Supremes to Destiny's to Dolls: Girl group evolution

By Todd Martens and Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

Music tastes and styles may have changed, but one permanent fixture in popular culture over the past five decades is the girl group. It’s the band as concept, and one defined by a uniform look or theme.

But how did we get from the Shangri-Las’ “Leader of the Pack,” a densely orchestrated tale of teenage tragedy, to the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha,” a dark club tune that preys on our insecurities about superficiality?

From the refined to the raunchy, the Chantels to the Spice Girls, here’s a look at some notable girl groups over the years - with some girl bands who copped a thing or two from their more prefab peers thrown in.