Almost thirty-five years into their career, Bikini Kill has finally made their TV debut.
Earlier this week, they played their classic single “Rebel Girl” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. While Bikini Kill certainly doesn’t need a TV appearance to legitimize them at this point in their career, it’s interesting to see such a classic punk sound on TV.
Even in the 90s, Bikini Kill’s simple three-chord bangers felt retro, responses to the legacy of meatheaded proto-punks like the Ramones or Iggy Pop. “Rebel Girl” is almost a primordial punk song, the kind of song that sounds like it would be one of the first songs ever written in the genre; it should’ve existed about twenty years before it did, and it should’ve been played on TV at least thirty years ago. Kathleen Hanna doesn’t quite screech like she used to, but she can still growl out “They say she’s a slut!” with uninhibited intensity. They just don’t make ‘em like Bikini Kill anymore.
Bikini Kill comes to Franklin Music Hall on September 10th, with Sweeping Promises opening; information at the WXPN Concert Calendar. Check out their raucous Late Show performance below.