AMERICAN GIRLS BIOGRAPHY

American Girls were players in the Los Angeles music scene in the mid 80's. Miles Copeland quite possibly viewed them as the ideal band to carry the "All-Girl-Band" torch previously carried by now-defunct label-mates Go-Go's or I.R.S. defectors The Bangles. The quintet's progressive sound was a natural evolution of the sound engendered by both those seminal "Girl Bands" and a precursor of the sounds to come (Alanis Morisette, Melissa Etheridge and yes, even the Spice Girls)...

TERESA	BRIE	MIIKO	HILARY	D B
Keyboards & Backing Vocals	Lead Vocals & Percussion	Bass & Backing Vocals	Lead Vocals & Percussion	All Guitars

The line up of American Girls was: Teresa James, keyboards and backing vocals; Brie Howard, lead vocals, percussion and drum programming; Miiko Watanabe, bass and backing vocals; Hilary Shepard, lead vocals and percussion; and D B Tressler, Guitars... Brie and Hilary rotated their "lead vocal duties" from song to song, though they both sing lead on "Sharkskin Suit." It is also interesting to note that prior to this line up, American Girls at various times included master songstress Louise Goffin and even actress Daryl Hannah!

Despite touring (opening for Lords Of The New Church) the album failed to generate much airplay and the various members found work in related media fields. Brie modeled (and still does) and got some acting work. Hilary (now married to Nick Turner of Lords Of The New Church) also found work as an actress, most notably as Divatox in The Power Rangers... Miiko, Teresa and Brie continue to work in music, as well. Teresa has an almost regular weekly gig bouncing between Encino in LA's San Fernando Valley and Santa Monica's municipal pier, Brie does session work and Miiko, after a stint in Rosie Flores' Ringling Sisters, is a member of Tracy & The Hindenburg Ground Crew (where she plays a tuba as well as bass). D B Tressler is the only member who seems to have dropped out of sight...

Ignore the All-Music Guide's write up -- they lump the girls together with a 90s band from the hinterland with the same name...

Mr Bill would like to thank Teresa James for additional input and information on this page.

AMERICAN GIRLS I.R.S. DISCOGRAPHY

Albums & EPs

Musicians:
Brie Howard: percussion and drum programming, lead vocals on *,
Teresa James: keyboards and backing vocals
Hilary Shepard: percussion, lead vocals on ¶
D B Tressler: Guitars
Miiko Watanabe: bass and backing vocals
Additional Musicians:
Davey Faragher: Bass on 1
Anna Tagonism: Backing Vocals on 2
Breta Troyer: Backing Vocals on 6
Dennis Herring: Rhythm Guitar on 4 & Additional synth programming
Mary Harris: Keyboards on 4 and Backing Vocal on 7
Paul Fox, Kevin Bassinson & Tom Faragher: Additional synth & drum programming

Track Listing:

1. American Girl(Howard/Shapiro/Tressler/Watanabe) 4:31 *
2. Androgynous(Shapiro/Goffin/Herring) 3:57 *
3. One Last Prayer (Shapiro/Goffin/Howard/Herring) 4:00 ¶
4. Stay With Me (Shapiro/Howard) 3:19 ¶
5. Out On My Own (Tressler/Howard/Shapiro/Watanabe) 3:28 *
6. Goodbye, Amen (Aimee Mann) 4:00 ¶
7. Blind Ambition (Shapiro/Tressler/Watanabe) 3:19 ¶
8. Take The Night (Howard/Tressler) 3:36 *
9. Sharkskin Suit (Howard/Shapiro/Faragher) 3:29 *¶
10. Practice What You Preach (Shapiro/Goffin/Howard/Tressler) 3:44 ¶

Review Coming Soon!

Singles

Produced by Dennis Herring
Design by Carl Grasso
Sleeve Photos by Eric Blum

Musicians:
Brie Howard: percussion and drum programming, lead vocals
Teresa James: keyboards and backing vocals
Hilary Shepard: percussion, co-lead vocals on Sharkskin Suit
D B Tressler: Guitars
Miiko Watanabe: bass and backing vocals
Additional Musicians:
Davey Faragher: Bass

Review Coming Soon!

Compilations & Soundtracks

OUT OF BOUNDS SOUNDTRACK (IRS 6180): features an extended mix of "American Girl"
WE'VE GOT CONVENTION FEVER (IRS fvr-86) includes "American Girl", cut 19

AMERICAN GIRLS LINKS AND OTHER COOL STUFF

A "Females In Rock" American Girls page.
Teresa James' Homepage where you can hear what she's up to these days and get yourself on the "Rhythm Tramps" mailing list.
Stuart Smith's website features Brie Howard on a few pages
Hilary Shepard Turner played the evil Divatox in Power Rangers...
Another unofficial Hilary Shepard Turner Website, this one a "screen villain shrine" (with pictures).
Miiko Watanabe can be found at this site for LA Band Tracy & the Hindenburg Ground Crew...