Allison Wolfe

Allison Wolfe is a writer, musician and zine editor.

While living in Olympia, Allison partnered with Molly Neuman to create Girl Germs. This pro-girl zine was one of the seminal publications that instigated the Riot Grrrl movement. At the same time, the two zinesters formed a band together called Bratmobile, in which Allison sang and Molly played drums. After Calvin Johnson of K Records introduced the two women to zine editor Erin Smith of Teenage Gang Debs, she joined the band, playing guitar.

The trio relocated to Washington D.C., meeting up with Jen Smith, editor of Red Rover, who also played with the band. While in Washington, Allison and Molly began another zine, entitled riot grrrl, with contributions from the members of Bikini Kill, who had also relocated to Washington from Olympia. These women began holding meetings announced through the weekly free riot grrrl zine.

Arriving back in Olympia for the summer International Pop Underground festival without Jen Smith, who stayed in Washington, Bratmobile played shows on an all-female bill on one of the nights of the festival, an event widely regarded as the moment that the Riot Grrrl movement had begun.

After releasing two albums and a number of singles, Bratmobile broke up in the 1990's. Allison went on to play with Erin in the band Cold Cold Hearts. Bratmobile reformed in the 2000's, touring and releasing a number of recordings before splitting again. Since then, Allison has started a new group, the three women Washington D.C. band Partyline. She also performs with the L.A. electropunk band Hawnay Troof.