The Forgotten Violent Femmes

 

When people think of the birth of alternative rock, they usually think of the punk and post-punk movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s; however, there is usually more to something than one perceives.

Some bands were more popular than others

In the late 70s/early 80s, bands such as The Clash, The Pretenders, The Ramones, and even The Cure are considered to have laid down the foundation of what we now know as alternative rock, but there is also a little known Milwaukee band that rose to prominence in the early to mid 80s. 

They took several years to get going

What is now known as The Violent Femmes started in 1980 when the paths of twenty year-old Brian Ritchie, and 26-year old drummer Victor DeLorenzo. Realizing their common ground, they hooked up with seventeen year-old singer Gordon Gano, and started rehearsing. By 1981, they were playing at local pubs and bars, as well as on street corners.

In late 1981, it just so happened that the band were playing acoustic covers outside the Oriental Theatre in downtown Milwaukee, when they ran into the late, great James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders fame, who later talked about them with leader Chrissie Hynde. After the opening act that evening, The Pretenders and The Violent Femmes played an acoustic set before The Pretenders, with two albums already under their belts, took the stage.

Their first taste of success

The Violent Femmes have released several albums, but only their 1983 self-titled debut is the most significant, for it features their signature song, Blister in the Sun. Its' memorable acoustic guitar/drum-driven riff has become a staple of organ at hockey games. The LP is estminated to have sold about 3 million copies, fueled by Blister. It was certified gold in 1987, and platinum by 1991. 

The next few records for the band even saw a dip into country territory. By hte mid 80s, Gano and Ritchie went solo - Gano forming a Christian project, The Mercy Seat, inspired by the gospel sound on Femmes' 1986 LP The Blind Leading Naked.

Short-lived

Unfortunately, after the success of Blister in the Sun, the Violent Femmes have not been able to top the success of that track; however, they continued to release records every few years, and just last year released Hotel Last Resort - their first in three years since 2016's We Can do Anything.

Blister still gets airplay on adult hits radio, but I am saddened that the band did not make much sucess beyond that.

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