The Violent Femmes helped to bring the post-punk and folk-punk movements to the forefront of American music in the early 80s. A seminal band for disenchanted teenage misfits, Violent Femmes spoke for and to those who would later be labelled 'generation X'. The band initially comprised Brian Ritchie -- whose acoustic bass guitar gave the Femmes their unique signature sound; Victor DeLorenzo - known for his minimalist drum kit, frequently comprising just a snare drum and cymbal; and Gordon Gano - whose distinctive whiny vocals and rebellious lyrics summed up the state of being for the pre-MTV teen generation.
Formed in 1980 they were discovered while busking in front of the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee, where Chrissie Hynde invited the Femmes to play a short acoustic set to open for The Pretenders that evening. Shortly after that the Femmes signed with Slash Records and released their debut album The Violent Femmes, which, ten years later, reached platinum status. Three of the Femmes' most famous songs come from this debut "Blister in the Sun" -- allegedly about masturbation and most recently used by US fast food chain Wendy's; "Add It Up" - most noted for the infamous lyric "Why can't I get just one fuck?"; and "Kiss Off" - whose teenage angst ridden lyrics cover everything from the desire to be accepted to hatred for those who are, the desire for love and affection and, in its famous counting climax, the number of drugs needed to deal with life events.
