GIRL was a noted London success story whose impact was all the greater bearing in mind their short existence. Initially a Glam band unafraid to wear obvious make up, as their career progressed a more straight ahead Rock image was adopted. GIRL formed in 1978 during a meeting in Amsterdam by theatre production worker PHIL LEWIS and LWT television worker GERRY LAFFY. At the time Lewis was dating Swedish model and actress Britt Ekland, the internationally known A list celebrity ex-wife of comedy actor Peter Sellers and erstwhile girlfriend of BABYS singer JOHN WAITE, and this liaison in turn led to contact with BLACK SABBATH manager Don Arden's Jet Records.

The first line-up of GIRL comprised of Lewis, Laffy, guitarist Phil Collen, bassist Mark Megarey and drummer Dave Gaynor. Within a matter of weeks Megaray was ousted in favour of Gerry Laffy's brother Simon. This line-up filmed what was probably amongst the first promo videos made in order to secure a deal and reaction was such the band duly signed with Jet.

GIRL performed their first gig at London's Music Machine venue in October 1979 promoting the double sided, clear vinyl 'My Number' single. Two weeks later the band were supporting UFO in Europe, a union which crossed over into the new year and UFO's January 1980 British tour. GIRL were by now receiving heavy media attention and the success of the singles 'Do You Love Me' (a cover of the KISS number) and 'Hollywood Teaze' saw the band gain TV appearances on the likes of 'Top Of The Pops' and 'The Old Grey Whistle Test'.

GIRL toured Britain as a co headliner with Canadian artist PAT TRAVERS promoting the debut album 'Sheer Greed' before European dates that culminated in French shows with headliner TED NUGENT. Returning home, GIRL found themselves added as support to the British KISS tour. Having been specifically been invited by the US superstars in recognition of GIRL's version of 'Do You Love Me'. However, the KISS audiences were less than impressed, rather wishing that the band their heroes had chosen to support them on the continent, IRON MAIDEN, had played instead, and the shows actually were more of a low point in GIRL's career. At one point the band were actually getting spat at!

Still, by late 1980 GIRL were headlining shows in Japan, where the album was a top 5 hit, and also Hong Kong and Thailand.

Flush with such Far Eastern success the band settled down to record a follow up album, but found themselves ensnared in managerial and record company problems. The drumming position proved a concern as Gaynor departed. He would turn up for a brief term in Irish Rockers SWEET SAVAGE.

Gaynor was superseded by Bryson 'Brillo' Graham, an ex-member of MAINHORSE, WONDERWHEEL, SPOOKY TOOTH and ALVIN LEE. Graham was, in turn, was replaced by ex-BROKEN HOME and GILLAN drummer Pete Barnacle.

However, problems ensued when Jet Records rejected the recorded second album. More studio time was spent with producer Nigel Thomas adding extra songs. These delays saw GIRL out of the public eye for what seemed like an eternity as the album was delayed by eight months.

With the eventual release of 'Wasted Youth' in 1982 GIRL once more set out on tour, the band opening in Britain for OZZY OSBOURNE and ZZ TOP although business problems were still dragging the band down and Collen was tempted by an offer to join IRON MAIDEN. Collen eventually succumbed to a request from DEF LEPPARD leaving GIRL on an amicable basis in the summer of 1982. GIRL soldiered on, touring Japan with temporary guitarist Phil Bonus, but the group officially split in early 1983.

Post GIRL, Phil Bonus and drummer Bryson 'Brillo' Graham almost immediately formed ZEN ATTACK, whilst Simon Laffy joined ATLANTIS and then HARD RAIN - an act that released two singles on Polygram and not to be confused with the MAGNUM offshoot of the late 90s.

Simon's brother GERRY LAFFY, on the other hand, relocated to Australia to form a film production company and achieved notable successes with his involvement in the movies 'Razorback' and 'Highlander', but was to return to Britain and formed SHEER GREED, releasing two albums.

Perhaps more significantly, given the fact that he was the band's frontman, Phil Lewis formed AIRRACE in the aftermath of the GIRL split and then founded the ill fated NEW TORPEDOES with bassist Dave Birch. The vocalist also fronted Northampton NWoBHM metallers SOLDIER for a short period before he also stepped into the breach to assist TORME when their vocalist Kef disappeared prior to some live shows in 1984.

The NEW TORPEDOES replaced Birch with Phil Soussan (later to join WILDLIFE, ROBIN GEORGE and OZZY OSBOURNE). Lewis jetted off to Los Angeles to find success fronting L.A. GUNS, although the late 90s found the man fronting FILTHY LUCRE. A solo PHIL LEWIS album also arrived for the Japanese market.

Sadly, fortune was not to find favour with ex-GIRL drummer Bryson Graham who, having formed London act BLACKFOX with former PERSIAN RISK and THUNDERSTICK guitarist Cris Martin in 1985, was later to commit suicide.

Barnacle would later work with MISHA CALVIN. Both Barnacle and Graham featured on the two GERRY & SIMON LAFFY albums 1994's 'Lying With The Angels' and 1995's 'Can't Help It'.

With interest in GIRL maintained with the high profile of Lewis as a member of L.A. GUNS a steady stream of re-issues kept the group's recording in the racks. During 2001 Gerry Laffy unearthed live tapes of the band's final Japanese show, released by Receiver Records as 'Live At The Exposition Hall, Osaka'.

A brand new GIRL related project, MAN-RAZE, initiated during July of 2004, was founded by guitarist Phil Collen and bassist Simon Laffy together with Paul Cook of the SEX PISTOLS on drums. A debut album would be recorded during early 2005.