The Dirty Dozen

School’s Out! The Belles of British Metal…

Girlschool (Fibbers York) 03/03/12…

Where to start? I know let’s go back thirty two years to the dawn of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) the year is 1980, the venue the Nottingham boat club, the band Girlschool and it’s my first encounter with the all girl heavy metal band but not by a long chalk is it to be my last. Back then they had just released their first album (Demolition) and hot off supporting Motorhead on tour, were making a name for themselves as show headliners. The following year saw them rise to headline many major venues in the UK as well as a headlining slot at Reading festival in 1981. That same year saw the girls release their second and probably most memorable album (Hit and Run) at the end of 2011 Girlschool released Hit and Run Revisited their twelfth studio album which is a re-recording of the 81’ classic for its thirtieth anniversary.

Anyway that’s just a sliver of history for ya, tonight however I’m in the historic city of Eboracum, Jorvik or York (take your pick) to see the belles of British metal play live at Fibbers. The evening comes on the back of yours truly playing a convincing role of a tourist (sights to see, inns to sup in) it’s got to be done. Fibbers is a small live venue with bags of atmosphere and a good PA system so after a couple of local bands have done their stuff it’s on with the main support band. NG26 are on tour with Girlschool and I’m more than a little familiar with the guys who hail from my neck of the woods. They’re up against it following the local heroes on stage they play a short and impressive set which certainly grabbed the interest of many of the York crowd. NG26 are a hard working band who deserve a big break and touring with the likes of Girlschool might just workout for them, it was a shame they couldn’t play for longer though with four bands on tonight time is of the essence.

The time is nigh and with a trademark long intro, Girlschool eventually start their show with, wait for it… Demolition (what not C’mon Let’s Go?) yes Demolition is played out to a packed venue who are very ‘up’ for the show. C’mon Let’s Go however is the second song and by the time that is over Girlschool can do no wrong here in York. Playing a mix of old and new songs, The Hunter (rarely played live) Not For Sale, Screaming Blue murder and Yeah Right the pick of the old while I Spy, Never Say Never, Everything’s The Same and  Crazy being the pick of the new. Vocal duties are shared out between Kim Mc Auliffe (lead guitar) Enid Williams (bass) and Jackie Chambers (lead guitar) While as ever on the drums is the incomparable Denise Dufort (thanks guest listing me Den). Tonight’s performance is for once fairly trouble free of gremlins, a slight buzzing noise at one point being the only incident and believe me it wouldn’t be a Girlschool show without something going wrong. Finishing their dynamic set with Race With The Devil and Emergency, both trademark songs the girls exit stage right to riotous applause only to return to play an encore of Take It All Away (their first ever single). The Belles of British heavy metal show no sign of slowing down, it’s a mere thirty something years since it all began for the girls, for now it’s mission accomplished in Yorkshire next week it’s onto Manchester and London… Cheers you lot… GD.