Jigsaw Youth

Tobi Vail, a central figure in the riot grrrl movement, started her early music career with the punk band The Go Team in 1985 alongside Calvin Johnson. The band released several cassettes and singles primarily on K Records and toured the West Coast in 1987. This project laid the foundation for Vail's future involvement in influential feminist punk bands.

In October 1990, Tobi Vail formed Bikini Kill with classmates Kathi Wilcox and Kathleen Hanna, a band that became a pivotal part of the riot grrrl movement. Vail, playing drums and sometimes singing, also started the zine 'Jigsaw.' This zine, alongside the Bikini Kill publication, aimed to promote female empowerment in music, challenge male dominance, and spread feminist punk culture. This year marked Vail's integral role in shaping feminist punk music and activism.

Bikini Kill held significant performances such as at the International Pop Underground Convention in August 1991. During this period, the band became known for addressing issues like male aggression at shows and reclaiming feminism within punk culture. Their activism and music were foundational to the riot grrrl movement, which combined punk’s do-it-yourself ethos with feminist politics, challenging prevailing gender norms in music and society.

Between 1992 and 1994, Bikini Kill released influential works including their self-titled EP and the split album 'Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah' with Huggy Bear. These releases helped solidify their presence in punk rock and feminist music scenes. During this time, Vail’s role as drummer and zine contributor was essential to the band’s message and impact. The music inspired a generation and helped bring feminist ideals into broader punk culture.

In 2004, Bikini Kill Records re-released 'Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah' as a standalone LP, expanding the original release with previously unreleased live tracks and band practice recordings. This re-release contributed to maintaining the band's legacy and influence in punk and feminist music circles. It provided fans new material and a deeper appreciation of Bikini Kill's pioneering work from earlier years.