‘It reeked of hope and ambition’: 30 years of riot grrrl label Kill Rock Stars

Born in the Pacific north-west scene that produced grunge - but often in opposition to it - Kill Rock Stars pushed women to the front of the stage, and also gave Elliott Smith a platform

In 1991, something was brewing under the constant clouds of Olympia, Washington. Young people flocked there, DIY bands formed, fanzines were scrawled with fervour, and feminist politics galvanised young women. And a record label was founded to house it all.

Everyone was in a band, usually three," remembers Tinuviel Sampson, who helped launch Kill Rock Stars (KRS) with Matthew Slim" Moon. Forged in this underground crucible alongside grunge in nearby Seattle, the label is celebrating its 30th birthday with the covers compilation Stars Rock Kill (Rock Stars), having launched artists such as Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney and the Decemberists, plus the riot grrrl scene of feminist punk into the US mainstream. In many ways, the scene still feels sharply relevant: the rallying cries and on-stage monologues the riot grrrl groups voiced are issues still being fought today, including abortion rights, body autonomy and women's basic safety.