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Venus and the Razorblades

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Venus and the Razorblades
Also known asThe Razorblades
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresPunk rock, new wave
Years active1976–1977
LabelsVisa, Bomp!, Spark
Past membersVicki Razorblade
Steven T.
Dyan Diamond
Danielle Faye
Kyle Raven
Roni Lee
Nickey Beat

Venus and the Razorblades were a short-lived punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed and managed by Kim Fowley after his initial separation with The Runaways in 1976. They are believed to be one of the first mixed-gender American punk bands.[citation needed]

Rock impresario Kim Fowley first severed ties with the Runaways in September 1976,[1] and then reconciled with the band in November, returning to the studio to record their second album Queens of Noise.[2] It was during this period of inactivity that Fowley assembled Venus and the Razorblades.[3][4] Fowley intended the band to be a mixed-gender group in the vein of "Fleetwood Mac or ABBA,"[3] and touted the band as "Kiss and Aerosmith meet ABBA" in his initial promo for the band.[5] The band's name was initially intended for the Runaways, but the name went unused because no one in the group could decide which member would be "Venus."[4]

The band's lineup included guitarist/singer Roni Lee (born Rhonda Lee Ryckman); guitarist/singer Steven T. (Tetsch); bassist Danielle Faye (formerly of Atomic Kid and later The Zippers); drummer Nickey Beat (later of The Weirdos and the Germs) (soon replaced by Kyle Raven); and singers Dyan Diamond and Vicki Razorblade (born Vicki Arnold). When the band formed, Diamond and Razorblade were only 14 and 17 years old respectively.[6]

Venus and the Razorblades played their first shows at the Starwood November 3–4.[7] The band performed with Fowley's band The Quick at a series of shows entitled "Kim Fowley presents Punk Rock" at the Whisky a Go Go November 25–28.[8][9] This was followed by a December 2 show featuring Venus and the Razorblades headlining and the band Shock opening, and a series of shows with Venus and the Razorblades opening for Van Halen December 3–5, all at the Whisky a Go Go.[8][10]

In February 1977, the Runaways opted to record two of Venus and the Razorblades' songs,[11] "Alright You Guys" and "I Wanna Be Where the Boys Are."[3] Both songs ended up on the Runaways LP Live in Japan (1977).[12] Cherie Currie recorded "Young and Wild" for her LP Beauty's Only Skin Deep (1977)[13] and Van Halen recorded a demo of "Young and Wild" with producer Ted Templeman.[3][14] The band also worked with Bomp Records on the release of a single entitled "Punk-a-Rama," whose B-side contained an excerpt of a press conference featuring the band, Fowley and Rodney Bingenheimer.[15]

Island Records expressed interest in the band and brought the band into the studio to record, but opted not to release the final album upon its completion. Bob Ezrin was then brought in to produce for the band, and the group was accepted by Atlantic Records, but no final product was released.[3]

Inner tensions led to the group disbanding[3] in 1977.[6] A posthumous compilation album entitled Songs from the Sunshine Jungle was released in July 1978 on Visa Records.[16][17]

After Venus and the Razorblades disbanded, Fowley tried to make Dyan Diamond a star and got a deal for her with MCA Records; her 1978 album, In the Dark was a commercial failure.[18] Roni Lee collaborated and performed with Randy California and Ed Cassidy of Spirit, as well as Mars Bonfire and Jerry Edmonton of Steppenwolf, in 1977-78.[19] In 2004 a follow-up album release on CD, "More Songs From The Sunshine Jungle" was issued on Charlatan Records. In 2013, Lee was granted an endorsement with Paul Reed Smith guitars for her distinctive style of playing as well as her place in punk rock's early history.[20][21] Lee released the album Heros of Sunset Blvd. in 2016.[22]

The Woman's International Music Network, founded by Laura B. Whitmore, gives credit to Venus and the Razorblades, as well as the Runaways, for performing in a genre that was dominated mostly by men.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Uhelszki, Jaan (11 September 1976). Parnes, Sid (ed.). "The Coast". Record World. 33 (1524). New York: Record World Publishing Co: 86.
  2. ^ Uhelszki, Jaan (13 November 1976). Parnes, Sid (ed.). "The Coast". Record World. 33 (1533). New York: Record World Publishing Co: 79.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Robertson, Sandy (6 August 1977). "Kim Fowley: The Dorian Gray of Rock'n'Roll" (Online). Sounds. London: United Newspapers. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b Hilburn, Robert (18 September 1976). Thomas, William F. (ed.). "Runaways/Fowley". Los Angeles Times. XCV (290). Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times Communications LLC: Part II, p. 8. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  5. ^ Fuchs, Stephen (25 September 1976). Albert, George (ed.). "For the Record". Cash Box. XXXVIII (19). New York: Cash Box Publishing Co: 62.
  6. ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Venus & the Razorblades Biography". AllMusic. San Francisco: RhythmOne plc. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  7. ^ Mankiewicz, John (30 October 1976). Albert, George (ed.). "For the Record". Cash Box. XXXVIII (24). New York: Cash Box Publishing Co: 29.
  8. ^ a b Renoff, Greg (April 6, 2015). "Riot on Sunset". Cuepoint. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  9. ^ Thomas, William F., ed. (21 November 1976). "Whisky: Don Ellis / Kim Fowley presents (ad)". Los Angeles Times. XCV (354). Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times Communications LLC: Calendar, p. 71. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  10. ^ Thomas, William F., ed. (28 November 1976). "Whisky: Venus & the Razor Blades / Van Halen (ad)". Los Angeles Times. XCV (361). Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times Communications LLC: Calendar, p. 75. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  11. ^ Baird, Pat (12 February 1977). Parnes, Sid (ed.). "Copy Writes (A Report on the Music Publishing Scene)". Record World. 33 (1546). Record World Publishing Co., Inc.: 38.
  12. ^ Live In Japan (Side A and B labels). The Runaways. Canada: Mercury/Phonogram International BV. 1977. SRM-1-3740. Retrieved 3 December 2023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Beauty's Only Skin Deep (Side B label). Cherie Currie. Netherlands: Mercury Records BV. 1978. 6338 867. Retrieved 3 December 2023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (17 July 2023). "Hear 25 Unreleased Van Halen Songs: A Hidden History" (online). Ultimate Classic Rock. Purchase, NY: Townsquare Media. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  15. ^ Punk-a-Rama (Side A and B labels). Venus & The Razorblades. Burbank, CA: Bomp Records. 1977. BOMP 107. Retrieved 3 December 2023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Zhito, Lee, ed. (22 July 1978). "New LP/Tape Releases". Billboard. New York: Billboard Publications Inc.: 100.
  17. ^ Meier, George (ed.). "New Releases: Fringe Albums". Walrus!. 26 (241). Narberth, PA: Heavy Industries Inc.
  18. ^ "Dyan Diamond". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Roni Lee". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  20. ^ "PRS Women in Rock Clinic & Guitar Showcase - 11/18/17". bananas.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Roni Lee". prsguitars.com.
  22. ^ "Heros of Sunset Blvd". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  23. ^ France, Pauline (September 9, 2013). "Front and Center: Lead Guitarist and Vocalist, Roni Lee". The Women's International Music Network. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
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