The Violent Femmes are an alternative rock band that originate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they played mainly in the streets during in the early '80. The band was at that time made up of three members: Gordon Gano (vocals & guitar), Brian Ritchie (vocals & bass) and Victor DeLorenzo (vocals & percussion). They were actually discovered by James Honeyman Scott of the Pretenders who heard them playing in front of the theatre where the Pretenders were holding a concert later that night. Chrissie Hynde was beyond cool and invited the Femmes on stage to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act finished..
Following their discovery, the Violent Femmes quickly rose to cult band status. The group actually recorded their first album 'in secret' sometime between 1980-1982. The album was simply titled "Violent Femmes" and became rather legendary. Many fans still regard it as their best album, featuring songs that became anthems: "Blister in the Sun", "Kiss Off" and "Add it up".
The tune "Blister in the Sun" was featured in the in awesome John Cusack movie "Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997).
When I was in college this cute girl who totally loved the Violent Femmes.. would invite me over for some wicked air guitar jam sessions and one of our favs to act out was the Femmes tune:
Thoses were awesome times!
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
I love this album!!! I wasn't turned on to it until highschool........we'd pop the cassette in my buddy Trinity's green Volkswagen bug and however many of us were in the car would sing and bounce to every song! I may need to text her that memory right now.
"one...........one........one cause you left me and two.....two"
Valley I had no idea about the Pretenders/Hynde connection that was really cool...thanks for sharing.
Every song on that album is classic........they really seem to flow quite well actually....it's one of my favorite 80's albums that I don't even think of as being 80's??? you know what I mean? maybe because I was exposed to it later?
some of my favs........Prove my Love (tell me honestly.....I wait wait wait for you to come) Add it Up and Gone Daddy Gone.......Blister has sorta gotten a bit overplayed on me....but it's still great.
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
I'm not a huge fan of the Femmes, but I did happen to see them live in concert back in the mid 90's.
Posted by xchazx (Member # 7158) on :
the first femmes album is one of the greatest albums ever. fact.
Posted by Bamersy (Member # 8808) on :
Body and beats I stain my sheets I don't even know why.........
Can't go wrong with lyrics like that
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Bamersy..
I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record. Oh yeah? Well don't get so distressed; Did I happen to mention that I'm impressed!