History Violent Femmes

1 history

1.1 years , first album (1981–1983)
1.2 later years , brief split (1984–1992)
1.3 post-delorenzo years (1993–1998)
1.4 later years , reunion delorenzo (1999–2006)
1.5 lawsuit , disbanding (2007–2009)
1.6 reunion (2013–present)

history
early years , first album (1981–1983)

violent femmes founded bassist brian ritchie , percussionist victor delorenzo following demise of initial wave of american punk rock, , became full-fledged band upon arrival of lead vocalist , guitarist gordon gano. according ritchie, came name of group fake band name when 1 of bandmates questioned assertion brother in band—he , delorenzo liked name, used rhythm duo played in prior gano joining group. in days, band played coffee houses , street corners. discovered james honeyman-scott (of pretenders) on august 23, 1981, when band busking on street corner in front of oriental theatre, milwaukee venue pretenders playing later night. chrissie hynde invited them play brief acoustic set after opening act.

later years , brief split (1984–1992)

1990 @ sydney opera house

after debut album violent femmes, released hallowed ground, moved group towards country music sound , introduced christian themes. mark van hecke produced band s first 2 efforts, third album, blind leading naked, saw change in studio. time, fellow milwaukee native jerry harrison of talking heads did producing. more mainstream , pop-oriented, resulting in minor hit children of revolution , t.rex. in 1985, van hecke ended collaboration group , became sought after composer , producer in rapidly growing video game industry. return later, however, produce 2 more albums group. femmes briefly disbanded, gano releasing album in 1987, result of gospel side project mercy seat. ritchie released several solo lps. group came in late 1988, releasing 3, return band s earlier, stripped-down sound. why birds sing? released in 1991 after band signed reprise , featured minor hit, american music, became concert staple.

post-delorenzo years (1993–1998)

in 1993, delorenzo departed group act , make solo records. guy hoffman, formerly of oil tasters , bodeans, brought in tour become 1 of biggest-selling records, add (1981–1993) collection. on next 9 years, violent femmes, hoffman, recorded 5 full-length cds , handful of one-offs motion picture soundtracks, such swear (i can change) south park: bigger, longer & uncut soundtrack, color me once soundtrack crow , other compilation projects. first full studio album hoffman on drums, new times (elektra records), released in 1994, , band scored minor hit song breakin rock!!!!! (mushroom records) released in 1995 in australia only, though has since become available in united states.

later years , reunion delorenzo (1999–2006)

viva wisconsin, live album, released in united states in 1999 on independent label beyond , followed freak magnet in 2000. s wrong (2001), album of unreleased studio tracks, covers, demos, , acoustic live performances released mp3-only album through emusic. in 2002, rhino records repackaged debut 1983 album along demos , live tracks coincide 20th anniversary reissue. delorenzo asked rejoin farewell tour, reinstating original lineup.

on 2002 spongebob squarepants first complete season dvd, violent femmes recorded 34-second cover of spongebob theme. recorded 30-second commercial nickelodeon.

2005 saw release of 2 collections of past work—a cd called permanent record: best of violent femmes on slash/rhino , dvd, permanent record – live & otherwise rhino, showcases concert performance 1991, along many of group s videos. cd first record recognizes 4 musicians , contributions on same disc.

after touring in promotion of freak magnet, primary songwriter gano decided no longer make new music, band continue play shows when booked. on new year s eve of 2005, , 1 show in january 2006, 4 violent femmes members played together.

lawsuit , disbanding (2007–2009)

in 2007, gano angered ritchie selling advertising rights classic blister in sun wendy s.

although of band s songs, including blister in sun, credit gano sole songwriter, ritchie responded use of song in commercial saying:

fans rightfully complaining wendy s burger advertisement featuring blister in sun, gordon gano publisher of song , warners record company. when agree use there s nothing rest of band can it, because don t own song or recording. s showbiz. therefore when see dubious or in case disgusting uses of our music can thank greed, insensitivity , poor taste of gordon gano, karma lost songwriting ability many years ago, due own lack of self-respect willingness prostitute our songs demonstrates. neither gordon (vegetarian) nor me (gourmet) eat garbage wendy s burgers. can t endorse them because disagree corporate food on culinary, political, health, economic , environmental grounds. however, see life s work trivialized @ hands of business partner on , on again, although have raised objections numerous times. disgusted more so.

ritchie filed lawsuit against gano in august 2007, seeking half ownership of violent femmes music , access royalty accounting. many speculated lead band s breakup. however, on june 17, 2008 band released cover of crazy gnarls barkley had covered gone daddy gone .

the band disbanded in 2009 result of ritchie s lawsuit against gano.

reunion (2013–present)

in january 2013, announced violent femmes reuniting , performing @ coachella valley music , arts festival in april. performed there, bottlerock napa valley in may , milwaukee s summerfest in june. band on bill riot fest, took place in chicago in september 2013.

drummer victor delorenzo said in march 2013 open recording new material violent femmes, on july 15, 2013, announced dresden dolls drummer brian viglione replacing delorenzo band s drummer. in statement, delorenzo said s hard write eulogy lost loved one. in case, sadly lament loss of dream , ideal once violent femmes.

the violent femmes played 3 shows in australia part of 2013/2014 falls festival, performing @ marion bay on 30 december, lorne on 31 december , byron bay on 2 january. on may 11, 2014, performed @ shaky knees music festival in atlanta, ga.

the band played several shows in australia around new year of 2015, including woodford folk festival, sydney opera house , mona foma festival. in midst of them, recorded first new material in 15 years on new year s eve 2014 in hobart, tasmania. these 4 songs released on exclusive four-song ep on clear 180-gram vinyl on april 18, 2015 record store day. band joined barenaked ladies , colin hay on two-month tour in summer of 2015.

in january 2016, viglione announced via facebook page had handed in resignation band; adding grateful have had experience.

later month, band announced first full album in 16 years, can released on march 22, 2016. viglione credited drummer on album.

drummer john sparrow, began playing cajón in femmes backing band, horns of dilemma, in august 2005, joined band new drummer after viglione s exit. on february 23, 2016, appeared band on late show stephen colbert promote can anything.