Bratmobile

ByLets Go Punk
Bratmobile

Bratmobile is an American punk band from Olympia, Washington, formed in 1991. They are recognized as one of the pioneering “riot grrrl” bands, blending punk rock with elements of pop, surf, and garage rock.

Beginnings

Allison Wolfe and Molly Neuman met in fall 1989 at the University of Oregon. Raised in activist families, they shared influences from punk, hip hop, and the Olympia band Beat Happening. They collaborated on the feminist fanzine Girl Germs in 1990, laying the groundwork for their musical partnership.

History

1990–1991: Origins

Friend and Olympia musician Calvin Johnson invited Wolfe and Neuman to perform at a 1991 show. Initially a “fake band” due to their lack of instruments, they borrowed gear from Robert Christie of Some Velvet Sidewalk. After gearing up and writing original songs, they played their first show as a two-woman act in Olympia.

Early 1990s: Formation and Expansion

Wolfe and Neuman experimented with forming branches of Bratmobile in different cities. In Washington, D.C., they expanded the lineup with Erin Smith on guitar, Christina Billotte on drums and bass, and artist Jen Smith, forming Bratmobile DC. This lineup recorded a cassette titled Bratmobile DC before settling into a trio of Wolfe, Neuman, and Smith.

1991–1994: Pottymouth and Breakup

As a three-piece, Bratmobile became active on the punk scene, playing notable festivals and releasing their debut album Pottymouth (1993) on Kill Rock Stars. Amidst rising pressures and media scrutiny within the riot grrrl movement, the band famously broke up onstage in New York City on May 7, 1994.

Hiatus and Reformations

Following the breakup, members pursued separate paths; Neuman worked with Lookout! Records and played in other bands, while Wolfe engaged in activism and new musical projects. Bratmobile reunited briefly in 1999, releasing Ladies, Women and Girls (2000) and Girls Get Busy (2002) before going on another hiatus. In recent years, the original lineup has reunited for special performances.

Discography

  • Pottymouth (1993)
  • Ladies, Women and Girls (2000)
  • Girls Get Busy (2002)
  • The Real Janelle EP (1994)
  • The Peel Session (Live album)
  • Various split singles and recordings

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