Jump to content

Violent Femmes: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
added soundtrack thingie
No edit summary
Line 50: Line 50:
*They have been featured as themselves in one episode of the TV Show ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'': Libby was infatuated with Gordon Gano, and concocted a scheme (a sort of love spell) to win his affections.
*They have been featured as themselves in one episode of the TV Show ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'': Libby was infatuated with Gordon Gano, and concocted a scheme (a sort of love spell) to win his affections.
*In 1991, author [[Audrey Niffenegger]] attended a Violent Femmes concert at the [[Aragon Ballroom]] in Chicago. She later incorporated this concert into an episode in her novel, ''[[The Time Traveler's Wife]]''. It was at this concert that the ballroom floor collapsed during the Femmes' performance.
*In 1991, author [[Audrey Niffenegger]] attended a Violent Femmes concert at the [[Aragon Ballroom]] in Chicago. She later incorporated this concert into an episode in her novel, ''[[The Time Traveler's Wife]]''. It was at this concert that the ballroom floor collapsed during the Femmes' performance.
*In the 1994 TV show [[My So-Called Life]] Blister In The Sun was used for Angela's freedom dance in the 17th episode Betrayal.
*In the 1994 TV show ''[[My So-Called Life]]'' Blister In The Sun was used for Angela's freedom dance in the 17th episode Betrayal.
*In 1996 the band made a guest appearance on the [[Elliott Murphy]] album ''[[Selling The Gold]]'' - Murphy wrote the liner notes for [[Add It Up (1981-1993)]].
*In 1996 the band made a guest appearance on the [[Elliott Murphy]] album ''[[Selling The Gold]]'' - Murphy wrote the liner notes for [[Add It Up (1981-1993)]].
*The song "Good Feeling" is referred to on the TV show ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' as the "song" of Marshall and Lily. In the episode "Best Prom Ever", the group travels to a high school prom to watch [[The 88]] perform "Good Feeling" after hiring them as the wedding band.
*The song "Good Feeling" is referred to on the TV show ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' as the "song" of Marshall and Lily. In the episode "Best Prom Ever", the group travels to a high school prom to watch [[The 88]] perform "Good Feeling" after hiring them as the wedding band.

Revision as of 05:02, 3 November 2007

Violent Femmes
This article is about the band. For their self-titled album, see Violent Femmes (album).

The Violent Femmes, formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1980, is a three-piece American alternative rock band. The band has had four members — singer, guitarist and songwriter Gordon Gano, bassist Brian Ritchie, and two drummers, Victor DeLorenzo and Guy Hoffman.

History

Violent Femmes was founded by Brian Ritchie (bass) and Victor DeLorenzo (percussion) and became a full-fledged band upon the arrival of Gordon Gano (vocals). In its early days, the band frequently played coffee houses and street corners. They were discovered (and subsequently forgotten) by James Honeyman-Scott (of The Pretenders) on August 23, 1981, when the band was busking on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act.[1] The band signed to Slash Records and released a self-titled album that they had recorded in July 1982. The music was an innovative combination of American folk music and Punk rock, and commonly referred to as "folk-punk". 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", "Gone Daddy Gone", "Kiss Off", and "Please Do Not Go"). The debut album went platinum 10 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 late 1988, 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, the Femmes, with Hoffman, recorded five full-length CDs and a handful of one-offs for motion picture soundtracks (such as "I Swear It" from the South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut soundtrack) and other compilation projects. New Times (Elektra Records) was released in 1994, and Rock!!!!! (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.

In 2007, Gano surprised many long-time fans by selling advertising rights for the classic "Blister in the Sun" to Wendy's Hamburgers.

Ritchie responded to the use of the song in the commercial by saying:

"For the fans who rightfully are complaining about the Wendy's burger advertisement featuring Blister in the Sun, Gordon Gano is the publisher of the song and Warners is the record company. When they agree to use it there's nothing the rest of the band can do about it, because we don't own the song or the recording. That's showbiz. Therefore when you see dubious or in this case disgusting uses of our music you can thank the greed, insensitivity and poor taste of Gordon Gano, it is his karma that he lost his songwriting ability many years ago, probably due to his own lack of self-respect as his willingness to prostitute our songs demonstrates. Neither Gordon (vegetarian) nor me (gourmet) eat garbage like Wendy's burgers. I can't endorse them because I disagree with corporate food on culinary, political, health, economic and environmental grounds. However I see my life's work trivialized at the hands of my business partner over and over again, although I have raised my objections numerous times. As disgusted as you are I am moreso."[2]

Ritchie filed a lawsuit against Gano in August 2007, seeking half ownership of the Femmes' music and access to royalty accounting.

Horns of Dilemma

In their shows, the Femmes employ a horn section called the Horns of Dilemma. For many years, it consisted of Peter Balestrieri, and Steve MacKay (from the Stooges) on saxophones and Sigmund Snopek III on keyboards and various instruments. It was augmented by whatever musicians the band invited to play with them on a particular night. The band now uses local acquaintances, famous or otherwise, friends, relatives, or associates of the band. Instrumentation varies widely and includes saxophones, trumpets, trombones, sousaphone, flute, clarinet, antique hunting horn, kazoo, and percussion. When the band plays "Black Girls" or "Confessions," the only instructions given to the players are to play as freely and wildly as possible. The group doesn't back up the band in the way that a traditional horn section would; they provide a free-form noise jam. Famous members have included John Zorn, Dick Parry, Blaise Garza and The Dresden Dolls. Longtime band associates and employees who have played with the Horns include soundman Caleb Alexander, and manager Darren Brown.

In addition to the horn section itself, members include any additional musicians playing with the band. Additional Horns of Dilemma include John Sparrow, who plays cajón box, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Hamilton on guitar, bass, mandolin, bass trumpet and harmonica. Various bassists stand in for Ritchie during "Gone Daddy Gone," when he plays xylophone.

Pop culture

  • They have been featured as themselves in one episode of the TV Show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Libby was infatuated with Gordon Gano, and concocted a scheme (a sort of love spell) to win his affections.
  • In 1991, author Audrey Niffenegger attended a Violent Femmes concert at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. She later incorporated this concert into an episode in her novel, The Time Traveler's Wife. It was at this concert that the ballroom floor collapsed during the Femmes' performance.
  • In the 1994 TV show My So-Called Life Blister In The Sun was used for Angela's freedom dance in the 17th episode Betrayal.
  • In 1996 the band made a guest appearance on the Elliott Murphy album Selling The Gold - Murphy wrote the liner notes for Add It Up (1981-1993).
  • The song "Good Feeling" is referred to on the TV show How I Met Your Mother as the "song" of Marshall and Lily. In the episode "Best Prom Ever", the group travels to a high school prom to watch The 88 perform "Good Feeling" after hiring them as the wedding band.
  • The songs "Blister in the Sun" and "Blister 2000" were featured in the 1997 John Cusack movie Grosse Pointe Blank as well as Volume 1 of the soundtrack. "Blister 2000" was recorded specifically for the soundtrack.
  • The song "Add It Up" was covered by Ethan Hawke 1994 film Reality Bites.
  • On May 2, 2005, "Blister in the Sun" became the first English-language song ever played on the Irish-language RnaG radio station.

Discography

See main article Violent Femmes discography

Studio albums

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Modern Rock
1983 "Gimme The Car" #147 [UK Chart] (Unknown) released by Rough Trade Records
1989 "Nightmares" #4 3
1991 "American Music" #2 Why Do Birds Sing?
1994 "Breakin' Up" #12 New Times
1994 "Machine" ?? New Times

Compilations

DVDs

Notable Cover Versions

References

  1. ^ Milw. Journal Aug. 24, 1981
  2. ^ onmilwaukee.com March 6 2007 [1]

Interviews

Radio

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Violent_Femmes&oldid=168889266"