{{Short description|English punk rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Petrol Girls | image = Petrol Girls.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = Petrol Girls at The Great Escape 2019 | alias = | origin = London, England | genre = {{hlist|Hardcore punk|post-hardcore|riot grrrl}} | years_active = {{start date|2012}}–present | label = {{flatlist| * Bomber * Laser Life * Panic State * Hassle }} | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|https://petrolgirls.bandcamp.com/}} | current_members = *Ren Aldridge *Joe York *Zock Astpai *Robin Gatt | past_members = Liepa Kuraitė }}
'''Petrol Girls''' are an English punk rock band formed in London in 2012 by Ren Aldridge and Liepa Kuraitė, with Joe York and Zock Astpai joining later. The band is named after the historical Pétroleuses and is outspokenly feminist. They have released three albums on independent labels.
==History== Petrol Girls formed and played their first show in 2012, after just two practises, at a house party hosted by founding member Ren Aldridge (vocals) to celebrate International Women’s Day. Retaining original bassist Liepa Kuraitė, who had never played before Aldridge invited her to join, they eventually recruited Joe York (guitar) and Zock Astpai (drums) to complete a sustainable lineup.<ref name="Kerrang News">{{cite magazine|date=3 May 2017|title=Petrol Girls For Fans Of: Against Me!, Fugazi, Muncie Girls|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/kerrang-uk/20170503/282179355987479|magazine=Kerrang!|location=London|publisher=Wasted Talent Ltd |access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="The Independent">{{cite news|date=15 November 2016|title=Petrol Girls – Talk of Violence: Exclusive Album Stream|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/petrol-girls-talk-of-violence-exclusive-album-stream-a7417911.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/petrol-girls-talk-of-violence-exclusive-album-stream-a7417911.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent|last=Dedman|first=Remfry|publisher=Independent Print Limited|location=London|access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref>
Aldridge took the name from a group of 19th century French revolutionaries, ''les Pétroleuses'', after hearing them mentioned by Laurie Penny.<ref name="The Independent"/><ref name="Kerrang News"/>
After two EPs, their eponymous self-released 7-inch from 2014 and ''Some Thing'' from 2016, the band released their debut album ''Talk of Violence'' on Bomber Music in 2017.<ref name="The Independent"/><ref name="Kerrang News"/><ref name="Noisey">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ren-aldridge-from-petrol-girls-in-calais/|title=Petrol Girls Singer Ren Aldridge Reflects on Visiting Displaced Residents in the Calais "Jungle"|website=Noisey|publisher=Vice Media|last1=Knox|first1=Ron|date=19 January 2016|access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref>
In April 2018 the band released single "Survivor" and announced they had signed to Hassle Records for their next release - EP ''The Future Is Dark'' released on 14 September.<ref name="Broken Arrow Mag">{{cite web|url=http://www.brokenarrowmagazine.com/petrol-girls-unveil-survivor/|title=Petrol Girls Unveil 'Survivor'|website=Broken Arrow Magazine|first=Makky|last=Hall|date=6 April 2018|accessdate=15 June 2018}}</ref>
Their second full length album ''Cut & Stitch'' was released on 24 May 2019. It received positive reviews from ''NPR'',<ref name="NPR Cut">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/16/722783932/first-listen-petrol-girls-cut-stitch|title=Scream And Grow With Petrol Girls' Raging 'Cut & Stitch'|website=NPR|last=Gotrich|first=Lars|date=16 May 2019|accessdate=10 July 2019}}</ref> ''The Skinny'',<ref name="The Skinny Cut">{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/petrol-girls-cut-stitch|title=Petrol Girls – Cut & Stitch|website=The Skinny|last=Turner-Heffer|first=Adam|date=22 May 2019|accessdate=10 July 2019}}</ref> and ''Kerrang!''<ref name="K! Cut">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-petrol-girls-cut-stitch/|title=Album Review: Petrol Girls - Cut & Stitch|website=Kerrang!|last=Pearlman|first=Mischa|date=26 May 2019|accessdate=10 July 2019}}</ref> - who in June also called it 'one of the best albums of the year so far'.<ref name="K! Best">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/the-25-best-albums-of-2019-so-far/|title=The 25 Best Albums of the Year (So Far)|website=Kerrang!|date=13 June 2019|accessdate=10 July 2019}}</ref>
In July 2019 it emerged that Aldridge was one of several musicians being sued by singer/rapper Jonny "Itch" Fox, seeking aggravated damages and an injunction for alleged libel.<ref name="The Guardian Defamation">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jul/26/king-blues-singer-itch-jonny-fox-suing-five-women-over-sexual-predator-allegations|title=King Blues singer Jonny Fox suing five women over 'sexual predator' allegations|last1=Bowcott|first1=Owen|last2=Snapes|first2=Laura|date=26 July 2019|website=The Guardian|accessdate=7 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="The Metro Defamation">{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2017/10/18/group-who-reported-musicians-treatment-of-women-facing-defamation-case-7008900/|website=The Metro|title=Group who reported musician's 'treatment of women' facing defamation case|last=Wheaton|first=Oliver|date=18 October 2017|accessdate=7 November 2019}}</ref>
On 6 November 2019 Kuraitė posted a statement on Facebook stating she was going to leave the band by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Petrolgirls/posts/2587807374640136 |title=Petrol Girls - Hey, Liepa here. With a very heavy heart I... |website=Facebook.com |date= |accessdate=2020-06-01}}</ref>
On 8 March 2022 (International Women's Day) Petrol Girls released the single ''Fight For Our Lives'' featuring Janey Starling. Starling, formerly lead singer of the London band Dream Nails, works for the British feminist organisation Level Up. Ren Aldridge said of the song; "I directly referenced Janey’s Dignity for Dead Women Level Up campaign in the lyrics to this track. Through this campaign, she introduced media guidelines for reporting on femicide and fatal domestic abuse in the UK – this is huge, because media narratives that place blame on the victims of femicide and abuse and treat these murders as isolated incidents are part of the problem".<ref name="Kerrang! Fight">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/petrol-girls-and-janey-starling-release-fight-for-our-lives-on-international-womens-day|title=Petrol Girls and Janey Starling release Fight For Our Lives on International Women's Day|website=Kerrang!|first=Emily|last=Carter|date=8 March 2022|accessdate=31 March 2022}}</ref>
On 31 March 2022 the band announced their third album, ''Baby'', would be released on 24 June that year. It was recorded with new bassist Robin Gatt, also of Personal Best.<ref name="Kerrang! Baby"/>
On 27 June 2022 an article penned by Aldridge was published by ''Kerrang!'' about the overturning of Roe V Wade in the US, restrictions on abortion in Europe, the requirement for Doctor's approval in the UK, and ways to counter state encroachment on bodily autonomy.<ref name="Kerrang Abortion">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/abortion-bans-are-an-all-out-war-on-women-and-anyone-with-a-uterus|website=Kerrang!|first=Ren|last=Aldridge|title="Abortion bans are an all-out war on women and anyone with a uterus"|date=27 June 2022|accessdate=29 June 2022}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Talk of Violence'' - Bomber Music, 12-inch LP, CD, MP3 (2016)<ref name="The Independent"/><ref name="Kerrang News"/> *''Cut & Stitch'' - Hassle Records, 12-inch LP, CD, MP3 (2019)<ref name="Stereoboard The Sound">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/222834/9|title=Petrol Girls Announce New Album 'Cut And Stitch', Announce UK And European Dates|website=Stereoboard|date=14 March 2019|accessdate=14 March 2019|last=Payne|first=Helen}}</ref> *''Baby'' - Hassle Records, 12-inch LP, CD, MP3 (2022)<ref name="Kerrang! Baby">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/petrol-girls-announce-third-album-baby-share-new-single-clowns|title=Petrol Girls announce third album Baby, share new single Clowns|first=Emily|last=Carter|date=31 March 2022|accessdate=31 March 2022|website=Kerrang!}}</ref>
===EPs=== *''Petrol Girls'' - Self Released, 7-inch EP, MP3 (2014) *''Some Thing'' - Laser Life Records (EU) / Panic State Records (USA), 7-inch EP, CD, MP3 (2016)<ref name="Noisey" /> *''The Future Is Dark'' - Hassle Records, 12-inch EP, MP3 (2018)
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://petrolgirls.com/ Official website] * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/4461065-Petrol-Girls Petrol Girls on Discogs]
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Category:Underground punk scene in the United Kingdom Category:Musical groups established in 2012 Category:English punk rock groups Category:2012 establishments in England Category:British feminist musicians Category:English feminists Category:Female-fronted musical groups Category:British women punk rock singers Category:English women rock singers Category:Feminist punk bands Category:Punk rock groups from London