The History of the Girl Group
We celebrate all things sisterhood with the definitive history of the girl group, from the 1930s to the future. All hail the original and the best Girl Bands!
Rex Features1930s – The Boswell Sisters
Sixty years before the nation gasped at the beauty of The Corr sisters, New Orleans siblings Martha, Connee and Helvetia had the brunette, ethereal look down to a tee. The vocal harmony trio notched up a whopping 20 hits during the 1930s, including Rock n Roll and Shout, Sister, Shout. Girl Power, non?
Signature Track: Shout, Sister, Shout
PA Photos1930s – The Andrews Sisters
Sisters LaVerne, Maxine and Patricia formed this highly successful vocal harmony group when little Patty was just seven. One of the most successful girl groups of all time, they sold over 75million records worldwide and have 17 Hollywood movies under their cinched belts. Their sweet melange of swing and boogie woogie blues is still influential today, with stars like Christina Aguilera covering their harmonies. Patty, the last remaning Andrews sister, died on 30 January 2013, aged 94.
Signature Track: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Getty Images1940s – The Carter Sisters
Maybelle Carter formed this pop-gospel act during World War II with her daughters Helen, June and Anita – aged 16, 14 and 10 respectively. It is widely reported that June struggled with her vocal pitch, and so the witty teen focused more on providing a comedic addition to the band. Not that that stopped her. When the group joined Johnny Cash on tour in the early 60s, June went on to duet with The Man In Black on many a’ successful ditty. The two fell in love, married, and were together for the rest of her life.
Signature Track: Keep On The Sunny Side
Getty Images1950s – The Shirelles
Discovered in 1957 at their school talent show, these four female friends’ then-unique brand of du wop pop earned them hit after hit throughout the early 60s, including the classic Will You Love Me Tomorrow, which – when you consider the lyrical content – was probably pretty risqué at the time. You go, girls!
Signature Track: Mama Said
Rex Features1960s – The Ronettes
As well as giving the world one of the coolest Christmas ditties EVER with Sleigh Ride, these epically-coiffed divas’ single Be My Baby comprises the opening sequence to Dirty Dancing! Oh, and after becoming chummy with The Beatles in 1964, Ronnie and Estelle dated John Lennon and George Harrison. Which is awesome. And pretty much made them the Appletons of their era.
Signature Track: Be My Baby
Rex Features1960s - The Supremes
The most successful American vocal group of all time, the Diana Ross-fronted Supremes even rivalled The Beatles for worldwide popularity during their mid-60s heyday with hits like Baby Love, Stop! In The Name Of Love and You Keep Me Hanging On. However, reports of in-group rivalry were rife and, when their name was changed to Diana Ross & The Supremes in 1967, member Florence Ballard’s drinking and subsequent behaviour spiralled out of the control. She was ‘released’ from Motown Records in 1968 and, after an unsuccessful attempt to sue them, sadly sank into poverty and died aged 32. Diana left the group in 1970, going on to have a total of 24 albums and 90 singles chart in the UK and US.
Signature Track: You Can’t Hurry Love
PA Photos1970s - The Three Degrees
Despite forming in 1963, a hit record eluded the group until 1974, when When Will I See You Again propelled them into the mainstream, selling over 2million copies worldwide. Forty years later, the group is still performing and making music today, although with numerous line-up changes and fifteen members so far, it’s safe to say they were the Sugababes of their generation.
Signature Track: When Will I See You Again
Getty Images1970s - The Runaways
The world’s first all-girl rock band to truly make it. These feisty, foxy teens rocked their native Los Angeles and the airways throughout the 70s with explosive tracks such as I Love Playing With Fire. Their short recording life as a band – notably due to bust-ups and drug abuse - led to further chart success for founding member Joan Jett, who went on to rock with The Blackhearts, belting out hits such as classic I Love Rock n Roll. Meanwhile, Lita Ford became rock’s number one pin-up girl. The story of their career was made into the 2010 Hollywood movie The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart as Joan, and Dakota Fanning as troubled lead singer Cherie Currie.
Signature Track: Cherry Bomb
Rex Features1970s – The Slits
The Slits were born when members of early punk bands The Flowers Of Romance and The Castrators (yes, really) broke free and formed a new punk super-group in ’76 – becoming the definitive female force of the scene. Line-up changes were continuous, but founding member Ari Up (the step-daughter of Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten) remained constant until her untimely death from cancer in 2010. The group supported fellow punk-rockers The Clash on their infamous White Riot tour in 1977, along with the Buzzcocks, making them an integral part of British punk history. Their blend of raw and mischievous energy with scratchy guitars, reggae rhythm and biting lyrics make them a must-hear for the uninformed.
Signature Track: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Getty Images1970s – Girlschool
Often cited as Britain’s most successful, not to mention longest running, girl rock band, Girlschool rode the New Wave Of British Heavy metal in the late 70s, early 80s after being ‘discovered’ and nurtured by rock legend Lemmy of Motörhead. Tracks like Hit And Run, coupled with some pretty impressive mullets and sprayed-on leather, cemented their place in the UK Rock Hall Of Fame.
Signature Track: Hit and Run
Getty Images1980s - The Go-Gos
Despite never really ‘taking off’ here in Blighty, this all-girl rock group stormed the charts Stateside, with their debut album nabbing that elusive top-spot in the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks. They even made history, as the first all-chick band that wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to accomplish such a feat. Flamed-haired Go-Go graduate Belinda Carlisle went on to enjoy massive chart success worldwide, and there isn’t a person over the age of 30 alive, we’re confident, who doesn’t know the words to Heaven Is A Place On Earth. Somewhat shamefully.
Signature Track: We’ve Got The Beat
Rex Features1980s – Bananarama
Founded in London by school pals Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin, the group belted out hit after hit in the 80s, selling over 40million records worldwide and holding the Guinness World Record for the most hits by an all-girl group. By ’88, Fahey had left the band to form Shakespears Sister, but the ‘Rama’s legacy remains. We wholeheartedly believe there isn’t a girls’ night out to date that hasn’t ended with a drunken, painstakingly poor rendition of Venus. And Guilty. And possibly even Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.
Signature Track: Venus
Rex Features1980s - The Bangles
This vocal harmony quartet achieved worldwide success when diminutive popstral Prince* penned Manic Monday for them. Walk Like An Egyptian followed, before epic ballad Eternal Flame firmly cemented their place in our girl group Hall Of Fame. They disbanded shortly after “working relationships broke down”. That old chestnut, eh? But we’ll always remember them fondly for their big hair, bigger voices, and an inexplicable penchant for shoulder pads.
Signature Track: Eternal Flame
Getty Images1980s - Salt-n-Pepa
This bad-ass, New York hip-hop trio (yes, trio – everyone always forgets the shrewdly-named third member, DJ Spinderella) were close to being dropped before they released the funk-tastic bombshell that was Push It. Subsequent belters Let’s Talk About Sex, Shoop and Whatta Ma helped make them first female rap act to go platinum. They can also, pretty much, be held responsible for the lunacy that was the giant woven gold chain fad, and dance craze The Running Man in the 80s. Google it. Try it.
Signature Track: Push It
Getty Images1990s - En Vogue
Big voices, big hair and bags of attitude to boot, this feisty R&B outfit made every 90s woman embrace her inner vixen, and every 90s boyfriend/husband nervy with their unique brand of man-bashing, woman-celebrating soul. They notched up 14 music gongs, seven Grammy nominations and countless chart hits, including Don’t Let Go (Love) - covered by Little Mix, and My Lovin’ (Never Gonna Get It) throughout the 90s.
Signature Track: Free Your Mind
Getty Images1990s – TLC
We loved TLC. So much so, in fact, that we can even forgive that early era, when they all wore giant dungarees and Lisa Lopes had a condom taped over her specs. T-Boz, Chili and Left Eye were catapulted to superstar status with the release of their second album, CrazySexyCool. Despite the problems that plagued the group, notably the illness of T-Boz and their 1995 bankruptcy (after Left Eye burnt down her then-fella’s mansion in a fit of rage), the group are certified Diamond (yes, that beats Platinum) and the second biggest-selling girl group of all time (more on the best-selling later, but if you want real Girl Power, listen to No Scrubs). Tragically, Left Eye was killed in a car crash in Honduras in 2003. Remaining members T-Boz and Chili vowed never to replace her. Will they bring her back as a hologram, though? Rumour has it, a Tupac-esque resurrection could be on the cards.
Signature Track: Creep
Rex Features1990s – Eternal
Sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, alongside Kelle Bryan and Louise Redknapp, formed Eternal in 1992 to create Britain’s answer to En Vogue. The group notched up 15 Top 20 hits and over 10million album sales in just four years – even though rumours were rife that the Bennett sisters kept sacking everyone else. In 2011, Vernie joined the Twittersphere and announced that plans for an Eternal reunion were in their “very early days". Watch this space?
Signature Track: Stay
Rex Features1990s - Spice Girls
Cast your minds back to 1996, when you couldn’t swing a Mulberry handbag with knocking over at least ten Spice endorsements. From crisps to lollipops, deodorant to an, ahem, large retail chain of photographic equipment, Ginger, Scary, Baby, Posh and Sporty put their Girl Power-gurning faces to it all. Oh, and they’re also the biggest-selling girl group of all time, despite only being active for four years and having two No.1 albums. We don’t need to tell you anymore. You already know it. Zig-a-zig-ah.
Signature Track: Wannabe
Rex Features1990s - Destiny’s Child
The third biggest-selling girl group of all time, the big D’s offspring released their debut album in 1998 and the rest, as they say, is history. With more line-up changes than the Sugababes and more attitude than Diana Ross, this Beyoncé-fronted band had women simultaneously shaking their fists and their derrieres with hits such as Survivor and Say My Name. And they gave the world the word ‘Bootylicious’, which is definitely worth noting.
Signature Track: Independent Woman Part 1
Getty Images1990s - All Saints
There was a period in the mid-90s when every teen to 20-something woman in the UK wanted to be an Appleton. And why not? They looked hot, they partied all the time and they dated the sexiest boys in Celebdom. But aside from that, All Saints were cool – like the anti-Spice Girls. They wore combats and crop tops, and sang credible pop (over 10million peeps worldwide agreed). We’re also pretty sure they’re the only girl group in history to cover a Red Hot Chili Peppers track and, dare we say it, made it work…?
Signature Track: All Hooked Up
Getty Images2000s - The Donnas
These four feisty, foxy California chicks formed The Donnas when they were just 14. All self-taught musicians, they practiced in drummer Torry’s garage nearly every day during high school and by the time they were 17, local musos had begun to take note of their Ramones-esque, post-punk party tunes packed with bags of attitude. The quartet signed to major label Atlantic Records in 2001 and a year later they released Take It Off, their biggest hit to date, and STILL our favourite Guitar Herotrack to rock out to OF ALL TIME!
Signature Track: Take It Off
PA Photos2000s – Sugababes
Before they went all ‘Pussycat Dolls’ on us, the ‘Babes were actually pretty cool. They wrote their own songs, they could sing, they didn’t dress provocatively or pole dance in their videos. Founding members Siobhán, Mutya and Keisha’s legacy lived on with classics such as Overload and Run For Cover. And they’ve now reformed – hurrah! The original girls are set to battle the current Sugababes line-up in a pop dual of epic proportions in 2013. Bring it!
Signature Track: Run For Cover
Rex Features2000s - Pussycat Dolls
The Dolls began their life as an LA burlesque act, attracting a large celebrity following with their kitsch and cutesy routines in retro frou-frou lingerie. After founder Robin Antin negotiated a record deal in 2003, lead Pussycat Nicole Scherzinger joined and pretty soon we were ALL singing “Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me…” As much as we hated singing it, as we’re pretty sure our boyfriends did.
Signature Track: Don’t Cha
Getty Images2000s - Girls Aloud
They’ve escaped the reality TV curse by reigning over the charts for over ten years – a lifetime in pop terms. Cheryl, Nadine, Sarah, Nicola and Kimberley hold a number of notable accolades, including two Guinness World Records and the title of the UK's biggest selling girl group of the 21st century, and boast a wide range of muso followers, including Guns N Roses, Oasis and Arctic Monkeys. With their comeback tour kicking off in February 2013, you can guarantee GLAMOUR will be front row and “jumping on our toot-toots…”
Signature Track: Love Machine
Getty ImagesToday - Haim
Set to be the next big girl group, Haim (pronounced to rhyme with ‘rhyme’) are cited as a modern-day Fleetwood Mac, with a “nu-folk–meets–electro” sound. Intrigued? Well, in January 2013, the BBC announced that Haim had topped their annual Sound Of 2013 music industry poll to find the most promising new musical acts for the coming year – so it shouldn’t be long before you can’t turn on the radio without catching one of their tracks. Watch this space.
Signature song: Falling
