Headgirl
Encyclopedia
Headgirl was a collaboration between Motörhead and Girlschool
in 1980, the result being the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP, though the groups were credited as MotörheadGirlschool on the EP
.
The collaboration between Motörhead and Girlschool started in March, 1979, when Motörhead began their first big tour with Overkill
and Girlschool were their opening act. Lemmy had heard Girlschool's single "Take It All Away" and thought they were "fucking excellent" and liked the idea of girls being in a band. In his opinion, Kelly Johnson
was as good as any guitarist that he had ever seen in his life and "wanted to stick it up these pompous bastard guitarists' asses". In late December 1980, Motörhead's drummer, Phil Taylor, broke his neck, preventing his continuing to play, so Motörhead's producer, Vic Maile
, suggested they record a single with Girlschool. Lemmy chose "Please Don't Touch
" by one of his favourite groups of the past, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
, for the flipside. The bands recorded each others' songs — Girlschool performed "Bomber
" and Motörhead performed "Emergency", although Denise Dufort played drums throughout. The record was released on February 14, 1981, as St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP and reaching #5 in the UK Singles Chart
, it became the biggest hit either band ever had in the charts. On February 6 the bands had been filmed in concert for a Nottingham
TV show called Rockstage and on February 19, billed as "Headgirl", they appeared on Top of the Pops
playing "Please Don't Touch".
With Girlschool as special guests on the Motörhead 2005 'Inferno UK Tour', Lemmy joined the band at the end of their set at Brixton Academy on November 19 to play "Please Don't Touch" for the first time ever live.
In 1981 a Japanese 12" single was released on the Bronze/Victor label, based around "Please Don't Touch" under the name Motorschool. Issued in a picture sleeve, it included "Bomber" played by Girlschool, "Emergency" and "Bomber" played by Motörhead, and "Emergency" and "Yeah Right" played by Girlschool. Lyrics to the songs were printed in English and Japanese.
Bronze used the Headgirl collaboration again in 1981, this time for a 12" vinyl release in Holland called Hard Rock On 12 — the record plays "Please Don't Touch", "Stay Clean", "Metropolis" and "Demolition Boys" but listed entirely different tracks on the sleeve.
Kelly Johnson, formerly of Girlschool and also guitarist with Headgirl, died on July 15, 2007, aged 49, following a six-year battle with cancer of the spine.
Girlschool
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
in 1980, the result being the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP, though the groups were credited as MotörheadGirlschool on the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
.
The collaboration between Motörhead and Girlschool started in March, 1979, when Motörhead began their first big tour with Overkill
Overkill (album)
Overkill is the second album released by Motörhead, in 1979, and their first for Bronze Records. It peaked at number 24 on the UK charts.It had a big impact in the British punk culture of that time, paving the way for UK82. Kerrang! magazine listed the album at No...
and Girlschool were their opening act. Lemmy had heard Girlschool's single "Take It All Away" and thought they were "fucking excellent" and liked the idea of girls being in a band. In his opinion, Kelly Johnson
Kelly Johnson (guitarist)
Bernadette Jean "Kelly" Johnson was an English guitarist, widely known in the UK in the early 1980s as the lead guitarist of the all-female British heavy metal band Girlschool.-Biography:...
was as good as any guitarist that he had ever seen in his life and "wanted to stick it up these pompous bastard guitarists' asses". In late December 1980, Motörhead's drummer, Phil Taylor, broke his neck, preventing his continuing to play, so Motörhead's producer, Vic Maile
Vic Maile
Vic Maile was a British record producer. After starting his career as sound engineer with Pye mobile studios for The Animals on their song, "We Gotta Get out of This Place", Maile worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The...
, suggested they record a single with Girlschool. Lemmy chose "Please Don't Touch
Please Don't Touch (song)
Please Don't Touch is the debut single by English rock and roll group Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, released in 1959 reaching number 25 on the UK singles charts.-Personnel:*Johnny Kidd – vocals*Mike West, Tom Brown – backing vocals*Alan Caddy – lead guitar...
" by one of his favourite groups of the past, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates were an English rock 'n' roll group led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd. They scored numerous hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, including the rock & roll classics 'Shakin' All Over' and 'Please Don't Touch', but their influence far outshines their chart...
, for the flipside. The bands recorded each others' songs — Girlschool performed "Bomber
Bomber (song)
"Bomber" is a song by the English heavy metal band Motörhead, recorded and released in 1979 . It is the title track to their album Bomber and was released as a single peaking at 34 on the UK singles chart....
" and Motörhead performed "Emergency", although Denise Dufort played drums throughout. The record was released on February 14, 1981, as St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP and reaching #5 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 ...
, it became the biggest hit either band ever had in the charts. On February 6 the bands had been filmed in concert for a Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
TV show called Rockstage and on February 19, billed as "Headgirl", they appeared on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
playing "Please Don't Touch".
With Girlschool as special guests on the Motörhead 2005 'Inferno UK Tour', Lemmy joined the band at the end of their set at Brixton Academy on November 19 to play "Please Don't Touch" for the first time ever live.
In 1981 a Japanese 12" single was released on the Bronze/Victor label, based around "Please Don't Touch" under the name Motorschool. Issued in a picture sleeve, it included "Bomber" played by Girlschool, "Emergency" and "Bomber" played by Motörhead, and "Emergency" and "Yeah Right" played by Girlschool. Lyrics to the songs were printed in English and Japanese.
Bronze used the Headgirl collaboration again in 1981, this time for a 12" vinyl release in Holland called Hard Rock On 12 — the record plays "Please Don't Touch", "Stay Clean", "Metropolis" and "Demolition Boys" but listed entirely different tracks on the sleeve.
Kelly Johnson, formerly of Girlschool and also guitarist with Headgirl, died on July 15, 2007, aged 49, following a six-year battle with cancer of the spine.