Trailblazing Melbourne garage-pop/hard rock band Girl Monstar are back with their first new music since 1992.
The first all-female band to gain a national profile in Australia in the late '80s and early ‘90s. Girl Monstar played more than 200 shows and shared stages with Iggy Pop, the Ramones, Sonic Youth, the Hard-ons, GOD, the Hoodoo Gurus, The Divinyls, Poison and Skid Row.
You can hear and buy the new single “Blue Cat With Green Eyes" on Bandcamp and it will be followed by a new album, on Vicious Kitten Records, in October.
“Blue Cat With Green Eyes” is the impetus for the reunion and was written by singer-guitarist Sherry Rich as part of a Philosophy Unit while studying a Creative Arts Industries degree in 2017.
“It was a song that didn’t fit my other music projects," says Sherry. "I thought right away, this is a Girl Monstar song. (Drummer) Sue World and I tracked drums and rhythm guitar then sent files to Anne McCue in Nashville to add 12-string, lead guitars and harmonies.
“On the first listen I thought.. we’re back! Once the seed was planted everything flowed so easily and we were just carried along.”
Formed in 1988, Girl Monstar gained a reputation as a formidable live act and made an impact with their all-too short recording career. Two singles – “Surfing on a Wave of Love” and ‘”Joe Cool” topped the Alternative charts in 1989 and 1990, both nominated for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards.
The band appeared on TV shows Countdown Revolution, The Big Gig, Rage and The Factory and released the one album “Monstereo Delicio” in 1992.
After splitting in 1993 - their last show was a fiery gig the first Melbourne Big Day Out - three of the four Girl Monstar members went onto noteworthy music careers.
Rich formed the pioneering alt-country group Sherry Rich & The Grievous Angels (featuring Steve Connolly and Charlie Owen on guitar) before a 10-year stint in Nashville working as a songwriter and collaborating on two albums with members of Wilco.
Returning home in 2006, Sherry continued with the Grapes, a ‘60s flavoured folk rock duo with Ashley Naylor and released her most recent solo album ‘The Divine Crimson V’ in 2021. She has co-written with the likes of Paul Kelly, Mick Thomas and Nashville writers including Jim Lauderdale, Tammy Rogers and Will Kimbrough.
Lead guitarist Anne McCue relocated to Los Angeles and then Nashville, forging a career as a singer songwriter and producer, merging country and blues with rock and pop. She has released eight solo albums, including “Roll On”, BBC broadcaster Bob Harris’ Album of the Year. She has toured the US with Heart and Lucinda Williams, and played guitar on Robyn Hitchcock's 2017 self-titled album.
Drummer Sue Shaw (nee World) formed the seminal all female Melbourne garage band the Wet Ones, has maintained a strong presence in the last 30+ years on the local garage scene with the Exotics, Plastic Section and the Wraylettes.
Completing the line-up is bass player Janene Abbott, who had disappeared into the wilds of the Northern Territory, but was freshly divorced and had just bought a new bass and amp when Sue found her. She was ready to rock!
