Subscribe to the STARGIRL Patreon ~ Follow STARGIRL on IG | TikTok ~ Follow Emma on IG | Substack

Just a few short days before the Hole *not-revival announcement, OG STARGIRL listener Ella and I met up to examine the so-called Queen of Grunge, Ms. Courtney Love. 

We trace the origins of the grunge and riot grrl scenes in the PNW (and mourn the region’s loss of virility), and explore Courtney’s unique exploration of her own “patriarchal bargain,” extreme combo of self-destruction X sweetness, and portrayal of female rage. Plus: The Threat of the successful groupie, Kinderwhore, Gen X’s allergy to brand consciousness, Hole as an antidote to #MeToo and girlboss feminism that insists on “victimhood as empowerment,” Courtney’s beef-turned-yoga friendship with Madonna, and more…. This episode is a celebration of scrappiness and girls who can actually get down <3

Ella Simone is a self-taught poet, writer, and collage artist living in Richmond, Virginia. She works in community mental health by day and runs an art and literary zine called Cobra Lily by night. You can find her on Instagram, Substack, and on the Cobra Lily website.

Links:

• Ella’s essays on Courtney, Addison Rae

• Courtney on Howard Stern (1998)

• Courtney’s MTV interview (1994)

• “Courtney Love: The ELLE Interview,” Elle (2014)

• “Is Gen X Actually the Greatest Generation?” Amanda Fortini in NYT (2025)

• “Strange Love: The Story of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love” Lynn Hirschberg in Vanity Fair (1992)

• Courtney on Barbara Walters (1995)

• Courtney flashes David Letterman (2004)

• Courtney barges in on Madonna’s postshow interview at 1995 VMA’s

• 1995 performance of “Violets” where Courtney puts a hex on Billy Corgan (who did indeed lose his hair after this…)

• Courtney Love warning young women about Harvey Weinstein in 2005

• Courtney falling down on the red carpet