Died On This Date (July 15, 2007) Kelly Johnson / Girlschool

Kelly Johnson
June 20, 1958 – July 15, 2007

Kelly Johnson was, most famously, lead guitarist and sometime lead singer for Girlschool, arguably the first major all-female heavy metal band.  Formed in 1977 out of the ashes of London’s Painted Lady, Girlschool released a series of classic metal albums and played in front of huge crowds alongside the likes of Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Saxon and the Scorpions.   Having recorded on four albums, Johnson left Girlschool in 1983 to move to Los Angeles.  She reunited with the band in 1993 and stayed through 2000, around the time she learned she had spinal cancer, of which she died in 2007.

What You Should Own