This article is about the band. For their self-titled album, see Violent Femmes (album).
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes in 2006
Background information
Origin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genres
Folk punk,[1] alternative rock
Years active
1981–2009, 2013–present
Labels
Slash/Reprise
Rough Trade
Elektra
Mushroom
Interscope
Beyond
Add It Up Productions
Members
Gordon Gano
Brian Ritchie
Blaise Garza
John Sparrow
Past members
Victor DeLorenzo
Guy Hoffman
Brian Viglione
Website
vfemmes.com
Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Ritchie (bass, backing vocals), joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza (joined 2004), and drummer John Sparrow (joined 2005).[2] Former members of the band include drummers Victor DeLorenzo (1980–1993, 2002–2013), Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), and Brian Viglione (2013–2016). Violent Femmes are considered to be an integral part of the then-underground folk punk and alternative rock scenes of the 1980s,[3][4][5][6] and remain influential or inspirational to the subsequent movements, particularly on folk rock, indie rock, grunge, pop punk, emo, and the late 1980s and 1990s alternative rock scene.[3][7][8][9][10][11]
Violent Femmes have released 10 studio albums and 19 singles during the course of their career. The band found critical acclaim with the release of their self-titled debut album in early 1983. Featuring many of their best-known songs, including "Blister in the Sun", "Kiss Off", "Add It Up" and "Gone Daddy Gone", Violent Femmes became the band's biggest-selling album and was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA.[12] After releasing two more albums, Hallowed Ground (1984) and The Blind Leading the Naked (1986), the band's future was uncertain and they split up in 1987 when Gano and Ritchie went solo. However, they regrouped a year later, releasing their fourth album 3 (1989). The follow-up album, Why Do Birds Sing? (1991), contains the fan favorite and concert staple "American Music".
In 1993, founding member Victor DeLorenzo (percussion, snare drum) left Violent Femmes and was replaced by Guy Hoffman, who debuted on the band's sixth album New Times (1994). Two more albums – Rock!!!!! (1995) and Freak Magnet (2000) – were released with this lineup before DeLorenzo rejoined the band in 2002 for what was to be a farewell tour. Following the commercial failure of Freak Magnet, Violent Femmes did not release any more studio albums for almost two decades, although a number of compilation albums were released in the early 2000s, along with a few one-off songs. Some controversy over the licensing of the band's songs for commercial use led to an official break-up in 2009, though they re-formed in 2013 (shortly before DeLorenzo left Violent Femmes again), and have since released two more studio albums of new material: We Can Do Anything (2016) and Hotel Last Resort (2019).
^2 Mics & The Truth: Unplugged & Unhinged In America (Media notes). 2017.
^"Violent Femmes: Hotel Last Resort". American Songwriter. July 25, 2019. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
^ ab"Violent Femmes Announce US Tour in Celebration of First Album's 40th Anniversary". Ultimate-guitar.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^"Violent Femmes Celebrate Anniversary of Landmark Album Norwalk's Wall Street Theater". Ctexaminer.com. October 17, 2022. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^"When Violent Femmes pulled from a classic Muddy Waters track". Faroutmagazine.com. November 9, 2022. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^"Folk Punk Music Guide: 6 Notable Folk Punk Bands - 2023". Masterclass.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
^"How a Wendy's Commercial Split up the Violent Femmes". Grunge.com. July 16, 2020. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^"Violent Femmes". Masoniccleveland.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^Tomlin, Edward (March 17, 2023). "10 Best Violent Femmes Songs of All Time". Singersroom.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
^"Violent Femmes Why do Birds Sing?". Chipperbirds.com. June 11, 2023. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^"Violent Femmes | Violent Femmes". Inreviewonline.com. March 17, 2019. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
^"RIAA Gold & Platinum Database". Recording Industry Association of America. February 1, 1991. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
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