5 Nov 2022

Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill ahead of their first ever show in Aotearoa

From Music 101, 1:00 pm on 5 November 2022
American musician Kathleen Hanna of the band Bikini Kill

American musician Kathleen Hanna of the band Bikini Kill Photo: @mskathleenhanna

This year, iconic feminist punk pioneers Bikini Kill will perform in New Zealand for the first time ever.

Charlotte Ryan spoke to frontwoman Kathleen Hannah from her office in Pasadena, California.

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Bikini Kill members

Photo: Bikini Kill

When Bikini Kill formed in Washington back in 1990, they quickly earned a reputation as one of the fiercest bands around with their unapologetically political lyricism, DIY ethos, and high-energy, often confrontational live shows. 

Credited with instigating the Riot Grrrl movement, Bikini Kill created a legacy that is still resonating across the planet, with a commitment to helping empower and inspire the feminist voice through music.

Over the years, Hanna has gained notoriety as a voice for the feminist movement. She has used that notoriety to create a non-profit T-shirt business Tees4Togo which launched in 2018.

Tees4Togo is part of the outreach and fundraising for the Peace Sisters - a non-profit started by Tina Kampor with the mission of providing equal education for girls in Tina's hometown of Dapaong, Togo. 

Watch The Punk Singer - a 2013 documentary about Kathleen - below: