“PRETTY UGLY”
THE STORY OF THE LUNACHICKS
Lunachicks. Photo by Bob Mussel.
The Lunachicks were unsung heroines of the ‘90s independent rock world and a force of nature, inspiring generations of young women with their musical chops, Spinal Tap-like antics, and uncensored defiance of the sexist status quo. Formed in the late 1980s by a group of rebellious teenage girls from New York City, the band blasted their way into the male-dominated punk world with raw energy, outrageous humor, and an unapologetically pro-woman ethos. Notorious for their theatrical performances, wild outfits, and gleefully subversive songs like “Bitterness Barbie” and “Less Teeth More Tits”, the Lunachicks confronted sexism and gender politics head-on, carving out space for women and LGBTQ+ audiences in a scene that rarely welcomed them.
Lunachicks. Photo by Joe Dilworth.
Interweaving contemporary vérité footage with a treasure trove of rarely seen archival video and a candy-colored palette of photos, artwork, and music, the film traces the band’s improbable rise from scrappy downtown clubs to international tours and cult-legend status during the 1990s alternative rock explosion, and simultaneously documents their hilarious and triumphant journey back to the stage.
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- Lunachicks with L7. Photo by Andrea Kusten.
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- Gina from Lunachicks at Warped Tour. Photo by Luis Hernandez.
Thirty years after their teenage debut, we join band members Theo Kogan, Gina Volpe, Sydney “Squid” Silver, Chip English, Sindi Benezra, and Becky Wreck as they convene to write their memoir “Fallopian Rhapsody.” They reflect upon their teenage years in gritty 80s N.Y.C., where their bond over punk rock and John Waters movies inspired them to start a band. Discovered by Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, the young girls’ dubious musical endeavor catapulted them into a record deal and international tours.
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- Lunachicks 1988. Photo by Andrea Kusten.
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- Lunachicks album cover. Photo by Michael Lavine.
In a pre-Internet world, they plastered the streets with homemade flyers, mined thrift shops for outrageous outfits, and confronted aggressive males in the pit. They learned to live in a van and sleep on strangers’ floors, their periods syncing up.
Lunachicks 1992. Photo by Dik NG.
Despite their irreverent theatrics and Jan-Brady-on-acid attire, as the years progressed, so did their skills, and they aspired to outmatch their male counterparts in musical virtuosity and ferocity.
Lunachicks 1988. Photo by Andrea Kusten.
Defying the flagrant sexism of the music world at every tier, the Lunachicks’ bond of friendship sustained them through 12 years on the road. But their brushes with success came with its own pressures: creative clashes, relentless touring, drugs, and unhappy romances. As the band’s members navigated adulthood and the changing music industry, the tight-knit sisterhood that once held everything together began to fray. By 2000, the Lunachicks quietly dissolved- leaving behind a legacy of fiercely feminist punk rock and a devoted fan base that never forgot them.
Lunachicks. Photo by Bob Cantu.
Now, as the band reflects upon their extraordinary journey, confronting old wounds, long-buried memories, and the friendships that shaped their lives, the question lurking in their hearts gradually works its way to the forefront: for the first time in over twenty years, do they dare pick up their instruments and take to the stage again?
Lunachicks Warped Tour 1988. Photo by Justin Wagner.
