Melbourne’s trailblazing all-female garage-pop/hard rock outfit Girl Monstar have released their first new music since 1992. The band’s new single, ‘Blue Cat With Green Eyes’, arrives ahead of a full-length album due this October via Vicious Kitten Records.
Formed in 1988, Girl Monstar made their mark on Australia’s alternative scene with just one studio album and two singles that topped national alt charts: ‘Surfing on a Wave of Love’ and ‘Joe Cool’. Both tracks received ARIA nominations for Best Independent Release and led to television appearances on Countdown Revolution, Rage, The Big Gig and The Factory.
In their original run, Girl Monstar played over 200 shows and supported artists including Iggy Pop, the Ramones, Sonic Youth, the Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus. Their final show was a set at the inaugural Melbourne Big Day Out in 1993.
Now reuniting decades later, the band brings together original members Sherry Rich (vocals/guitar), Anne McCue (lead guitar), Sue Shaw aka Sue World (drums), and Janene Abbott (bass), who has returned to music after years off the grid.
Since the split, Rich went on to form the alt-country group Sherry Rich & The Grievous Angels and spent a decade writing in Nashville. She has collaborated with Wilco members, Paul Kelly, Mick Thomas, and others. McCue relocated to the US, released eight solo albums, and worked with Robyn Hitchcock and Lucinda Williams. Shaw remained active on Melbourne’s garage scene, drumming with bands like The Exotics and Plastic Section.
The reunion isn’t about nostalgia. The band’s new material draws on years of personal, political and musical experience — reflecting their lives as women, mothers, feminists and artists.
More new music is set to follow ahead of the upcoming October album release.
The new track is available on Bandcamp.
