Hanna, Kathleen, 1968-

Kathleen Hanna was an early instigator of the Riot Grrrl movement in the early 1990's in both Olympia, Washington and Washington, DC. Along with Allison Wolfe she organized the first Riot Grrrl meeting, collaborated on several early Riot Grrrl zines, and was a major force behind the first Riot Grrrl Convention.

From 1990-1997 she was a member of the most widely recognized "Riot Grrrl Band", Bikini Kill. She co-authored the band's zines, including their 1992 Bikini Kill #2 which used the phrase "Girl Power" for the first time. Bikini Kill toured the states extensively and also played shows in Europe, Japan and Australia.

Her second large scale feminist DIY project was the electronic band Le Tigre which was active from 1999-2006. This band used activism as a jumping-off point for their visually stimulating live shows and their three full-length albums. Le Tigre played everywhere, from Massachussetts to St. Petersburg.

Hanna currently lives in NYC and is active as a musician and lecturer.

From the guide to the Kathleen Hanna Papers, 1988-2010, (© 2012 Fales Library and Special Collections)