In WOMEN MAKE NOISE musicians, journalists, promoters and fans excavate the hidden story of the all-girl band: from country belles of the 20s-40s and girl groups of the 60s, to prog rock goddesses, women's liberationists and punks of the 70s-80s; from riot grrrl activists and queercore anarchists of the 90s to radical protesters Pussy Riot and the most inspiring all-girl bands today. These aren't the manufactured acts of some pop svengali, these groups write their own songs, play their own instruments and make music together on their own terms. All-girl bands have made radical contributions to feminism, culture and politics as well as well as producing some unique, influential and innovative music. It's time to celebrate the outspoken voices, creative talents and gutsy performances of the all-girl bands who demand we take notice.

This edited book has developed from the themes, connections and disjunctures that emerged from a two-day postgraduate conference on Thinking Gender: The Next Generation in 2006 at the University of Leeds. The editorial collective is comprised by Zowie Davy, Julia Downes, Dario Llinares, and Ana Cristina Santos from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (CIGS), University of Leeds, Lena Eckert from the University of Utrecht, and Natalia Gerodetti, who is a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Metropolitan University.