The 'B' Girls
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Punk rock music, singles, albums |
The 'B' Girls were a Toronto-based punk rock ensemble active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They hold the distinction of being the city's second all-female punk group, following The Curse.
History
The band came together in 1977 after Cynthia and Lucasta connected at a Thin Lizzy concert after-party. The original lineup featured Cynthia on bass, Lucasta as lead vocalist, Rhonda Ross on drums, with Renee Schilhab and Xenia Holiday handling guitar duties. Later, Marcy Saddy replaced Rhonda behind the drum kit. The name 'B-Girls' was proposed by John Catto from The Diodes, inspired by women who earned tips from bartenders after World War II. Catto also created their logo design. The band took charge of their own merchandising and promotional efforts, opting to record only cover songs' 'B' sides to minimize expenses. They maintained strict guidelines against political commentary and sexual objectification during performances—a stance that Cynthia believes limited their chances for securing a record contract.
Rehearsing with borrowed instruments in Thornhill, their sound blended influences from The Ronettes and The Crystals, incorporating 1960s Mersey Beat styles rather than typical punk elements. Their distinctive look included coordinated sweaters and go-go boots. Their first live appearance was as an opening act for The Viletones at Toronto’s Club David's. Sam Sutherland characterized their style as a fusion of punk's rebellious spirit with pop's idealism, which quickly earned them a dedicated following.
Within Toronto’s punk circuit, they became regulars alongside bands like Teenage Head and The Curse. In 1979, they toured with The Clash and The Undertones, also serving as openers for notable performers such as Iggy Pop and Blondie. Initial reviews were varied but grew more favorable over time.
In 1979, Greg Shaw of Bomp! Records signed the group, leading to the release of singles "Fun At The Beach" and "B-Side," produced by Bob Segarini, with distribution reaching the UK and Japan markets. By 1980, the band had established a presence at New York’s iconic venue CBGB. Following Cynthia’s engagement to Stiv Bators of Dead Boys, they relocated to New York City, undergoing lineup changes including Xenia stepping in for Lucasta on vocals and Marcy replacing Rhonda on drums. They secured regular performances at CBGB and Max's Kansas City, opening for prominent artists like Elvis Costello, The Heartbreakers, and Joan Jett.
Although they found popularity in Japan and the UK, their live performances remained mostly confined to Toronto and New York; a single visit to Los Angeles included uncredited backing vocals on Blondie's hit "The Tide Is High" as well as on Bators’ album Disconnected. The band recorded demos with renowned producers including Debbie Harry and Mick Jones. Despite interest from I.R.S. Records and Phil Spector, no formal record deal materialized. After returning to Toronto, the group disbanded in 1982.
Following the breakup, members pursued diverse paths: Lucasta established Minutes From Downtown; Marcy joined Certain General before turning to visual arts; Holiday became a yoga teacher; Schilhab moved into journalism and film production prior to her death in 2020; Cynthia formed New York Junk after raising her family.
In 1997, remastered versions of their recordings were issued under the title Who Says Girls Can't Rock. Band members appeared in the 2013 documentary The Last Pogo Jumps Again. In 2017, all demo tracks were compiled into Bad Not Evil. Cynthia and Lucasta briefly reunited for performances in New York with new musicians Elisa Moldanado and Lyla Vander but did not continue beyond those shows.
Discography
- "Fun At The Beach" / "B Side" (1979, Single) BOMP!
- Who Says Girls Can't Rock (1997), Other Peoples Music
- Bad Not Evil (2017), BOMP!
Appearances on Compilations
- Who Put The Bomp? (1979), Decca Records
- Stiv - No Compromise No Regrets (2019), MVD Audio
- Girls Go Power Pop! (2020), Big Beat Records