Punk Women: 40 Years of Musicians Who Built Punk Rock

by David A. Ensminger (Editor), Katy Otto (Foreword by)

Overview

A new edition includes 11 new interviews and over 30 new profiles of even more incredible musicians, including Blondie, Neko Case, The Urge, Gang of Four, Pogues, Submission Hold, Fastbacks, Teen Idols, and many more. In this far-reaching anthology, David Ensminger delves underground to explore the oft-overlooked community of badass women who shaped the punk scene. There is a common thread of women being excluded and gatekept from hardcore music; this book shows that women have been able to overcome those barriers, kick ass, and shred with the best of them. Biographies, interviews, band anecdotes, and never-before-published photos showcase the talent and artistry of bands like Bikini Kill, the Guttersluts, Bratmobile, Spitboy, the Germs, the Slits, and dozens more. With its intimate aesthetic analysis and raw, zine-like presentation, this is an essential resource for anyone looking to discover, rediscover, and cherish punk history. Includes a foreword by Katy Otto of Trophy Wife and Exotic Fever Records.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648413506
Publisher:	Microcosm Publishing LLC
Publication date:	07/22/2025
Series:	Punx
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

David A. Ensminger is a college instructor and the author of books covering both American roots music and punk rock history—Visual Vitriol: The Street Art and Subcultures of the Punk and Hardcore Generation (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2011),  Mojo Hand: The Life and Music of Lightnin' Hopkins (Univ. of Texas Press, 2013), Left of the Dial: Conversations with Punk Icons (PM Press, 2013), Mavericks of Sound: Conversations with the Artists Who Shaped Indie and Roots Music (Rowman and Littlefield, 2014), The Politics of Punk, Out of the Basement: From Cheap Trick to DIY Punk in Rockford, IL, 1973-2005 (Microcosm, 2017), Punk Women: 40 Years of Musicians Who Built Punk Rock (Microcosm, 2021), and Roots Punk: A Visual and Oral History (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2003). Both The Boston Globe and The Economist have highlighted his research; meanwhile, he writes for publications like Art in Print, The Journal of Popular Music Studies, Houston Press, Trust (Germany), Artcore (Britain), Razorcake, and Maximum Rock'n'Roll.  He lives in Houston, Texas, where he teaches and edit over 20 blogs, including the Visual History of Punk, Hardcore, and Indie Women, which contains over 1,000 archived images: https://punkwomen.wordpress.com

Editorial Reviews

[Review Quote] "“David is passionate about capturing history—his photographs are brilliant as are his descriptions of those he chooses to include.... He is punk rock’s number one fan!”" - – Linda Younger, Mydolls [Review Quote] ""...[A] fascinating deep dive..."" - – Houston Chronicle [Review Quote] ""[Punk Women] has a cool, loose vibe and look, like the old ‘zines that fans used to print up themselves. And David A. Ensminger is certainly a fan of the music. His passion is evident on every page...."" - –Michael Doherty's Music Log

From the Publisher