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Violent Femmes

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File:Violentfemmes.jpg
Violent Femmes
From left to right. Victor DeLorenzo, Brian Ritchie, Gordon Gano

The Violent Femmes are an alternative rock band that formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the early 1980s.

History

Gordon Gano (singer/guitarist), Brian Ritchie (bassist), and Victor DeLorenzo (percussionist) founded the group and were discovered (and subsequently forgotten) by James Honeyman-Scott (of The Pretenders) when the band was playing on a street corner in front of the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. The band signed to Slash Records and released a self-titled album that they had recorded in July of 1982. The music was an innovative combination of American folk music and indie rock. The lyrics were the common adolescent themes of yearning for love, sex and affection. The group quickly gained a small cult following that never burgeoned into widespread popularity, although a few songs from this album did get some recognition ("Add It Up", "Blister in the Sun", and "Kiss Off"). The debut album went platinum ten years after its release.

The following year, the Violent Femmes released Hallowed Ground, which moved the group to a more country music sound and introduced spiritual themes. Their third album, The Blind Leading the Naked, produced by fellow Milwaukee native Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads, was more mainstream and pop-oriented, resulting in a minor hit with "Children of the Revolution" (originally by T. Rex). The group then disbanded, with Gano releasing an album in 1987, the result of a gospel side project Mercy Seat. Ritchie also released several solo LPs. The group came back together in 1989, releasing 3 and then Why Do Birds Sing? (1991), after signing to Reprise.

In 1993 DeLorenzo departed the group to act and make solo records. Guy Hoffman (formerly of the Oil Tasters and BoDeans) was brought in to tour what was to become one of their biggest selling records, the Add It Up (1981-1993) collection (1993). Over the next nine years, Hoffman recorded five full-length CDs and a handful of one-offs for motion picture soundtracks and other compilation projects. New Times (1994), Elektra Records), and Rock!!!!! (1995), Mushroom Records) was released in 1995 in Australia only.

Viva Wisconsin, a live album, was released in the United States in 1999 on the independent label Beyond, and was followed by Freak Magnet in 2000. Something's Wrong (2001), an album of unreleased studio tracks, covers, demos, and acoustic live performances was released as an MP3-only album through emusic.com. The following year in the winter of 2002, Ritchie and DeLorenzo were requested by Rhino Records to repackage their debut 1983 album along with demos and live tracks to coincide with a 20th anniversary reissue. DeLorenzo asked to rejoin for what was to be a farewell tour, thus reinstating the old lineup.

2005 saw the release of two collections of past work. A CD called Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes (Slash/Rhino) and a DVD, Permanent Record - Live & Otherwise (Rhino), which showcases a concert performance from 1991, and also many of the group's videos. The CD is the first record that recognizes all four musicians and their contributions on the same disc.

After touring in promotion of Freak Magnet, and finding only limited success, the band decided that they would no longer make new music, but would continue to play shows when booked. Their tour schedule has become increasingly busy. On New Year's Eve of 2005, and for one show in January of 2006, all four Violent Femmes members played together in the same shows.

Horns of Dilemma

In their shows, the Femmes employ a horn section called the Horns of Dilemma. This group is made up of whatever musicians the band invites to play with them, on a particular night. These may be local acquaintances, famous or otherwise, or friends or associates of the band. The instruments vary widely, as well, and can include trumpets, trombones, sousaphone, flute, clarinet, antique hunting horn, kazoo, and even percussion. As the only instructions given to the players are to make as much noise as possible, the group doesn't back up the band in the traditional way that a horn section works. They provide a free-form noise jam, when the band plays "Black Girls" or "Confessions." Members have included Steve MacKay, Dick Parry, Peter Balestrieri, Caleb Alexander, Blaise Garza and Sigmund Snopek III.

Trivia

Ethan Hawke's character in the 1994 film Reality Bites, plays a cover of "Add It Up" with his band Hey That's My Bike.

A May 2005 episode of the television series How I Met Your Mother featured engaged couple, Marshall and Lily, trying to sneak into a high school prom to see if the band, The 88, whom Marshall had tentatively booked for the wedding, could play the couple's song, "Good Feeling," the final track from the Violent Femmes' self titled album.

Songs from the Femmes' debut album were covered by Guster (with some assistance from its creators) on an episode of MTV2's short-lived Album Covers series in 2004.

Gnarls Barkley's debut album St-Elsewhere featured a cover of "Gone Daddy Gone".

The band also appeared on the sitcom, "Clarissa Explains It All."

Members

Discography

Full-Length Studio Albums

Other Albums

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Modern Rock
1989 "Nightmares" #4 3
1991 "American Music" #2 Why Do Birds Sing?
1994 "Breakin' Up" #12 New Times

DVDs

References

  1. ^ Michael Azerrad (2002). In Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition) (p.10) [CD Liner Notes]. Los Angeles: Rhino Entertainment Company.

See also

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