On the 15th of July 2007 at 10:28 pm (GMT) we lost one of our most dearest friends Kelly Johnson to cancer of the spine. One year to this date at exactly 10:28 pm (GMT) on the 15th of July we will be lighting a candle and giving 5 minutes of silence in fondest memories of her. If any of you out there would like to join in by lighting a candle then go ahead and do it...

Cheers you lot!!!

20-6-58 - 15-7-07 - R.I.P.

http://myspace.com/kellyjohnsontributepage

THE SISTERS OF MOTORHEAD ON CRUSADE

The story of GIRLSCHOOL began during 1977 in South London, where school chums Kim McAuliffe (vocals/guitar) and Enid Williams (bass) started an all-female band by the name of PAINTED LADY. They played at school parties mainly for fun, but very soon things started to become more serious. In March 1978 PAINTED LADY was metamorphosed into GIRLSCHOOL, when guitarist Kelly Johnson and drummer Denise Dufort joined the band. Within just a month of being together, the girls hit the road, sending hot rock gravel in all directions as they played a vast number of small venues in the UK and also on the continent. In January '79 their first single "Take It All Away" was a fact (released on the independent label City Records), which gained the attention of MOTORHEAD's manager Doug Smith. He signed the band up on a management/publishing deal and put them out as a support to Lemmy's legion on the "Overkill" tour during March/April of '79, which the girls handled exceptionally well. This excursion was followed by further gigging with 'name acts' like BUDGIE and WILD HORSES, before in December a record deal was struck with Bronze and their debut release "Demolition" exploded onto the scene. The well-known single "Race With The Devil" hit the charts in England. The girls also colloborate with MOTORHEAD on the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" EP, which saw them gain a real foothold within the rock hierachy. In 1981 the album "Hit And Run" saw the light and the band toured as a support for RAINBOW in Europe. Then in '82 bassist Enid Williams left the band and her replacement, Gil Weston-Jones, was first to be heard on the "Screaming Blue Murder" album. In November '83 after the release of  the "Play Dirty" album guitarist Kelly Johnson left the band in an insecure position for many years. But in 1992 the band reassembled for a surprisingly gritty album "Girlschool" and announced in 1993 that they would be touring with original guitarist Kelly Johnson and they kept their promise!
In April '95 the girls were in Holland for a few gigs and played one support show with SAXON in Zwolle (IJsselhal). METAL MAIDENS took the opportunity to speak to the four girls in their dressing room and investigated what's going on nowadays in the school camp......

Everybody is very curious to know, what made you decide to return to GIRLSCHOOL after your departure in 1984?
Kelly: "We've been talking about it for a couple of years actually. Finally I said yeah, what the hell, 'cos I really missed them. We were on the phone all the time anyway, so. I missed my friends, I missed doing what we used to do".
Did you do anything in between?
Kelly: "Yeah, I was living in Los Angeles for ten years. After I quit the band, I moved to LA and I was in a band for a short while, for two years with Kathy Valentine of the GO-GO's. I was also doing completely other things before and after that project. About two years ago we agreed let's do it again and get the old line-up back together and reformed".
Did you accomplish what you hoped for when you started the band?
Denise: "When we first started the band, I don't think we realized how successful we we're gonna be. The main thing we wanted to do, when we first got together, was actually make a record. After we made our first single, Take It All Away on

City Records it was like OK now we want to make an album and we made our first album. Then it went gold and got into all the charts".
Kim: "I don't think any band is that satisfied. You could ask any band. They'll all probably say no! They're always thinking about the future, always want more or wanna be bigger".
Maybe it's harder, because you are girls?
Kim: "I think it's harder in the long run to be accepted, but we don't have any problems with that. We rock as hard (or harder) as any male band!"
You've been playing with many famous names throughout the years (RAINBOW, MOTORHEAD, SAXON, RUSH, etc). From which band did you learn most as supporting act?
Denise: "We learned how to have a good time and to get drunk, but you don't want to know that!" (laughing)
Kim: "I think probably we would say MOTORHEAD, 'cos they were the first ones. We've never been onto a big tour before them, so it was already a great experience for us. We were very young at that point and it was like our first taste of playing before a big audience. It was all very new to us at that time. I guess, you could call it a learning experience!"
And now you're back for the second time on tour with SAXON.
Denise: "Well, we've only ever played once with SAXON and that was in Leeds, Leeds Castle. That was the only gig we did with them, actually. We've never really toured with them".
Kim: "We bumped into them in America, when we were on the IRON MAIDEN tour. We also know them through the MOTORHEAD gang, 'cos they were MOTORHEAD's second supporting band next to us. So we go on way back. Actually, we're playing a gig with them in London in May (May 31 at the London Marquee Club) as their special guests".
Why did we have to wait so long before hearing from you again?
Kim: "Basically we've been touring everywhere. This tour just came up. We haven't even got an album out or anything. We were offered to support SAXON at this gig and then we got more little club dates around it. We thought it's only fun. Just for five days, five gigs, come over and tour around".
Denise: "I like Holland and I haven't been playing over here for years! Last time was 1982 or something (with RAINBOW)".
Kim: "Besides, we've only been reformed just recently and seriously for the past eight years, so we haven't really been looking to tour. Further we've been waiting to record our first 'live" album. It's been recorded at Wokingham, Phoenix Plaza on March 22, 1995, but it got put off. When this finally gets released, which should be August or Autumn at the best, we'll probably tour on that. We're gonna do an European tour and some things". Also in Holland again, if they want us".
Do you already have plans for a regular, studio CD?
Kim: "No, not at the moment, but maybe later on this year. We did write a few new songs, u.w. "Little Green Men" (heard in the set in Zwolle) and a track, called "Give Some Love, Give Some Knife".
Any other future plans?
Kim: "We might be going to Brazil and Malta in June. We've never played there before. We might do a few more shows in America as well".
Which female bands do you reckon are important at the moment?
Kelly: "Well, there's ELASTICA (three women and a male drummer), who came right into the British charts at number one. They're a new wave-ish band from Britain. Also the GO-GO's have recently reformed. We got to see them in London a few weeks ago".
Kim: "It really shouldn't matter, whether you're a boy or a girl. As long as you have good songs and can play".

Interview by: Rita van Poorten/courtesy of Metal Maidens '95.

http://www.metalmaidens.com/home.htm 

(Updated by Denise Dufort 2008)

http://myspace.com/denisedufort

Discography GIRLSCHOOL:
*Demolition (Bronze '80)
*Hit And Run (Bronze '81)
*Screaming Blue Murder (Bronze '82)
*Play Dirty (Bronze '83)
*Running Wild (Mercury '85)
*Nightmare At Maple Cross (Roadrunner '86)
*Take A Bite (Roadrunner '88)
*Girlschool (Communique '92)
*Girlschool Live (Communique '95)
*King Biscuit Flower Hour presents Girlschool (BMG '97)

*21st Anniversary Not That Innocent (Comminique '2000)

* Believe (Comminqui '2004)

Compilation albums:
*Race With The Devil (Raw Power '86)
*Cheers You Lot (Razor '89)
*The Collection (Castle '91)
*C'mon Let's Go (Marble Arch '94)
*The Best Of Girlschool (Dojo '94)
*From The Vaults (Sequel '94)

I'm not very good with words, but I wanted to post a little tribute to Kelly:

I'm sitting here trying to type how I'm feeling and it seems to come out all wrong.  Words just can't describe the loss I feel after learning of Kelly's passing away from cancer last Sunday. 

Kelly and Girlschool have been a big part of my life.  I remember back in the day sitting with my Les Paul in front of my record player speakers, trying to copy her amazing solos.  I was inspired!  I had to know more about Kelly and Girlschool so I collected all I could find on the band.  There was a little record shop called "The Record Vault" where I lived in San Francisco and they fed my hunger for Girlschool's music and posters, patches, buttons and well, you name it, I bought it.  When I heard they were coming to the SF Bay Area I bought tickets for all the shows.  They were absolutely the best concerts I have ever seen and I always got to the venue early so I could be at the front of the stage standing in front of Kelly to watch her guitar playing.  I was very fortunate to have met her after one of those amazing shows and she was so sweet to talk to.  We talked guitars and she signed a paper I had in my leather jacket.  My friend took a photo of us together and I remember driving home thinking I was the luckiest person on the planet!

When Kelly left the band and moved to Los Angeles I wrote to her and enclosed the photo of us backstage.  She wrote me back and I was thrilled! Another letter followed and at this point I considered her a friend.  She was just one of the nicest people you would ever want to know and she was so down to earth and sweet. 

Kelly's influence has a lot to do with who I am today.  When I heard she was sick my heart sank.  When I heard she had passed away my heart broke and she took it with her.  "Kelly, this is for you.  Thanks you for taking me from fan to your friend.  Thank you for your music which inspires me to this day and thank you for being "real" and authentic.  You were the real deal and I hope you know how much you mean to me.  Rock on, Kelly.  Rest in peace and God Bless.

http://www.myspace.com/suerodger

Members of GIRLSCHOOL perform at Tribute gig Aug 20th 2007

U.K.-based music journalist Dave Ling has issued the following report on the tribute to late GIRLSCHOOL guitarist Kelly Johnson which was held on August 20 at the Rock N Roll Kabaret at the Soho Revue Bar in London, England:

"[Monday] night I visited London's Soho Revue Bar for a tribute event to honour ex-GIRLSCHOOL guitarist Kelly Johnson, who passed away last month. Billed as 'Rock 'N' Roll Kabaret In Sound & Vision' it was a pretty diverse evening, guests of honour being Kelly's parents and her two brothers. Various industry peeps gathered to watch a female violinist in impossibly tight spandex strides and a revolving cast of musicians that included ex-GIRLSCHOOL/ROCK GODDESS bassist Tracey Lamb's current group, ROCK 'N' ROLL GYPSIES. Although I was avoiding alcohol, most people seemed to be drinking one of Kelly's favourite drinks, Tennessee Rush (Jack Daniel's with cranberry juice). Spend a chunk of the soiree gossiping with Dave Lights of IRON MAIDEN (now UFO) fame, also to Krusher Joule, and with various colourful characters like Max Splodge present the vibe was very pleasant... Kim McAuliffe told me that Johnson would definitely have approved. With the clock ticking towards midnight, GIRLSCHOOOL finally took to the stage, Lamb deputising for the absent Enid Williams. Despite promising to keep things short and sweet we got seven songs: 'Mad Mad Sister', 'Hit And Run', 'Screaming Blue Murder' (featuring a guest appearance from ex-guitarist Cris Bonacci), 'Future Flash', 'Race With The Devil', 'Emergency' (with boozing buddy Beki Bondage from VICE SQUAD on vocals) and a rousing finale of 'Take It All Away', before an emotional McAuliffe closed proceedings with a tearful tribute to her fallen band-mate. RIP, Kelly."

Kelly Johnson passed away on July 15 after a six-year battle with cancer of the spine. Along with Johnson, the classic lineup of GIRLSCHOOL included Kim McAuliffe (guitar), Enid Williams (bass) and Denise Dufort (drums). The band was an integral and major force in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement, beginning with the release of its debut album, "Demolition" (1980), and continuing with the follow-up efforts, "Hit 'n' Run" (1981) and "Screaming Blue Murder" (1982).

Johnson originally left GIRLSCHOOL in 1984 after recording the band's fourth album, "Play Dirty", and moved to Los Angeles where she lived for the next 10 years. She rejoined GIRLSCHOOL in 1993 and moved back to the U.K. From 1993 until 2000 Kelly, Kim, Denise and Tracey Lamb toured Europe and the USA and recorded a live album in March 1995. Kelly decided to quit the music business for good in 2000 after recording her final album with GIRLSCHOOL, 21st Anniversary" (2001). NOT THAT INNOCENT''

Official Website

www.girlschool.co.uk

Official girlschool pages

http://www.myspace.com/girlschool1 

http://www.myspace.com/girlschoolrock

http://www.myspace.com/kimmcauliffe

http://www.myspace.com/enidwilliams

http://www.myspace.com/denisedufort

http://www.myspace.com/jackiechambersuk 

http://www.myspace.com/craigrk77  

EMERGENCY



SCREAMING BLUE MURDER

REVIEW FROM KOMODO ROCK.

Videos of Mat Sargents Sex Drugs & HIV Project Featuring Kelly...

www.myspace.com/rocknrollgypsies

www.myspace.com/traceylambturner

THE DEATH OF AN ICON

The day I met Kelly Johnson was the best day of my life.
It's not too often that someone gets to meet that one person who they have looked up to since they were a little kid.
Since I was 9 years old I have had her posters on my wall and have been obsessed with Girlschool ever since my father bought me the album Screaming Blue Murder in 1982 after seeing it's cover photo flipping through the "G" bin looking for Go Go's albums.
There is no other guitar player that comes close to Kelly Johnson in my eyes.
Not Page, not Rhoads, not even Hendrix. To me, she cannot and never will be topped.

I had the honor of knowing Kelly and we hung out in Los Angeles in 2004.
Girlschool was doing a small American tour and along with a mutual friend of ours, I had a chance to go with her (and now GS guitarist Jackie), to dinner.
Steve and I, staying at the Sunset Marquee in downtown Hollywood, were going to pick up Jax and Kelly in the car at their hotel downtown and drive down to Huntington Beach where our buddy Fredie lived.
This was the first time meeting the girls and I had to make the call to tell them we were on our way.
I remember hoping that Jackie would pick up the phone, as I've conversed with her so many times that I felt like I already knew her and felt comfortable speaking with her.
On the way down, I pick up the cell phone and call as Steve informs me that my hands were shaking.
The phone rings.
"Hello, is this Johnny"?
"Yeah hey! Is this Jackie"? I reply.
"Nope it's Kelly" she says, "It's so nice to finally talk to you Johnny, I've heard so much about you"!
The next few minutes talking were a blur.
I was talking on the telephone to someone I highly looked up to since I was 9 years old and they were about to get into our car for an hour long drive to Huntington Beach in a matter of minutes.
I must have muttered something about how "we were just around the corner and we'll see you very soon" and that it was great talking to her too, trying to keep my composure.
As I hang up the phone, Steve now informs me, along with my shaking hands, that I was now nervously picking at the hole in my ripped jeans. I felt (and no doubt looked) like a little kid.
We pull into the hotel and I see Jackie outside packing up a bag ready to head out.
I couldn't think about getting out of the car so because of my nerves, I just did.
Jackie seen me walking over to the hotel room and outstretched her arms;
"Johnny! So great to meet you finally"! she says.
As I turn the corner of the room, my heart pounds out of my chest as Kelly stands up from the bed and greets me with a big hug.
This was Kelly Fucking Johnson man.
THE KELLY JOHNSON; the one woman whose guitar riffs single-handedly transformed a 9 year old boy into a metalhead.
We all get in the car for the trek to Fredie's. To be honest, I don't recall what was said too much.
I silently laughed at the fact that the glove compartment was completely full of Girlschool CD's (as that's all I listened to in LA in the car) and I thought to myself, "how strange it would be to put a CD in with the girls themselves in the backseat". I refrained though.
At Fredie's house, we have some wine, have dinner, drink some absinthe and just chat.
At one point we all head up to Fredie's guitar room and they all jam a bit.
Kelly starts to play the opening of Future Flash on one of the guitars (complete with vocals!) and then cuts in briefly a few riffs of Don't Call It Love. I'm standing there in awe. I can't believe it. I've only ever heard her play these on vinyl or CD and here she was playing it in a small room in front of me.
Suddenly I felt as if I was a little kid again with a sneered lip, laying on my bed, the speakers of my stereo loudly set up against each ear, staring at the Girlschool album covers that graced my wall, ordering and demanding my mother to come into my room and LISTEN TO THIS GUITAR!!!!.

Kelly then turned to me and nodded to me to go have a smoke on the patio, so with Jackie and Fredie still jamming, Kelly and I go outside and have a cigarette.
This was the moment that I can honestly say was the best moment in my life.
I was sitting there alone with Kelly Johnson just…well…chatting.
At one moment I remember that I suddenly didn't view her as an "idol" anymore but as a friend.
Kelly had a way about her that made you feel extremely comfortable, even for me, who had idolized her at such a young age. She was no longer the "rock star" to me and I felt extremely comfortable to be in her presence.
The rest of the night was spent drinking some more, taking a few photos and just chatting. Even Steve mentioned that he felt like we were in the company of old friends. Jackie and Kelly (Fredie and the rest of Girlschool too) had a habit of making you feel like that and anyone who has ever met them knows exactly what I'm talking about.
At the end of the night, we drive back into Hollywood.
On the way there, two cars from behind are racing one another at top speed and narrowly miss us by a matter of a couple feet. One car goes up over a steep hill and crashes brutally and the other crashes into the guardrail with such force it rips the entire front end off his car.
We're all pretty shaken (although I must admit the words "speeding down the motorway, let slow life pass us by" creeped into my head) but we finally end up at the destination and drop the girls off at their hotel.
Girlschool were playing a USA gig at The Knitting Factory the next night.
Getting out of the car, again Kelly gives me a big hug, tells me how great it was to finally meet me and says to give a call and that we'll see them tomorrow night.
Steve and I get back to the hotel and he asks me how my night was.
In a drunken haze, with tears in my eyes, I tell him that it was the best night of my life.

The next day we see the girls on Melrose Avenue while we're stopped at a red light with their webmaster Craig. This time I also get to meet Enid, Kim and Denise.
We ask them about soundcheck before the show and say we'll come down.
The rest of the day we headed down to soundcheck and I get to finally hear Girlschool live after over 15 years. The entire band was friendly, down to earth and the coolest women I have ever met in my life.
We go home and get ready for the show.

That night we get to the Knitting Factory, we hang out backstage before the show and I get to talk a little more with Enid and get to meet Simon Wright (ex-AC/DC) and Phil Taylor from Motorhead.
Girlschool naturally ends up blowing the Knitting Factory sky high with one hell of an explosive gig. Fredie and I, standing to the side of the stage with Kelly, convince her to get up for the encore of Take It All Away, and damn....there she was. The entire crowd went insane and the cheers of respect were deafening the moment she stepped on stage, with Kim handing her own guitar over to Kel. I was seeing her live after over 15 years of waiting, with the ORIGINAL Girlschool linup together again and she tore the house up.
I felt honored that Kim mentioned my name on stage too. Thanks Kim, that was something I'll never forget. 
After the gig, it was backstage for a couple more drinks and then back to Girlschool's hotel for even more drinks. I ended up taking off home early though as I didn't eat all day and was extremely drunk and was feeling very sick. The girls had a gig in another city the next day so I say goodbye and we get a lift from DJ Will of knac.com back to the hotel. I crawled into the hotel at around 6 in the morning.
I remember sitting at the hotel's diner with everyone, feeling nauseas, and Kelly made it a point to see if I was okay with a hand on my shoulder, offering me some water. That's the kind of person she was; a GENUINELY GOOD AND CARING PERSON which is such a rarity in this day and age.

The Los Angeles/Girlschool experience was something that I will never forget as long as I live.
I'm sure it sounds a little crazy to most, but you have to understand that it was essentially, a little kids dream come true as I was only 9 years old in 1982, missing the partying early 80s by mere years. The entire time I was with them though, it was almost like I felt like a kid again rocking out to the Hit & Run album in my bedroom or being a teenager excited by getting my first Girlschool tattoo; their old logo; on my shoulder.
I don't think any of the girls fully realize what that those two nights meant to me.
Especially Kelly.
They say to never meet your idols because you'll always, at some point, in some way, be disappointed because it's impossible for them to live up the expectations you put on them and how you see them.
This was not the case with Kelly Johnson.
She was everything I expected and so much more.
Beautiful both inside and out, caring and very friendly. No rock star ego whatsoever but had a demeanor and stance of PURE ROCKER.
She was and IS an angel in the truest form.  

I'm very sad to say that Kelly past away last night after a long battle with spinal cancer. I woke up, logged on and there it was. I instantly felt as if I had been stabbed in the heart. We were going to hang out again when I went over to the UK, have drinks and talk about writing, something she and myself have a big love for. I remember we got really excited talking about the books we were writing out on the patio that night at Fredie's and how she had such passion and fire talking about her projects.

I'm sickened by this and although we only had a chance to meet once and chatted through series of emails back and forth to one another, I feel as though I lost a good friend because that's the way she made you feel. I hope that every rocker in the industry and every Girlschool fan on earth is raising a glass to you tonight because if anyone deserves a worldwide standing ovation, it's you.

I would like to hope that Kelly knew the impact she had on me not only as a child but also those two simple nights in Hollywood. When I showed my 76 year old mother the photos we took in LA, she started crying because she knew, after all these years, what it meant to me.
I really hope Kelly knew too.

Kelly Johnson, you are a true legend and I will never forget you.
You redefined the music industry single-handedly and changed the way the public looked at females in rock and roll. It was because of you that bands like The Donnas, Courtney Love and countless others are where they are today. You held the torch, lead the way, were the original guitar goddess and you will never be topped.
Not to mention you left behind a legacy of brilliant music that cannot be equaled and single-handedly changed my life in 1982 with the first riff of Screaming Blue Murder.
You have a permanent place in my heart and I will always cherish that time on the patio, when it was just the two of us, having that cigarette with you.
Thank you for what you said to me that night. You know what it was and I will hold onto it forever.
Steve and I both love you very much.
My next tattoo will be a tribute to you as you inadvertently changed my life by simply BEING YOU.
You will always be my number one.
I'm really going to miss you beautiful.

Love and utmost respect,
Your friend,
Johnny.

..>..> ..> ...>..>..>

KELLYS EULOGY WRITTEN AND READ BY TRACEY LAMB It doesn't shock or surprise me that there are so many of you here today for Kelly because Kelly touched all of our hearts with her love, friendship, her amazing persona and the way she inspired so many of us to take up or continue to play music. She was a true rock star, her agility on stage and when recording, her prolific song writing and strong delivery in every performance will always be remembered. Throughout my life I've always met people who have disliked someone but Kelly is an exception to the rule, everyone that met Kelly, even outside the music industry fell in love with her because of all these qualities and more. Kelly was a humanitarian, a sincere believer in animal rights and always cared for the environment Kelly was a special person to a great many people. She probably didn't even realize the kind of effect she had on so many people's lives over the years until something like what she's been through inspired well-wishers to come forward and share their innermost thoughts. You have been a dear friend to us all Kelly. We've heard from countless friends and admirers from different connections that formed the web of your life who all share the profound impact you've had on them. You've been a bright beacon that stands strong for what is really important in life... family, friends, loved ones, your fans, planet earth and animal rights. Most of us gathered here in Kelly's memory could provide testimonies of how special she was in their lives. I'm sure you could all give countless examples of how her unique blend of honesty, responsibility, compassion, fairness, down to earth sense of humour and genuine interest in each of us has made a difference in all of our lives. All of us will feel the loss of Kelly in many ways. All of us here today are trying to cope with a very complicated set of feelings that marry the joy and pride of having known Kelly, with the pain that comes with the reality that she is gone from our lives. But Kelly is now free from the pain and torment of the terrible disease that turned her life upside down and inside out. She's now in a place where peace, love and joy far surpass the best that our world has to offer, and Kelly you deserve every last bit of it! In her battle against cancer over the last six years Kelly amazed all of us, she was a true warrior and fought with a super-human effort, never losing her drive, ambition or passion to survive the living nightmare she faced everyday. She also did this with grace and dignity. We can't tell you how many of the wonderful health care professionals at the trinity hospice who have commented about what an extraordinary woman Kelly was. They had never seen anything like it and she was an inspiration for them. Another friend Monique from Germany told me of one of the Lakota Sioux Indians beliefs that gave me comfort when the waves of grief hit me. I hope it also comforts you………………… Nobody goes forever – it's a circle of energy and power. Kelly just went back to the stars…..where she came from   I will now recite a poem on behalf of Kelly's family, the Girlschool clan, and loved ones who were there for Kelly throughout her illness and demise. It's called………….  The Gift Of Knowing You There are gifts of many treasures For both the young and old, From the tiniest little trinkets To great boxes filled with gold. But, put them all together And they could not stand in lieu, Of the greatest gift of all The gift of knowing you. When your times are filled with troubles Sadness, grief, and doubt, When all those things you planned on Just aren't turning out. Just turn and look behind you From the place at which you stand, And look for me through the shadows And reach out for my hand. I will lift from you your burden And cry for you your tears, Bear the pain of all your sorrows And stand to face your fears For in the end I would be happy To have helped you start anew, It's a small price to pay For the gift of knowing you.   REST IN PEACE KELLY JOHNSON WE ALL LOVE YOU

it is with extreme sadness to tell you that Kelly Johnson, original member of Girlschool and our best friend has passed away on Sunday the 15th of July after fighting a 6 year battle with cancer of the spine.

WE LOVE YOU, R.I.P