleen Hanna fan I had a feeling I’d love this book, but even still I was blown away by her honesty, her self awareness, and her strength in sharing her story. Covering her experiences growing up, to her time in Bikini Kill, The Julie Ruin, and Le Tigre, her complicated relationship with the Riot Grrrl movement, and her relationship with Ad-Rock in short, digestible chapters you get raw, honest glimpses into her life over the years as you witness her growth and evolution as an artist and a person. It’s clear she’s done a lot of work to reflect and heal, and the people and experiences she shares are written about with grace and nuance. She handles her experiences and her descriptions of others in her life with such care in spite of the pain she’s experienced, and it’s really inspiring to read.
Ultimately, this is a really wonderful memoir from someone who has not only lived, but really taken the time to examine her experiences and how they’ve shaped her. This could not have been an easy book to write but it was an honor as a reader to be on the receiving end of such an inspiring, thoughtful life story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, and thank you ME for proactively preordering this book when it was announced last August. I can't wait to have this on my shelf.
Ultimately, this is a really wonderful memoir from someone who has not only lived, but really taken the time to examine her experiences and how they’ve shaped her. This could not have been an easy book to write but it was an honor as a reader to be on the receiving end of such an inspiring, thoughtful life story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, and thank you ME for proactively preordering this book when it was announced last August. I can't wait to have this on my shelf.
February 20, 2024
Easy 5 stars.
I was so excited for this release, that I bought tickets for Kathleen Hannah's in-person book tour the moment it was announced she'd be coming to Philly in May 2024.
So yeah, I may have squealed a tiny bit when I was given an arc of Rebel Girl to review for my honest feedback. Fuuuuuck was it good. I was nervous it wouldn't live up to my high expectations that I had for it, but was everything that I hoped it would be. Raw, painfully honest, fun, entertaining, and I didn't feel like she hid or held anything back. And damn, did she dish. That shit with Courtney Love was bananas!
If you're going into this liking Kathleen Hannah, you're coming out of it loving and respecting her for where she is at today.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco publishers for an advanced copy so that I could give my honest feedback and review.
I was so excited for this release, that I bought tickets for Kathleen Hannah's in-person book tour the moment it was announced she'd be coming to Philly in May 2024.
So yeah, I may have squealed a tiny bit when I was given an arc of Rebel Girl to review for my honest feedback. Fuuuuuck was it good. I was nervous it wouldn't live up to my high expectations that I had for it, but was everything that I hoped it would be. Raw, painfully honest, fun, entertaining, and I didn't feel like she hid or held anything back. And damn, did she dish. That shit with Courtney Love was bananas!
If you're going into this liking Kathleen Hannah, you're coming out of it loving and respecting her for where she is at today.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco publishers for an advanced copy so that I could give my honest feedback and review.
July 4, 2024
This book was fairly well-written, yet incredibly frustrating to read. I am not trying to be rude or mean when I say that the title of the book could have been “Failure to Fully Launch, Mostly By Choice.” At least half of the book is Kathleen describing how she and her bands became popular enough to have all the stress of fame with none of the payoffs (like a living wage, or health insurance, or basic security at their shows), mainly because they were too afraid of being judged by the punk “community” (more like “punk shitty dysfunctional family who is only happy when everyone is held down and suffering”) for being “sell outs.”
As this is not *my* life story, this normally would not have bothered me. However, one of the MAJOR overarching themes of the book was Kathleen’s decades-long desire to get her message of empowerment and awareness across to as many women as possible, particularly women in dangerous or vulnerable situations.
Due to that often stated desire, watching her intersect with Dave Grohl as he went from the same exact punk scene Kathleen was in to Kurt Cobain’s couch that Kathleen was also sitting on to superstardom with a song title Kathleen literally came up with (while Dave & co. were paid a fair wage for the art they created, protected by security from stalkers and other dangerous people, given administrative help so that they could focus on continuing to make music, etc.) while Kathleen literally turned down a dozen opportunities to ALSO be fairly compensated (and physically protected at her shows, and having access to a wide-reaching platform with which to reach women) was a special kind of awful.
The worst part for me was realizing that she actually seemed to believe that she was was being true to an abusive “fanbase” (whom she described as consistently showing up to *literally* abuse her, both physically and sexually) by turning down those professional opportunities, only for that “fanbase” to double down on their flagrant abuse and distain of her.
It’s as if she felt the need to ask the punk scene for permission to exist as her own person (she was afraid to write introspective song lyrics out of fear of their judgement, etc) while failing to see how that conforming to meet their standards was exactly the same as conforming to please “the Man.” Basically, it was an attitude of: “No, I don’t want your corporate help, I’m going to do it the hardest way possible, the one that least supports my own personal needs as both a human being AND an artist.”
In the end, she wound up with a limited platform from which to share her message, a lack of proper compensation for the art she personally contributed to society, and a hell of a lot of deep trauma stemming from constantly being put in literally life-threatening situations.
The ending felt much more hopeful—it’s clear that finding a supportive partner had a very positive influence on her life, which was the sparkling star in a book that otherwise felt quite hopeless, even though it was clear she did not want any of her personal success attributed to being in that relationship (which is understandable). However, when a person is forced to endure longterm instability, they will often begin to thrive once exposed to stability, and I don’t think that point of basic common sense was focused on enough in the book.
I’m glad I read the book, and I hope Kathleen is able to remain true to herself and flourish & grow in whatever way best serves her.
PS: I think she has synesthesia, but she never mentioned it by name so not sure if she’s aware of this too. Pretty neat.
As this is not *my* life story, this normally would not have bothered me. However, one of the MAJOR overarching themes of the book was Kathleen’s decades-long desire to get her message of empowerment and awareness across to as many women as possible, particularly women in dangerous or vulnerable situations.
Due to that often stated desire, watching her intersect with Dave Grohl as he went from the same exact punk scene Kathleen was in to Kurt Cobain’s couch that Kathleen was also sitting on to superstardom with a song title Kathleen literally came up with (while Dave & co. were paid a fair wage for the art they created, protected by security from stalkers and other dangerous people, given administrative help so that they could focus on continuing to make music, etc.) while Kathleen literally turned down a dozen opportunities to ALSO be fairly compensated (and physically protected at her shows, and having access to a wide-reaching platform with which to reach women) was a special kind of awful.
The worst part for me was realizing that she actually seemed to believe that she was was being true to an abusive “fanbase” (whom she described as consistently showing up to *literally* abuse her, both physically and sexually) by turning down those professional opportunities, only for that “fanbase” to double down on their flagrant abuse and distain of her.
It’s as if she felt the need to ask the punk scene for permission to exist as her own person (she was afraid to write introspective song lyrics out of fear of their judgement, etc) while failing to see how that conforming to meet their standards was exactly the same as conforming to please “the Man.” Basically, it was an attitude of: “No, I don’t want your corporate help, I’m going to do it the hardest way possible, the one that least supports my own personal needs as both a human being AND an artist.”
In the end, she wound up with a limited platform from which to share her message, a lack of proper compensation for the art she personally contributed to society, and a hell of a lot of deep trauma stemming from constantly being put in literally life-threatening situations.
The ending felt much more hopeful—it’s clear that finding a supportive partner had a very positive influence on her life, which was the sparkling star in a book that otherwise felt quite hopeless, even though it was clear she did not want any of her personal success attributed to being in that relationship (which is understandable). However, when a person is forced to endure longterm instability, they will often begin to thrive once exposed to stability, and I don’t think that point of basic common sense was focused on enough in the book.
I’m glad I read the book, and I hope Kathleen is able to remain true to herself and flourish & grow in whatever way best serves her.
PS: I think she has synesthesia, but she never mentioned it by name so not sure if she’s aware of this too. Pretty neat.
July 7, 2024
never in all my life did i think i would hear ad-rock referred to so lustfully
May 16, 2024
Reading this felt like reuniting with your best friend from high school that you haven’t talked to in years. One day you catch up and it’s as if no time has passed. You’re taken back to those nights spent giggling, playing with each others hair, trying on each others clothes, crying together as you talk about your traumas. I’m so happy to exist at the same time as Kathleen Hanna 🥲
June 5, 2024
Fun, detailed memoir of a feminist punk life. Had zero idea she’s married to a freaking Beastie Boy, and inspired some of Nirvana’s greatest hits. Hanna should always be mentioned as an integral part of women's rights.
Girls to the front!
Girls to the front!
May 25, 2024
Healthcare is such a women’s rights issue. This woman spent huge chunks of time doing pro bono mental health counseling for what seems like hundreds of sa victims and suffered from an autoimmune like disease for years and doctors were like I dunno must be one of those female autoimmune diseases and she lived with it untreated for about 20 years. This is my takeaway from the book. Healthcare needs to be more available for woman and health care needs to really gear itself toward taking women’s health concerns more seriously. Autoimmune disease affecting mostly women and being so understudied is insane. Also so many high school girls having to go through sa and not having people to talk about it. I don’t understand why consent isn’t taught at schools. They should have rape counselors for everybody at high schools dealing with prevention and treatment.
April 19, 2025
I thought Rebel Girl would be about Ad-Rock. It was about Kathleen Hanna. Now it’s about me, randomly shouting “WHO TOOK THE BOMP?!” at furniture like it’s a normal thing people do. Thanks, Kathleen.
Highly recommend audiobook version narrated by author.
#LeTigreFan
Highly recommend audiobook version narrated by author.
#LeTigreFan
July 29, 2024
4.5 stars. Pretty chaotic. Sometimes all over the place, but sometimes not. Some repeated information. But it was what I expected, and I'm so happy about it. However, I do have mixed feelings about this book that not only brought out my own experiences and flooded my memories, but it also highlighted what women went through during that time just trying to listen or play music. The music, the sounds, the everything. I didn't get to go to her concerts, because if they came to Houston, it was during the school week. I was lucky to have the guy friends that I did, with the exception of a few. But reading about what men did during that time, wow. Not surprising and looks like we are having a resurgence of that shit. And they wonder why we choose the bear?! My guys took care of us much like some of the guys in her circle like Kurt. Holy Hell am I ever happy to hear that Kurt Cobain was the man, the man who helped, the man who stuck up for the ladies in that time period, the man who was legit. And I'm glad to know that Courtney Love is ever as dispictable as I thought she was. I never liked Hole; when they started coming on the scene (before her relationship with Kurt and not my reason), I hated the music. I liked one song and that song was more in my adult years, but I hated her sound. When they got married, her reputation got worse and now justified in this book. I didn't realize Hanna was the women she punched at Lollapoolza. I do like that she recognized her role and responsibility for not building a better space for females of color, but she did learn from it.
I'm not sure if you would get anything out of this book if you were not a fan or even a fan of punk and grunge, but you could. It really does go into detail what women went through and still do, which some people will like to read. The music bros of that time have now turned into the tech bros (or their children), but at least the music bros were cooler with their instruments.
Anyways, im so glad I read it.
I'm not sure if you would get anything out of this book if you were not a fan or even a fan of punk and grunge, but you could. It really does go into detail what women went through and still do, which some people will like to read. The music bros of that time have now turned into the tech bros (or their children), but at least the music bros were cooler with their instruments.
Anyways, im so glad I read it.
August 9, 2024
I know there are a lot of Kathleen Hanna worshipers out there. I am not one of them. Still, I had high hopes for this book, as I find Hanna to be an interesting person. That, even though I never really cared for Bikini Kill and thought the transitional Julie Ruin project was just OK (and overrated). The first Le Tigre album does hold up and remains a hands down classic some 25 years on (with that project, I have always wondered whether the band's overall success has had at least as much–or more–to do with JD Samson’s artistic vision than Hanna’s). There is no doubt that her heartfelt commitment to work on relevant social issues is to be admired.
As a celebrity (and make no mistake, she has worked really hard at becoming one), I have always found Hanna to be more than a little full of herself and very annoying. This book does nothing to put those notions to rest. Worse, it also exposes her as quite manipulative and (apparently) a shameless user of people. An insufferable drama queen, her victimhood schtick wore thin for me very quickly.
Having said all that, she does somewhat explain away most of these negative personality traits in the last hour of the book (trauma, Lyme disease). But not enough to redeem this slog of a book.
As a celebrity (and make no mistake, she has worked really hard at becoming one), I have always found Hanna to be more than a little full of herself and very annoying. This book does nothing to put those notions to rest. Worse, it also exposes her as quite manipulative and (apparently) a shameless user of people. An insufferable drama queen, her victimhood schtick wore thin for me very quickly.
Having said all that, she does somewhat explain away most of these negative personality traits in the last hour of the book (trauma, Lyme disease). But not enough to redeem this slog of a book.
June 20, 2024
don't meet your heroes, and maybe don't listen to audiobooks by them, either.
May 23, 2024
I love Kathleen and I love Bikini Kill !!! Lemme say that up top. This book is a really incredible look into the highs and lows of riot grrrl and into the life of one of punk’s greatest icons.
With that out of the way, I went into this book expecting it to be closer in line to Crying in H-Mart. A book that transcends the category of celebrity memoir. Rebel Girl very much is a celebrity memoir—a well written and fun one, though! I could read a 1,000 page book of all of Kathleen’s touring stories and every little detail about the creation of riot grrrl and the early Olympia scene. I just wished that there was a little more to it.
The other thing I was struck by was that this book seemed to serve as a corrective narrative to the criticism that riot grrrl has received over the years—criticism that seems to oscillate between genuine constructive thought and just plan bitchiness. Kathleen is clearly very uncomfortable with the movement she started and her wrestling with her pride for riot grrrl and her shame is a fascinating part of this book. I wish it just didn’t feel as if she was responding to her critics who felt her documentary, The Punk Singer, was lacking.
I recommend this book to any and all Bikini Kill fans and anyone who is interested in getting a baseline understanding of the riot grrrl movement. I also recommend for anyone doubly interested, to check out Girls to The Front, an incredibly comprehensive history of the movement that takes great pains to analyze every part of it—warts and all.
With that out of the way, I went into this book expecting it to be closer in line to Crying in H-Mart. A book that transcends the category of celebrity memoir. Rebel Girl very much is a celebrity memoir—a well written and fun one, though! I could read a 1,000 page book of all of Kathleen’s touring stories and every little detail about the creation of riot grrrl and the early Olympia scene. I just wished that there was a little more to it.
The other thing I was struck by was that this book seemed to serve as a corrective narrative to the criticism that riot grrrl has received over the years—criticism that seems to oscillate between genuine constructive thought and just plan bitchiness. Kathleen is clearly very uncomfortable with the movement she started and her wrestling with her pride for riot grrrl and her shame is a fascinating part of this book. I wish it just didn’t feel as if she was responding to her critics who felt her documentary, The Punk Singer, was lacking.
I recommend this book to any and all Bikini Kill fans and anyone who is interested in getting a baseline understanding of the riot grrrl movement. I also recommend for anyone doubly interested, to check out Girls to The Front, an incredibly comprehensive history of the movement that takes great pains to analyze every part of it—warts and all.
July 1, 2024
Man, this book feels like home to me. I loved it so much. A reminder to make stuff that means something to you no matter what. Also, Babes in Toyland forever.
January 2, 2025
This was a very good read. I’ve always been intrigued by Kathleen Hanna and the whole scene she helped start. I learned a lot about her I didn’t know about and she definitely gained a lot of respect from me by the time I finished her story.
May 23, 2024
REVIEW
I've been on quite the musician memoir kick lately, and Kathleen Hanna's is easily one of the best I've ever read. A huge thanks to @eccobooks for sending me a review copy. 💕
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk
Kathleen Hanna
Feminist icon Kathleen Hanna holds nothing back in this engaging, insightful memoir, chronicling her tumultuous childhood years, her music journey, her feminism and activism, her struggles and triumphs, her friendships and relationships with other notable musicians, and so much more. Told with humor and heart, vulnerability and authenticity, Hanna's spirit and intentions are as pure as gold.
In addition to being a deeply personal memoir, Rebel Girl is also a back stage pass to the 90s punk scene and beyond. It was refreshing to read Hanna's thoughts through the lens of hindsight (and critique).
This book is just fantastic, and it left me feeling awed and inspired. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone and everyone!
🎧 I listened along with the audiobook, narrated by the author. I'm really glad I had both formats, because while I loved hearing this read in Hanna's own voice, the physical book has photos that I'm glad I didn't miss. The audio + print combo provided the perfect reading experience! 👌🏼
📌 Available now!
I've been on quite the musician memoir kick lately, and Kathleen Hanna's is easily one of the best I've ever read. A huge thanks to @eccobooks for sending me a review copy. 💕
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk
Kathleen Hanna
Feminist icon Kathleen Hanna holds nothing back in this engaging, insightful memoir, chronicling her tumultuous childhood years, her music journey, her feminism and activism, her struggles and triumphs, her friendships and relationships with other notable musicians, and so much more. Told with humor and heart, vulnerability and authenticity, Hanna's spirit and intentions are as pure as gold.
In addition to being a deeply personal memoir, Rebel Girl is also a back stage pass to the 90s punk scene and beyond. It was refreshing to read Hanna's thoughts through the lens of hindsight (and critique).
This book is just fantastic, and it left me feeling awed and inspired. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone and everyone!
🎧 I listened along with the audiobook, narrated by the author. I'm really glad I had both formats, because while I loved hearing this read in Hanna's own voice, the physical book has photos that I'm glad I didn't miss. The audio + print combo provided the perfect reading experience! 👌🏼
📌 Available now!
September 3, 2024
I listened to the audiobook of this one, and enjoyed it at the beginning. I thought she did a good job telling her story and appreciated her vulnerability. i liked hearing about her upbringing and her work in art school and her experiences in music scenes, as a stripper, and in her bands.
but then the book just got…annoying? a lot of it felt like very weird virtue signaling commentary, and often it felt just unnecessary and over the top: she tells this story about going through a drive-thru like ten times to buy single hot dogs because, while at first she was just hungry, how it felt like a performance piece that she needed to lean into, and it’s a fine quirky story, but then she goes on to talk about how fucked up it was to make the teenager at the drive-thru a part of the piece without his consent. like. sometimes it’s just not that deep!
the sections also got shorter as it went along and made it feel really choppy and disjointed. she also includes a lot of her lyrics within it, and maybe it’d be better on paper, but hearing her do a plain reading of SO MANY of her lyrics and at one point an entire song was just really awkward to listen to?
while she discloses up front that conversations are to the best of her recollection and not intended to be taken as direct quotations, I was just perplexed that she really talks the way she does sometimes, like this very strange conversation/argument she has with Courtney Love.
there are also things you could not pay me to disclose, like being an adult woman making out with the poster of your then crush/now husband. it just made me cringe!
I did appreciate hearing about her health struggles and her battle with Lyme and appreciated how honest she was about it and other things like her miscarriage and her adoption of her son.
Overall, I can’t say I recommend it, I don’t know if it’s worth the time as a whole. Maybe if you’re a quick reader I’d read it in print rather than listening. I don’t think I regret doing it, but if I had known it would be how it was I probably wouldn’t have started it.
but then the book just got…annoying? a lot of it felt like very weird virtue signaling commentary, and often it felt just unnecessary and over the top: she tells this story about going through a drive-thru like ten times to buy single hot dogs because, while at first she was just hungry, how it felt like a performance piece that she needed to lean into, and it’s a fine quirky story, but then she goes on to talk about how fucked up it was to make the teenager at the drive-thru a part of the piece without his consent. like. sometimes it’s just not that deep!
the sections also got shorter as it went along and made it feel really choppy and disjointed. she also includes a lot of her lyrics within it, and maybe it’d be better on paper, but hearing her do a plain reading of SO MANY of her lyrics and at one point an entire song was just really awkward to listen to?
while she discloses up front that conversations are to the best of her recollection and not intended to be taken as direct quotations, I was just perplexed that she really talks the way she does sometimes, like this very strange conversation/argument she has with Courtney Love.
there are also things you could not pay me to disclose, like being an adult woman making out with the poster of your then crush/now husband. it just made me cringe!
I did appreciate hearing about her health struggles and her battle with Lyme and appreciated how honest she was about it and other things like her miscarriage and her adoption of her son.
Overall, I can’t say I recommend it, I don’t know if it’s worth the time as a whole. Maybe if you’re a quick reader I’d read it in print rather than listening. I don’t think I regret doing it, but if I had known it would be how it was I probably wouldn’t have started it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2024
An interesting throughline through the recent alt memoirs like this, Girl in a Band etc is how obsessed all these people still are with scene infighting from 30 years ago.
As a former Bikini Kill/riot grrl fan this was both an interesting and frustrating read. The early chapters about the experiences that brought her to the band reminded me why I was drawn to her work in the first place, but overall it just confirmed everything (god and bad) that I’ve always suspected about this scene makes a good argument for why it couldn’t sustain itself for more than a few years.
I’ll always have a soft spot for Hanna but Kathy Acker kinda clocked her I fear.
As a former Bikini Kill/riot grrl fan this was both an interesting and frustrating read. The early chapters about the experiences that brought her to the band reminded me why I was drawn to her work in the first place, but overall it just confirmed everything (god and bad) that I’ve always suspected about this scene makes a good argument for why it couldn’t sustain itself for more than a few years.
I’ll always have a soft spot for Hanna but Kathy Acker kinda clocked her I fear.
May 24, 2024
I was somewhat indifferent to Bikini Kill but interested in reading about their start and the scene up in the northwest, but this memoir was truly insufferable for me to read. I think a memoir from the Kathi, Tobi, or Billy would have been more grounded in reality.
April 11, 2024
Great book, terrible cover!
August 26, 2024
When I was a pint-sized 4-year old in the late 80s living in the heart-shaped state of the US (Ohio); I wasn’t playing with Barbie dolls or pretending to be a princess and instead developed my first musician crush (Axl Rose) and was ballsy enough to ask my mother if I could attend a Guns N Roses concert (clearly, that was a ‘no’). As we entered the 90s, I wore Chucks and plaid, watched “Daria” and “Beavis and Butthead” and my favorite bands were Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Blind Melon. I was in elementary school learning basic subjects but was already a full-blown grunge rocker chick. Aside from a detour when I was obsessed with boyband 98 Degrees in high school (I still am!); I never outgrew this version of myself.
During this time, I started to listen to punk music, become interested in the punk movement and was introduced to feminist punk band, Bikini Kill. Lead singer Kathleen Hanna fascinated me and I thought she was simply the coolest. Flash forward to my college years when I was now working in the music industry and I heard about a band, Le Tigre from the music magazine I was working under. Who was in the band? None other than Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna! It also came on my radar that Kathleen had married Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) of Beastie Boys fame. So, obviously, she was still cool as eff. Well, ladies and gents, Kathleen Hanna (currently touring with Bikini Kill at the time of this review) has stepped forward ready to offer new revelations of her punk rock life with her first memoir, “Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk”.
Musician memoirs tend to fit two camps: they are either terribly written and are overflowing with heavily-inflated, entitled stories about sex, drugs and rock n roll or they are penned considerably well but are monotone and ‘boring’ in terms of content often begging the question, “Why did you even write this? Did you need extra cash?” It is fair to go into such reading with an open state of mind but not necessarily expecting the best. Well, fear not because Hanna delivers one of the best celebrity memoirs actively in the top of its class – and I’ve read MANY.
Although chronological in format, “Rebel Girl” takes a narrative story approach and flows like a collection of perfectly assembled literary short stories. Her writing is concise but image-laden, to the point but offering the perfect ratio of details at the same time, spunky but also sweet and thoroughly engrossing the reader. I was often late to my engagements and even over-boiled a pot of water because I couldn’t stop reading. Hanna allows the reader to jump into the pages and feel as though they are living the events with her being genuinely emotive with her writing. None of this should be surprising as Hanna is a songwriter and a creative; but “Rebel Girl” is truly outstanding when it comes to famous figure memoirs.
Hanna doesn’t censor herself from divulging hot topics such as drugs, rapes, borderline inter-family incest/sexual assault, abortions, the feminist movement and fellow musicians like the late Kurt Cobain, Ian MacKaye of Fugazi, Joan Jett and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. Unlike her memoir-writing peers, however, Hanna doesn’t name drop or attempt to create sensationalism – this was simply her life. In fact, Hanna often glosses over details regarding these big names (how they met, her inner thoughts/feelings toward these individuals, etc) leaving readers with some unanswered questions that is obviously meant to make sure she DOESN’T come off as boastful. This does bleed over to other topics in “Rebel Girl” where Hanna drops a bomb nonchalantly and doesn’t elaborate leaving some reader dissatisfaction and chaos in her trail but I suppose this is very punk rock of her and she can discuss (or not discuss) whatever the hell she wants.
“Rebel Girl” features very short chapters (some as condensed as 1-2 pages) which generally create a disjointed and clunky piece in the hands of other writeres but just like everything else Hanna does: it works to the benefit of “Rebel Girl”. The memoir is smooth and makes perfect sense with a timely and exciting heartbeat.
Also noticeable, although luckily not overdone, is Hanna’s habit of over explaining herself and overly wanting to show that she is ‘woke’ and not racist and how the Riot Grrl movement she started got out of hand. I understand her need to show her sensitivity but calm down, we get it. You don’t have to be so defensive. No one is accusing you of being a bad person.
“Rebel Girl” does suffer from a slight cool down in the latter chapters revealing the timeline of falling in love with Adam while he was still married (BAD!!!!) and the days of Le Tigre and Julie Ruin. Something about the storytelling seemed ‘empty’ in comparison to the former pages and was missing the same magical pizzazz even being repetitive. This is redeemed as Hanna highlights her medical issues and Lyme Disease diagnosis but it is fair to say the concluding chapters aren’t as titillating.
Hanna concludes “Rebel Girl” with a sort of self therapy analysis of her life/ways and cements that she is STILL a work in progress even in the fifth decade of her life and as a mom of an adopted son, Julius. This felt slightly abrupt and cut- off but also made sense in the context.
“Rebel Girl” is buttressed with black and white photos throughout and a section of color photo plates (although the captions/descriptions for the photo plates are in the back of the book and not conducive to flipping back and forth just to decipher who/what is in each photo).
Hanna’s “Rebel Girl” is a stunningly, crisply constructed memoir that packs a punch with vivid storytelling but also stays in its lane. Even though "Rebel Girl" isn't 'perfect'... it is certainly teetering on the edge. “Rebel Girl” is recommended for all Bikini Kill/Kathleen Hanna fans, early 90s music aficionados, those interested in the feminist movement and general celebrity memoir seekers.
During this time, I started to listen to punk music, become interested in the punk movement and was introduced to feminist punk band, Bikini Kill. Lead singer Kathleen Hanna fascinated me and I thought she was simply the coolest. Flash forward to my college years when I was now working in the music industry and I heard about a band, Le Tigre from the music magazine I was working under. Who was in the band? None other than Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna! It also came on my radar that Kathleen had married Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) of Beastie Boys fame. So, obviously, she was still cool as eff. Well, ladies and gents, Kathleen Hanna (currently touring with Bikini Kill at the time of this review) has stepped forward ready to offer new revelations of her punk rock life with her first memoir, “Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk”.
Musician memoirs tend to fit two camps: they are either terribly written and are overflowing with heavily-inflated, entitled stories about sex, drugs and rock n roll or they are penned considerably well but are monotone and ‘boring’ in terms of content often begging the question, “Why did you even write this? Did you need extra cash?” It is fair to go into such reading with an open state of mind but not necessarily expecting the best. Well, fear not because Hanna delivers one of the best celebrity memoirs actively in the top of its class – and I’ve read MANY.
Although chronological in format, “Rebel Girl” takes a narrative story approach and flows like a collection of perfectly assembled literary short stories. Her writing is concise but image-laden, to the point but offering the perfect ratio of details at the same time, spunky but also sweet and thoroughly engrossing the reader. I was often late to my engagements and even over-boiled a pot of water because I couldn’t stop reading. Hanna allows the reader to jump into the pages and feel as though they are living the events with her being genuinely emotive with her writing. None of this should be surprising as Hanna is a songwriter and a creative; but “Rebel Girl” is truly outstanding when it comes to famous figure memoirs.
Hanna doesn’t censor herself from divulging hot topics such as drugs, rapes, borderline inter-family incest/sexual assault, abortions, the feminist movement and fellow musicians like the late Kurt Cobain, Ian MacKaye of Fugazi, Joan Jett and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. Unlike her memoir-writing peers, however, Hanna doesn’t name drop or attempt to create sensationalism – this was simply her life. In fact, Hanna often glosses over details regarding these big names (how they met, her inner thoughts/feelings toward these individuals, etc) leaving readers with some unanswered questions that is obviously meant to make sure she DOESN’T come off as boastful. This does bleed over to other topics in “Rebel Girl” where Hanna drops a bomb nonchalantly and doesn’t elaborate leaving some reader dissatisfaction and chaos in her trail but I suppose this is very punk rock of her and she can discuss (or not discuss) whatever the hell she wants.
“Rebel Girl” features very short chapters (some as condensed as 1-2 pages) which generally create a disjointed and clunky piece in the hands of other writeres but just like everything else Hanna does: it works to the benefit of “Rebel Girl”. The memoir is smooth and makes perfect sense with a timely and exciting heartbeat.
Also noticeable, although luckily not overdone, is Hanna’s habit of over explaining herself and overly wanting to show that she is ‘woke’ and not racist and how the Riot Grrl movement she started got out of hand. I understand her need to show her sensitivity but calm down, we get it. You don’t have to be so defensive. No one is accusing you of being a bad person.
“Rebel Girl” does suffer from a slight cool down in the latter chapters revealing the timeline of falling in love with Adam while he was still married (BAD!!!!) and the days of Le Tigre and Julie Ruin. Something about the storytelling seemed ‘empty’ in comparison to the former pages and was missing the same magical pizzazz even being repetitive. This is redeemed as Hanna highlights her medical issues and Lyme Disease diagnosis but it is fair to say the concluding chapters aren’t as titillating.
Hanna concludes “Rebel Girl” with a sort of self therapy analysis of her life/ways and cements that she is STILL a work in progress even in the fifth decade of her life and as a mom of an adopted son, Julius. This felt slightly abrupt and cut- off but also made sense in the context.
“Rebel Girl” is buttressed with black and white photos throughout and a section of color photo plates (although the captions/descriptions for the photo plates are in the back of the book and not conducive to flipping back and forth just to decipher who/what is in each photo).
Hanna’s “Rebel Girl” is a stunningly, crisply constructed memoir that packs a punch with vivid storytelling but also stays in its lane. Even though "Rebel Girl" isn't 'perfect'... it is certainly teetering on the edge. “Rebel Girl” is recommended for all Bikini Kill/Kathleen Hanna fans, early 90s music aficionados, those interested in the feminist movement and general celebrity memoir seekers.
May 14, 2024
***Happy publication day to one of my top books of the year! I am eagerly anticipating my signed copy.
5 stars
This was easily one of my most anticipated books of 2024, and it did not disappoint at all. Fans of Hanna's, those interested in learning more about her contributions, and those whose births and environments did not align them with constant access to her should all be clamoring to get into this one.
I fit into the first group: a long-time, devoted fan of Hanna's. From documentary footage, articles, and a lot of exposure to her music, I had a general sense of what I was getting into here, and I still loved it (and learned a ton). It's easy to look at and listen to the strength and power that comes from Hanna's stage presence and her voice and to forget about a consistent fact of revolutionary women: that they are expected to give their whole selves - safety and humanity, too - to the masses all while leading change, caring for others (and never themselves), and running themselves into the ground like some sort of martyrs. Hanna expertly balances her actual experiences - many of which are horrific and difficult (though sadly not surprising) to read - with the exceptional path she took and outcomes she has realized.
Oh, and this book is FILLED with fantastic photography, which is an added bonus on top of a stellar narrative.
I can't say enough about this one, and while I almost never buy hard copies of books anymore (unless I'm teaching them and planning to utterly deface them for professional purposes), I'll be making a rare and warranted exception for this one. Like its focal point, it's an absolute gem.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and ECCO for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
5 stars
This was easily one of my most anticipated books of 2024, and it did not disappoint at all. Fans of Hanna's, those interested in learning more about her contributions, and those whose births and environments did not align them with constant access to her should all be clamoring to get into this one.
I fit into the first group: a long-time, devoted fan of Hanna's. From documentary footage, articles, and a lot of exposure to her music, I had a general sense of what I was getting into here, and I still loved it (and learned a ton). It's easy to look at and listen to the strength and power that comes from Hanna's stage presence and her voice and to forget about a consistent fact of revolutionary women: that they are expected to give their whole selves - safety and humanity, too - to the masses all while leading change, caring for others (and never themselves), and running themselves into the ground like some sort of martyrs. Hanna expertly balances her actual experiences - many of which are horrific and difficult (though sadly not surprising) to read - with the exceptional path she took and outcomes she has realized.
Oh, and this book is FILLED with fantastic photography, which is an added bonus on top of a stellar narrative.
I can't say enough about this one, and while I almost never buy hard copies of books anymore (unless I'm teaching them and planning to utterly deface them for professional purposes), I'll be making a rare and warranted exception for this one. Like its focal point, it's an absolute gem.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and ECCO for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
May 27, 2024
I am begging women to stop apologizing.
June 27, 2024
As a long-time fan of Kathleen Hana's various music groups and someone 15 years younger than her whose PNW "wrong side of the mountains" worldview exploded by listening to the Kill the Rock Stars label catalog, Rebel Girl is very specifically my jam. Listening to Bikini Kill for the first time as a teenager gave me a visceral release of everything I felt and couldn't express.
No doubt, my understanding of Hana's memoir was greatly expanded because I know the references, the people, the music, and the places. Even if I wasn't there there, I remember when every pop culture and music magazine talked about the "catfight" between Hana and Courtney Love. I saw Le Tigre at the WOW Hall in Eugene, Oregon, with ~400 other people on their Feminist Sweepstakes tour. (And I've seen Hana's various bands several times since.) I know what it means when someone says they went to Evergreen State College.
I also related deeply to parts of Hana's stories, like the violence in her childhood home and the parts about being a "face" in a movement and the kind of shittiness that caused her personally due to people getting weird ideas about who you are.
As Hana retold and reframed her most "famous" story about how she told Kurt Cobain that he smelled like Teen Spirit (she meant the deodorant, not a culture) and that's how he started Nirvana's breakout and most famous song, I thought of Hannah Gadsby's Nanette and their talk about how we create jokes, stories, etc., out of trauma but leave out the traumatic pieces. Every time Hana told that story to the press, she left out the part about how it involved her best friend, who was also her rapist.
Hana talking about how much more stuff she could've done without having to face gendered violence reminded me of Toni Morrison discussing how racism is a distraction away from the work she wanted to do. Hana is a try-hard achiever, obsessed with authenticity and absconding "celebrity." It's amazing how much "sell-out" culture is not a thing anymore. Maybe that's all due to social media. But Hana turned down many opportunities for fame, which would've led to problems different from those she and her bands had.
I appreciated Hanna writing this memoir at this point in her life. She's clearly gone to therapy and did personal work to reflect on the shortcomings of the original Riot Grrrl movement, especially around race and how white it all was.
Rebel girl, you are the queen of my world.
No doubt, my understanding of Hana's memoir was greatly expanded because I know the references, the people, the music, and the places. Even if I wasn't there there, I remember when every pop culture and music magazine talked about the "catfight" between Hana and Courtney Love. I saw Le Tigre at the WOW Hall in Eugene, Oregon, with ~400 other people on their Feminist Sweepstakes tour. (And I've seen Hana's various bands several times since.) I know what it means when someone says they went to Evergreen State College.
I also related deeply to parts of Hana's stories, like the violence in her childhood home and the parts about being a "face" in a movement and the kind of shittiness that caused her personally due to people getting weird ideas about who you are.
As Hana retold and reframed her most "famous" story about how she told Kurt Cobain that he smelled like Teen Spirit (she meant the deodorant, not a culture) and that's how he started Nirvana's breakout and most famous song, I thought of Hannah Gadsby's Nanette and their talk about how we create jokes, stories, etc., out of trauma but leave out the traumatic pieces. Every time Hana told that story to the press, she left out the part about how it involved her best friend, who was also her rapist.
Hana talking about how much more stuff she could've done without having to face gendered violence reminded me of Toni Morrison discussing how racism is a distraction away from the work she wanted to do. Hana is a try-hard achiever, obsessed with authenticity and absconding "celebrity." It's amazing how much "sell-out" culture is not a thing anymore. Maybe that's all due to social media. But Hana turned down many opportunities for fame, which would've led to problems different from those she and her bands had.
I appreciated Hanna writing this memoir at this point in her life. She's clearly gone to therapy and did personal work to reflect on the shortcomings of the original Riot Grrrl movement, especially around race and how white it all was.
Rebel girl, you are the queen of my world.
May 24, 2024
The author wonders at the end how much more music and art she could've made if not for male violence. And she wonders whether she would've done what she did if not for those men. It's also something the reader can't help but think. No matter the conclusion, my gosh, what an amazing, inspiring person. She is so generous — although not nearly generous enough to herself — and open.
At almost every concert for her band Bikini Kill, (some) men would hurl harassment and threats at the author and she'd be criticized by a few women for being a sell-out or not doing feminism well enough. Then after each show was over, when she was fried and her voice shredded, girls and young women would line up outside the door to tell the author about their traumas and she would counsel them, then get in the van and drive to the next town and do it all over again. I don't know how she did it, but the world is a better place because she did.
I happened to be reading another memoir by a (male) political punk singer when this became available through the library. At first, I switched back and forth but then this one quickly became unputdownable and I finished it in two days. I'll be getting a text version, but hearing the author tell her story was powerful.
I worried that the story wouldn't be as strong after she fell in love, but, my ... It is crazy good to the last page.
At almost every concert for her band Bikini Kill, (some) men would hurl harassment and threats at the author and she'd be criticized by a few women for being a sell-out or not doing feminism well enough. Then after each show was over, when she was fried and her voice shredded, girls and young women would line up outside the door to tell the author about their traumas and she would counsel them, then get in the van and drive to the next town and do it all over again. I don't know how she did it, but the world is a better place because she did.
I happened to be reading another memoir by a (male) political punk singer when this became available through the library. At first, I switched back and forth but then this one quickly became unputdownable and I finished it in two days. I'll be getting a text version, but hearing the author tell her story was powerful.
I worried that the story wouldn't be as strong after she fell in love, but, my ... It is crazy good to the last page.
June 17, 2024
I fucking loved this. I’ve been a fan of Kathleen Hanna’s various bands over the years. But outside of watching the documentary The Punk Singer from 2013 I haven’t done much research into her life or the deep history of the riot grrrl movement. It was so great getting Kathleen’s perspective on the successes and failures of riot grrrl, the ways it was misconstrued in the press, and how it didn’t always succeed as being as inclusive as it could’ve been.
Sometimes in memoirs or autobiographies the childhood memories section of the book isn’t all that interesting. But that definitely wasn’t the case here. All of the portions of Kathleen’s childhood that she shares are important in showing her development as a person and play into the art that she created as an adult. There’s a lot of heavy content throughout the book, but even when it did get graphic it never felt gratuitous.
This book has so many different things that appealed to me: wild stories of being a touring band, discussions of feminism, behind the scenes details from the early 90s grunge explosion, people learning to make political art, DIY culture, and so much more. Definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of Kathleen’s music or just stories of women in music overall.
Sometimes in memoirs or autobiographies the childhood memories section of the book isn’t all that interesting. But that definitely wasn’t the case here. All of the portions of Kathleen’s childhood that she shares are important in showing her development as a person and play into the art that she created as an adult. There’s a lot of heavy content throughout the book, but even when it did get graphic it never felt gratuitous.
This book has so many different things that appealed to me: wild stories of being a touring band, discussions of feminism, behind the scenes details from the early 90s grunge explosion, people learning to make political art, DIY culture, and so much more. Definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of Kathleen’s music or just stories of women in music overall.
July 26, 2024
I went into reading Rebel Girl thinking I'd learn some things about Kathleen Hanna, Riot Girrrl, the 90's etc... I did not think I would have my values challenged. That I would question my past behaviour and really examine myself.
Rebel Girl is a great listen, Kathleen Hanna is open, honest, and vulnerable throughout. She does not gloss over her missteps, she does not paint a rosey picture of her art, her past, or her actions.
This book is so much more than a retelling of Bikini Kill's career or of Kathleen Hanna's life. This is a critical look at someone's past and serves as a great lens to do so of your own.
Rebel Girl is a great listen, Kathleen Hanna is open, honest, and vulnerable throughout. She does not gloss over her missteps, she does not paint a rosey picture of her art, her past, or her actions.
This book is so much more than a retelling of Bikini Kill's career or of Kathleen Hanna's life. This is a critical look at someone's past and serves as a great lens to do so of your own.
October 13, 2024
Compelling read about a complicated person. On the one hand, props to her for laying it all out like this. On the other hand, she’s self-sabotaging until the very last page and it’s so painful to read.
September 10, 2024
Rebel Girl by Kathleen Hanna is an empowering and raw memoir that takes readers through the life of one of punk rock’s most influential voices. Known for her work with Bikini Kill and the Riot Grrrl movement, Hanna recounts her journey with honesty, wit, and a deep sense of purpose. Her passion for feminist activism and dedication to challenging societal norms are woven throughout the book, making it both a personal story and a powerful manifesto for anyone looking to disrupt the status quo.
Hanna’s voice is unapologetic and direct, much like her music. Her writing reflects the same fire that has fueled her career. From her early days in the punk scene to the creation of the Riot Grrrl movement, Rebel Girl is filled with insights into her battles against misogyny, her fight for women’s rights, and the personal struggles she’s faced along the way. Her vulnerability shines through when she talks about dealing with chronic illness, mental health, and the complexities of being a public figure.
Rebel Girl is a must-read for fans of punk, feminism, and anyone who’s ever felt the urge to rebel against societal expectations. It’s fierce, motivating, and a testament to the power of standing up for your beliefs. I also loved the flashbacks to my youth in the 80s/90s.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
Hanna’s voice is unapologetic and direct, much like her music. Her writing reflects the same fire that has fueled her career. From her early days in the punk scene to the creation of the Riot Grrrl movement, Rebel Girl is filled with insights into her battles against misogyny, her fight for women’s rights, and the personal struggles she’s faced along the way. Her vulnerability shines through when she talks about dealing with chronic illness, mental health, and the complexities of being a public figure.
Rebel Girl is a must-read for fans of punk, feminism, and anyone who’s ever felt the urge to rebel against societal expectations. It’s fierce, motivating, and a testament to the power of standing up for your beliefs. I also loved the flashbacks to my youth in the 80s/90s.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
August 12, 2024
I like Kathleen Hanna. I like what, for most of her life, she has been trying to do. She probably didn't make very much money singing in the band Bikini Kill, so I hope the publication of this much anticipated bio makes her feel good about her work, her life, her career. She's overcome a lot of bad stuff.
However, this is not much of a book, IMHO. The early chapters are good, the story of her perfectly awful father and struggling mother - that's well done, I thought. But by the half-way mark, the endless short choppy chapters took a toll on this reader. And the name dropping goes on, and on, and on. I couldn't keep track. Finally, after detailing for us a career that's pretty much marked by serious poverty, in 2006 (that's 18 years ago), she ends up marrying Adam Horovitz ("Ad-Rock") of the Beastie Boys. As a human being, Adam seems like a great guy. As a Beastie Boy, he has amassed a large fortune = Net Worth over $100 million. So Ms. Hanna has been "in the money," shall we say, for 18 years. She doesn't really mention that. Punks don't have $100 million.
I really can't recommend this book. I tip my hat to the writer's early life and career.
P.S. By the way, she knew Kurt Cobain and came up with the phrase "smells like Teen Spirit," which she told him he was perfecctly free to use.
However, this is not much of a book, IMHO. The early chapters are good, the story of her perfectly awful father and struggling mother - that's well done, I thought. But by the half-way mark, the endless short choppy chapters took a toll on this reader. And the name dropping goes on, and on, and on. I couldn't keep track. Finally, after detailing for us a career that's pretty much marked by serious poverty, in 2006 (that's 18 years ago), she ends up marrying Adam Horovitz ("Ad-Rock") of the Beastie Boys. As a human being, Adam seems like a great guy. As a Beastie Boy, he has amassed a large fortune = Net Worth over $100 million. So Ms. Hanna has been "in the money," shall we say, for 18 years. She doesn't really mention that. Punks don't have $100 million.
I really can't recommend this book. I tip my hat to the writer's early life and career.
P.S. By the way, she knew Kurt Cobain and came up with the phrase "smells like Teen Spirit," which she told him he was perfecctly free to use.
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