In the early ’90s, my musical tastes began to take shape, influenced by friends, film, concerts, and blind purchases. There was no streaming or YouTube back then, and record stores were everywhere. I would drive to nearby cities like Roseville, MI, to visit Record Time, or hit Off the Record in Royal Oak, MI.
These stores were different, not all mainstream releases. They were loaded with independent releases from labels like Sub Pop, SST Records, Discord Records, and countless others who brought exciting new musicians to the scene. It’s where I would find albums by Bikini Kill, L7, The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, Shonen Knife, Guitar Wolf, and countless others, including the Lunachicks.
Formed in New York City in the late 1980s, the Lunachicks were never simply another punk band. With their wild personalities and stage presence, they refused to conform to anyone’s expectations of what an all-female rock band was supposed to look or sound like. The band carved out a unique place in the underground music scene.
The documentary Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks explores that history while letting friends, musicians, and the members themselves tell it in their own words. Filmmaker Ilya Chaiken doesn’t try to sanitize the Lunachicks’ history. There’s plenty of humor, but there’s also an honest look at the struggles of building a career in an industry that was often more interested in exploiting their image than in understanding their music.
The band members openly discuss the highs, the lows, the frustrations, and the sheer outrageousness that came with being the Lunachicks. Along with the band’s most recent lineup, featuring Theo Kogan, Gina Volpe, Sydney “Squid” Silver, and Chip English, former members also reflect on their time. Fans also gain insight from other musicians, including Debbie Harry (Blondie), Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s), the late Jennifer Finch (L7), and many others.
The archival footage is a blast to watch. Seeing the band tear through stages with the kind of reckless energy that seems increasingly rare is a reminder of how much personality they brought to punk rock. They weren’t interested in being safe, predictable, or easily categorized. They were loud, confrontational, ridiculous, glamorous, vulgar, hilarious, and completely themselves.
RELATED: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains UHD Review: A Punk Rock Classic
For longtime Lunachicks fans, Pretty Ugly is a welcome trip down memory lane. For anyone discovering the band for the first time, it serves as an excellent introduction to one of punk’s most entertaining and unconventional groups.
While the Blu-ray release from MVD Visual doesn’t include any bonus content, the film itself more than satisfies.
Support independent genre journalism. Horror Geek Life is powered by passionate writers, editors, and fans. If you enjoyed this article, you can help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee.
As an Amazon Associate, Horror Geek Life earns from qualifying purchases. Some links may be paid affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
