
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). Former members of the band include drummers Victor DeLorenzo (1980–1993, 2002–2013), Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), and Brian Viglione (2013–2016).
Violent Femmes have released ten studio albums and 15 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. After the release of their third album 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".
Links To Peel[]
Peel played some tracks off their self titled debut album in the early 80s but after the late 80's and early 90's he seemed to have lost interest in their music.
Shows Played[]
Confessions
- 1983
- 22 August 1983: Confessions (LP - Violent Femmes) Rough Trade
- 27 August 1983 (BFBS): Confessions (album - Violent Femmes) Rough Trade
- 29 September 1983: Gone Daddy Gone (7") Rough Trade
- 12 October 1983 (BFBS): Kiss Off (album - Violent Femmes) Rough Trade
- 08 December 1983: Ugly (7") Rough Trade
- 14 December 1983: Ugly (7") Rough Trade
- 1984
- Peel Mixtape 1984: Ugly (7" - Ugly / Gimme The Car) Rough Trade
- 07 January 1984 (BFBS): Ugly (7" - Ugly / Gimme The Car) Rough Trade
- 16 May 1984 (BFBS): Promise (album - Violent Femmes) Rough Trade
- 11 June 1984: Country Death Song (album - Hallowed Ground) Slash
- 20 June 1984 (BFBS): Country Death Song (album - Hallowed Ground) Slash
- 27 June 1984 (BFBS): Black Girls (album - Hallowed Ground) Slash
- 18 July 1984: Hallowed Ground (LP - Hallowed Ground) London
- 1985
- 03 April 1985 (Muriel Gray): 'Blister In The Sun (LP-Violent Femmes)' (Rough Trade)
- 1989
- 18 January 1989: Fat (LP - 3) London
- 1991
- 16 February 1991 (BFBS): 'Hallowed Ground (LP-Hallowed Ground)' (Slash/London)