Kathleen Hanna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Hanna
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Hanna performing in London, 2016
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| Born | November 12, 1968 Portland, Oregon, U.S.
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| Other names | Julie Ruin |
| Alma mater | The Evergreen State College |
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| Spouse(s) |
Adam Horovitz
(m. 2006) |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Olympia, Washington |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Kill Rock Stars |
Kathleen Hanna (born November 12, 1968) is an American singer, musician, and writer. She is known for helping start the feminist punk movement called riot grrrl. She also wrote small, homemade magazines called zines. Hanna is the lead singer of the punk band Bikini Kill and the electronic band Le Tigre. Since 2010, she has also performed with her band, the Julie Ruin.
A documentary film about Hanna's life and career, called The Punk Singer, was released in 2013. The film also shared her long struggle with Lyme disease. Hanna is married to Adam Horovitz from the music group the Beastie Boys.
Life and Career
Early Life and Influences
Kathleen Hanna was born on November 12, 1968, in Portland, Oregon. Her family moved several times when she was young.
Hanna became interested in feminism (the belief in equal rights for women) when she was nine years old. Her mother took her to a rally in Washington, D.C., where the famous feminist Gloria Steinem was speaking. Hanna was inspired by seeing a large crowd of women speaking out.
Her interest in feminism grew stronger after reading the book The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. After her parents divorced, Hanna moved back to Portland. She later went to The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. To help pay for college, she worked various jobs.
At college, Hanna became an activist. She created a feminist art gallery with her friends after the school took down a photo exhibit she made that dealt with issues like sexism. She began performing spoken word poetry about these topics. A writer named Kathy Acker encouraged her to start a band to get her message to more people.
Bikini Kill
In 1990, Hanna started the band Bikini Kill with Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, and Billy Karren. The band became a key part of the music scene in Olympia, Washington. One of their main goals was to encourage more girls and women to get involved in the male-dominated punk rock world.
Bikini Kill's music and zines helped launch the riot grrrl movement. This movement combined feminism with a punk rock attitude. The band released its first recording on the Kill Rock Stars record label. They later worked with rock star Joan Jett, who produced their famous single "Rebel Girl".
The band released several albums, including ... Whipped in 1993 and Reject All American in 1996. Bikini Kill was known for its powerful live shows and lyrics that challenged society's ideas about women. The band broke up on friendly terms in 1998.
Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin
After Bikini Kill ended, Hanna started a solo project called Julie Ruin. She recorded an entire album in her bedroom with a simple drum machine. She wanted the music to feel personal, like something a girl would create in her own space and then share with the world.
Later, Hanna moved to New York City and formed a new band called Le Tigre with Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning. Le Tigre had a more electronic sound. Their songs often mixed music with political messages. Their song "Hot Topic" celebrated artists and activists who inspired them.
In 2005, Hanna had to take a break from music because of an illness. It was later discovered that she had late-stage Lyme disease. During her time off, she taught an art class at New York University.
In 2010, Hanna formed a new band called the Julie Ruin, inspired by her earlier solo project. The band released the album Run Fast in 2013. Hanna had to cancel a tour in 2014 because her Lyme disease symptoms returned. She has since gotten better and started performing again. The Julie Ruin released a second album, Hit Reset, in 2016.
Activism and Impact
The Riot Grrrl Movement
Hanna was a central figure in the riot grrrl movement of the early 1990s. The movement started with zines, which were homemade magazines that let young women share their ideas about feminism and punk rock. The zines encouraged girls to form bands, make art, and support each other.
The movement's slogan was "Revolution Girl Style Now." At Bikini Kill concerts, Hanna often shouted "Girls to the front!" She wanted to create a safe space for female fans at shows, where they could enjoy the music without being pushed around in the mosh pit. This simple act became a powerful symbol of the movement.
A Voice for Women
Hanna's lyrics and performances have always focused on women's experiences. She wrote songs about girls doing and wearing whatever they wanted, even if it went against what society expected. She believed that women should be able to express themselves freely.
Hanna has also been an activist for women's health. .....
In 2018, Hanna started a project called "Tees 4 Togo." She sells t-shirts featuring drawings by her and her friends to raise money for a non-profit called Peace Sisters. The money helps pay for school tuition for girls in Togo, a country in West Africa.
Personal Life
In 2006, Hanna married Adam Horovitz, a member of the music group the Beastie Boys. They live in California with their son.
For many years, Hanna struggled with health problems that doctors could not figure out. In 2010, she was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. The illness made it difficult for her to perform and record music. After a long course of treatment, she announced in 2015 that her illness was in remission, meaning the symptoms had greatly improved.
Discography
Bikini Kill
Albums
- Revolution Girl Style Now! self-released cassette (1991)
- Bikini Kill EP, Kill Rock Stars (1991)
- Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah split LP with Huggy Bear, Catcall Records (UK), Kill Rock Stars (US) (1993)
- ... Whipped, Kill Rock Stars (1993)
- The C.D. Version of the First Two Records (compilation), Kill Rock Stars (1994)
- Reject All American, Kill Rock Stars (1996)
- The Singles, Kill Rock Stars (1998)
Singles
- "New Radio"/"Rebel Girl" 7-inch single, Kill Rock Stars (1993)
- "The Anti-Pleasure Dissertation" 7-inch single, Kill Rock Stars (1994)
- "I Like ... "/"I Hate Danger" 7-inch single, Kill Rock Stars (1995)
Compilation Appearances
- "Feels Blind" on Kill Rock Stars LP/CD (1991)
- "Candy" on Throw: The Yoyo Studio Compilation, Yoyo Records (1991)
- "Daddy's Lil' Girl" on Give Me Back LP, Ebullition Records (1991)
- "... My Left One" on There's a Dyke in the Pit, Outpunk Records (1992)
Julie Ruin
- Julie Ruin, Kill Rock Stars (1998)
The Julie Ruin
- Run Fast, TJR Records (2013)
- Hit Reset, Hardly Art (2016)
Le Tigre
Albums
- Le Tigre, Mr. Lady (1999)
- Feminist Sweepstakes, Mr. Lady (2001)
- This Island, Universal (2004)
Singles and EPs
- "Hot Topic" (1999)
- From the Desk of Mr. Lady EP (2001)
- Remix (2003)
- "New Kicks (2004)
- "TKO" (2004)
- "After Dark" (2005)
- "I'm with Her" (2016)
Miscellaneous
Viva Knievel
- "Boy Poison" 7-inch EP, Ultrasound Records (1990)
Suture
- A Wonderful Treat compilation cassette (1991)
- "Suture" 7-inch EP, Decomposition/Dischord (1992)
Guest Appearances
- Rock Stars Kill, Various Artists, Kill Rock Stars (1994); includes Hanna's "I Wish I Was Him"
- Ball-Hog or Tugboat? LP/CD, Mike Watt (1995); Hanna is featured on the song "Heartbeat"
- Home Alive: The Art of Self Defense, Various Artists, Epic (1996); includes "Go Home", written and performed with Joan Jett
- 60 second wipe out, Atari Teenage Riot (1999); Hanna is featured on lead vocals on the song "No Success"
- Sinner, Joan Jett (2007); Hanna contributes to several songs
- Hey Hey My My Yo Yo, Junior Senior (2007); Hanna is featured on the song "Dance, Chance, Romance"
- "Eating Makeup", Seth Bogart (2016); features vocals by Hanna
- Chill, dummy, P.O.S (2017); Hanna is featured on the song "Sleepdrone/Superposition"
