The Dishrags

The Dishrags, or Dee Dee and the Dishrags (named after their favourite Ramone) as they were originally known, were one of the first punk bands to come out of Vancouver, and might just be the first all-female punk band in North America. Made up of three High School students, Jade Blade, Carmen Michaud and Dale Powers, who started playing together in 1977, and unable to find gigs in their native Victoria, the band relocated to the more metropolitan Vancouver, where there was already a vibrant music scene. Singer guitarist Jade Blade was only 15 years old when The Dishrags played their first show on July 30th 1977 at the Japanese Hall supporting her cousin’s band, The Furies, in what is now considered to be the city’s first punk show. The Clash invited them to be the opening act for their 1979 Vancouver Show, a show which also included a set from Bo Diddley, and as way of thanks, The Dishrags even finished their set with a rendition of “London’s Burning”. With a line up change, in 1980 the band recorded their final 'Death In The Family' EP with producer Chris Spedding, but the band petered out soon after. [SOURCE: PUNKGIRLDIARIES]