Welcome to the OFFICIAL home of UK hard rock glam heroes GIRL who incredibly were only active from late 1978 - until Christmas 1982 but are still much in evidence in 2007. In fact more so now than at any time in the last 25 years.
The band was formed in late 1978 in Amsterdam (it's where the best drugs were) by PHILIP LEWIS on vocals (now singer of LA Guns) and GERRY LAFFY on guitar (later London Cowboys, Sheer Greed, Ultravox, John Taylor) they were soon joined by (via a Melody Maker ad for 'A Peroxide Guitarist wanted) PHIL COLLEN on (trail blazing) lead guitar (now Def Leppard) and 2 Irish guys Mark Megaray and Dave Gaynor. The band landed a record deal with Jet Records (home of Ozzy Osbourne, Magnum, ELO, Humble Pie & Gary Moore) within six months in the Spring 1979 by way of 5 songs and a home made style pop video costing £100 (featured on the Rarer Girl DVD). Soon after signing thier contract a single My Number released in October 1979 to widespread critical acclaim. The song was named from the time when they only had 2 'proper songs' Phil's song and 'My Number' as written by Gerry to denote his track of the two songs. After this session they soon replaced Mark on bass with Gerry's brother Simon and went on tour across Europe and UK with UFO.
Early in 1980 their debut abum was released entitled SHEER GREED...it was well received by the press, but less so by the hoards of (NWBHM) heavy metal fans across the UK that saw the band play live on the Europe and extensive UK tours with rockers (and now mentors UFO). However Sheer Greed got to 33 on the UK charts, bubbled under the charts in Europe and was a hit album in several Far Eastern territories. They also attracted a large international female following, fairly unusual then for a heavy rock band at that time, but these guys were cute as well as being a fiery and talented rock band. By the end of 1980 Pete Barnacle (later of Gillan, Spear of Destiny, Yngwie Malmsteen) replaced drummer Dave Gaynor. This was to be the definitive GIRL line up. Incredibly, considering their legacy, Girl only release 2 albums while still together; 'Sheer Greed' in 1980 (top 40 in UK & Germany, No.1 in Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong) and a disappointing 'Wasted Youth' in 1982.
After 3 years of bad management and precious little record company A&R, absence of any decent producer and copious amounts of heroin and cocaine the band finally ground to a halt in December of 1982. Phil Collen left first to join Def Leppard just as their rocket took off in 1983, Philip Lewis went to Torme, with ex Gillan guitarist Bernie Torme, Gerry Laffy shipped off to Australia to make a film (he managed film director for the next 15 years) Simon Laffy to New York to join The Green, Pete Barnacle toured France with their biggest rock star. BOOM, it was all over...but the myth and the influence never died.
Many say that Girl was lifted right off the rack by many imitators such as Poison, Ratt, Motley Crue, Cinderella and even Guns & Roses, for sure many rock stars site GIRL as an influence. It is often said that GIRL, HANOI ROCKS & JAPAN bridged the gap between the Ziggy era and the multi-platinum heavy rock 'big hair' days of the mid 80's...probably true, all we know is that 17 years after album 2, in 1999 Killing Time (the unreleased 3rd album) was finally released due to public demand and the 'GIRL Live at the Marquee', 'GIRL Live in Osaka' albums soon followed. As their catalogue still sold by 2001 a 37 track Anthology album called 'My Number' put out on Sanctuary Records. Quite a resurgence for a band 'everyone loved to hate'.
Although all 6 Girl albums are still occassionally available to buy online and in select rock stores the first 2 GIRL albums are to be re-released in Spring 2007 as special editions by Rock Candy Records with special features such as several demo's and sleeve notes by Gerry Laffy and Dave Ling* (also see his 3 page feature on GIRL in March 2006 Classic Rock magazine*)
GIRL 2007
New product: A new Live Original Line Up Tokyo 1980 Bootleg album is a free gift when you buy the GIRL - SHEER GREED - GERRY LAFFY RARE DVD featuring GIRL music videos, the demo's that got them signed, TV appearances and both Gerry Laffy and his 1990's band (with other Girl members) Sheer Greed. (The DVD is available via this site, and on the Gerry Laffy site too) ~ There are 2 Girl T shirts, one with just the logo in red and yellow, and another with the logo and 4 principle members. With the T shirts there is also a free gift CDR of Girl Live in UK in 1982. 14 tracks including 4 demos from the 3rd album (Killing Time).
Bands who's members have claimed to have been influenced by GIRL are Pearl Jam, Cinderella, Guns & Roses, LA Guns, Lillian Axe, Hanoi Rocks and many others. There are a couple of 'tribute' acts and Girl influenced bands Sheer Greed and BadGirls have released albums that are out there somewhere.
GIRL DISCOGRAPHY
1. Sheer Greed 1980
2. Wasted Youth 1982
3. Killing Time ( recorded in 1982 but *finally released) 1999
4. Live at the Marquee(*r) 1999
5. Live At The Exposition Hall, Osaka, Japan (*r)
6. My Number: The Anthology 2001
7. The Rare DVD Collection 2006
8. The Original Line Up BOOTLEGS (Japan 1980 & bonus 1982 trax)
9. Girl - The Rarities Collection - (recorded mainly at The Paris Theatre London 1980 and pre 1980 demos - This is an unofficial release).
10. The Original Line up BOOTLEGS (Hammersmith Odeon & Liverpool Empire 1982, with 4 demo trax)
SINGLES:
1. My Number
2. Hollywood Tease
3. Do You Love Me
4. Love Is A Game
5. Thru The Twilite,
6. Old Dogs
Online Now!
Do you think 
