Girl (band)
Encyclopedia
Girl were an English
glam metal
band formed in 1979, who split up in 1982 with band members going on to join Def Leppard
and L.A. Guns
among others.
. Phil Collen
, who later joined Def Leppard, and had previously been in the bands Lucy
, Tush
, and Dumb Blondes
, was one of Girl's guitarists, except for a brief time near the end of the group's career. Gerry Laffy
was the other guitarist in the band. The original line-up also featured Simon Laffy
(bass guitar) and Dave Gaynor
(drums).
The band were signed by Jet Records
, releasing two singles prior to their debut album Sheer Greed
(1980), which reached number 33 in the UK Albums Chart
. The band's profile was raised by tours with the Pat Travers Band
and UFO
. Girl recorded a pre-L.A. Guns version of the song "Hollywood Tease". It peaked at #50 in the UK Singles Chart
in April 1980.
Gaynor left in 1981, to be replaced by former Gillan
/Broken Home drummer Pete Barnacle
. Wasted Youth (1982) reached number 92 in the UK. Pete Bonas replaced Phil Collen in Girl, though the band broke up soon after.
Girl still have six albums available through Sanctuary Records
(previously released by Don Arden
's Jet Records
): Sheer Greed, Wasted Youth, Killing Time, Live At The Marquee
, Live At The Exposition Hall, Osaka, Japan
, the 37 track anthology My Number: The Anthology
, Bootleg - Live in Tokyo 1980 and Girl-Sheer Greed-Gerry Laffy - The Rare DVD Collection.
Collen joined Def Leppard, while Lewis joined The London Cowboys, then Airrace, and later L.A. Guns (in 1987). Lewis also sang with New Torpedos
, Torme
, Filthy Lucre
, and The Liberators
.
Gerry Laffy, Simon Laffy, and Pete Barnacle went on to play in Sheer Greed
which also featured guest appearances from Phil Lewis and Phil Collen. Sheer Greed also recorded two versions of "Hollywood Tease", a studio one on Sublime To The Ridiculous
and a live one on Live In London.
Collen and Simon Laffy are currently in a band called Man-Raze
, along with former Sex Pistols
drummer Paul Cook
, though Collen is still also in Def Leppard.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
band formed in 1979, who split up in 1982 with band members going on to join Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
and L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns is the name of a hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, of which two rival incarnations currently exist due to numerous line-up changes. The first incarnation of the group was formed, by Tracii Guns, in 1983 but disbanded in 1985 following its merger with fellow Los Angeles...
among others.
History
The band's lead vocalist was Phil LewisPhil Lewis
Phil Lewis is an English vocalist for the American glam metal band named L.A. Guns, He was born on January 9, 1957 in London, England.Prior to joining L.A. Guns Lewis also worked with Girl , New Torpedos, and Tormé. While temporarily out of L.A...
. Phil Collen
Phil Collen
Philip Kenneth "Phil" Collen is the co-lead guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for English rock band Def Leppard. He joined the band in 1982 following the departure of Pete Willis.-Early years:...
, who later joined Def Leppard, and had previously been in the bands Lucy
Lucy (band)
Lucy were an English punk band featuring Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen.The first line-up of this band featured lead vocalist Paul Mewse, guitarist Phil Collen, bassist Peter Ferris, and drummer Len Foster...
, Tush
Tush (band)
TUSH were an English rock band from London active during the mid-1970s, and at one time featured current Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen....
, and Dumb Blondes
Dumb Blondes
The 'Original' Dumb Blondes, as they were initially called, were a Punk/Rock/Glam band with the occasional touch of Reggae which included current Def Leppard and Manraze guitarist Phil Collen....
, was one of Girl's guitarists, except for a brief time near the end of the group's career. Gerry Laffy
Gerry Laffy
Gerry Laffy is a singer and guitarist who has played in the bands Girl, London Cowboys, Sheer Greed, John Taylor, and Ultravox among others. Girl are still cited as an influence by many major artists twenty years later, even though they disbanded after only three years, allegedly due to their...
was the other guitarist in the band. The original line-up also featured Simon Laffy
Simon Laffy
Simon Laffy is an English bassist, a member of Man-Raze and former member of Girl.-Career:Simon Laffy was born at home in Hoxton, London. He started playing music at fourteen years old, inspired by his musician brother, Steve...
(bass guitar) and Dave Gaynor
Dave Gaynor
Dave Gaynor is a drummer who once played for the band Girl. He played on Girl's first album Sheer Greed. He was replaced by Pete Barnacle for Girl's next album Wasted Youth.-References:...
(drums).
The band were signed by Jet Records
Jet Records
Jet Records was a small British record label set up by Don Arden with artists like Electric Light Orchestra , Roy Wood, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Riot and Magnum. The first release on the "Jet Records" label was "No Honestly", a UK top 10 for its singer and writer Lynsey De Paul in November 1974...
, releasing two singles prior to their debut album Sheer Greed
Sheer Greed
Sheer Greed is the first album of the British glam metal band Girl, released in January 1980 by the independent record label Jet Records. The album was published during the explosion of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal phenomenon and its sales took advantage of the favourable attitude towards...
(1980), which reached number 33 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. The band's profile was raised by tours with the Pat Travers Band
Pat Travers
Patrick Henry "Pat" Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s...
and UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
. Girl recorded a pre-L.A. Guns version of the song "Hollywood Tease". It peaked at #50 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in April 1980.
Gaynor left in 1981, to be replaced by former Gillan
Gillan
Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
/Broken Home drummer Pete Barnacle
Pete Barnacle
Pete Barnacle is a drummer who has played for various bands including Gillan, Girl, Broken Home, Spear of Destiny, Yngwie Malmsteen , Sheer Greed, and Soldiers of Fortune.-With Gillan:...
. Wasted Youth (1982) reached number 92 in the UK. Pete Bonas replaced Phil Collen in Girl, though the band broke up soon after.
Girl still have six albums available through Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
(previously released by Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
's Jet Records
Jet Records
Jet Records was a small British record label set up by Don Arden with artists like Electric Light Orchestra , Roy Wood, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Riot and Magnum. The first release on the "Jet Records" label was "No Honestly", a UK top 10 for its singer and writer Lynsey De Paul in November 1974...
): Sheer Greed, Wasted Youth, Killing Time, Live At The Marquee
Live At The Marquee (Girl album)
Live At The Marquee is a Girl live album.-Track listing:#Ice In My Blood#Icey Blue#Mad For It#Overnight Angels#Old Dogs#Big Night#Sweet Kids#Wasted Youth#Nice N Nasty#My Number#Standard Romance#Thru The Twilight-Personnel:...
, Live At The Exposition Hall, Osaka, Japan
Live At The Exposition Hall, Osaka, Japan
Live At The Exposition Hall, Osaka, Japan is a Girl live album, originally recorded in 1982.-Track listing:#Wasted Youth#Make It Medical#My Number#Heartbreak America#Little Miss Ann#Ice In The Blood#Family At War#Mad For It#Tush...
, the 37 track anthology My Number: The Anthology
My Number: The Anthology
My Number: The Anthology is a Girl compilation album.These cult heroes from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal featured future L.A. Guns singer Phil Lewis on lead vocals and future Def Leppard star Phil Collen on guitar...
, Bootleg - Live in Tokyo 1980 and Girl-Sheer Greed-Gerry Laffy - The Rare DVD Collection.
Collen joined Def Leppard, while Lewis joined The London Cowboys, then Airrace, and later L.A. Guns (in 1987). Lewis also sang with New Torpedos
New Torpedos
New Torpedos were an English band that at one time featured singer Phil Lewis, who is the singer of one of the two bands currently going by the name L.A. Guns, guitarist Rudy Rivera, bassist Dave Birch, and drummer Paul Edwards....
, Torme
Tormé
Tormé were a band featuring Irish guitarist Bernie Tormé, whom the band was named after. Tormé's singer was Phil Lewis, who had previously been in the bands Girl and New Torpedos, and who is now in the version of L.A. Guns featuring drummer Steve Riley...
, Filthy Lucre
Filthy Lucre
Filthy Lucre were an English rock band featuring Phil Lewis on lead vocals and guitar, Steve Dior on lead vocals and guitar, Jim Writ on bass, and MC Bones on drums....
, and The Liberators
Liberators (American band)
The Liberators were a band featuring singer Phil Lewis, guitarist Brent Muscat, keyboardist John Juster, bassists Adam Curry and Eric Stacy, and drummer Dave Moreno.*Phil Lewis and Brent Muscat also played together in L.A...
.
Gerry Laffy, Simon Laffy, and Pete Barnacle went on to play in Sheer Greed
Sheer Greed (band)
Sheer Greed were a band featuring former Girl members Gerry Laffy, Simon Laffy, and Pete Barnacle. The band also featured guitarist Neil Gabbitas.Gerry Laffy sang lead vocals in Sheer Greed, as well as playing guitar....
which also featured guest appearances from Phil Lewis and Phil Collen. Sheer Greed also recorded two versions of "Hollywood Tease", a studio one on Sublime To The Ridiculous
Sublime To The Ridiculous
Sublime To The Ridiculous is an album by the band Sheer Greed.-Track listing:# First To Admit# Everybody Wants# Blue Favours# War Baby# No Way Out# Let Me Down Gently# Ritas Dirty Hideaway# I Ain't Afraid# Dying Inside# No Fun# Baby Get's Kix...
and a live one on Live In London.
Collen and Simon Laffy are currently in a band called Man-Raze
Man-Raze
Man Raze are a 3-piece alternative rock band from London, England featuring Phil Collen, Simon Laffy and Paul Cook.-History:Phil Collen made fans aware of the band for the first time during a 28 November 2004 interview with Braveworlds & Bloody Knuckles online magazine...
, along with former Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
drummer Paul Cook
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band Sex Pistols.-Early life and career:...
, though Collen is still also in Def Leppard.
Studio albums
- Sheer GreedSheer GreedSheer Greed is the first album of the British glam metal band Girl, released in January 1980 by the independent record label Jet Records. The album was published during the explosion of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal phenomenon and its sales took advantage of the favourable attitude towards...
(1980) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#33 - Wasted Youth (1982) - UK #92
- Killing TimeKilling Time (Girl album)Killing Time is a British glam metal band Girl album that was released after the band broke up. It was made with leftover tracks from previous albums and unpublished tracks for a third album never released.-Track listing:#"Juliet"...
(1987)
Live albums
- Live At The MarqueeLive At The Marquee (Girl album)Live At The Marquee is a Girl live album.-Track listing:#Ice In My Blood#Icey Blue#Mad For It#Overnight Angels#Old Dogs#Big Night#Sweet Kids#Wasted Youth#Nice N Nasty#My Number#Standard Romance#Thru The Twilight-Personnel:...
(2001) - Live at the Exposition Hall, Osaka, JapanLive At The Exposition Hall, Osaka, JapanLive At The Exposition Hall, Osaka, Japan is a Girl live album, originally recorded in 1982.-Track listing:#Wasted Youth#Make It Medical#My Number#Heartbreak America#Little Miss Ann#Ice In The Blood#Family At War#Mad For It#Tush...
(2001)