Editing Violent Femmes (section)

==History==
===Early years and first album (1981–1983)===
Violent Femmes were founded by bassist [[Brian Ritchie]] and percussionist [[Victor DeLorenzo]] in 1981, joined shortly thereafter by lead vocalist and guitarist [[Gordon Gano]]. According to Ritchie, he came up with the name of the group as a fake band name when one of his bandmates questioned his assertion that his brother was also in a band. He and DeLorenzo liked the name, so they used it for the rhythm duo in which they played prior to Gano joining the group.<ref name=rockzone>{{cite web|last=Barker|first=Rayanna|title=A Conversation With Brian Ritchie|url=http://www.rockzone.com/interviews/femmes.shtml|website=Rockzone.com|access-date=July 17, 2013|archive-date=August 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815213049/http://www.rockzone.com/interviews/femmes.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In its early days, the band frequently played coffee houses and street corners. They were discovered by [[James Honeyman-Scott]] (of [[the Pretenders]]) on August 23, 1981, when the band was [[busking]] on a street corner in front of the [[Oriental Theatre (Milwaukee)|Oriental Theatre]], the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. [[Chrissie Hynde]] invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act.<ref>''Milwaukee Journal'' August 24, 1981</ref>

The band released their [[Violent Femmes (album)|self-titled debut album]] in 1983.

===Later years and brief split (1984–1992)===
[[File:Violentfemmessydney90.png|thumb|left|1990 at Sydney Opera House]]
After their debut album ''Violent Femmes'', the band released ''[[Hallowed Ground (Violent Femmes album)|Hallowed Ground]]'', which moved the group toward a [[country music]] sound and introduced Christian themes. Mark Van Hecke produced the band's first two efforts,<ref name="allmusic1">{{cite web |last=Mark VanHecke |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-vanhecke-mn0000332664/credits |title=Mark Van Hecke &#124; Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 12, 2016 |archive-date=September 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924130108/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-vanhecke-mn0000332664/credits |url-status=live }}</ref> but their third album, ''[[The Blind Leading the Naked]]'', saw a change in the studio. This time, another fellow Milwaukee native, [[Jerry Harrison]] of [[Talking Heads]], did the producing. It was more mainstream and pop-oriented, resulting in a minor hit with "[[Children of the Revolution (song)|Children of the Revolution]]", originally by [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]].<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|page=484|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref> In 1985, Van Hecke ended his collaboration with the group and became a composer and producer in the rapidly growing video game industry. He would return later to produce two more albums for the group.<ref name="allmusic1"/> The Femmes briefly disbanded, with Gano releasing an album in 1987, the result of a [[gospel music|gospel]] side project Mercy Seat. Ritchie also released several solo LPs. The group came back together in late 1988, releasing ''[[3 (Violent Femmes album)|3]]'', a return to the band's earlier, stripped-down sound.<ref name="Larkin80"/> ''[[Why Do Birds Sing?]]'' was released in 1991 after the band signed to [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]<ref name="Larkin80"/> and featured another minor hit, "American Music," which became a concert staple.

===Post-DeLorenzo years (1993–1998)===
In 1993, DeLorenzo departed the group to act and make solo records. [[Guy Hoffman]], formerly of the [[Oil Tasters]] and [[BoDeans]], was brought in to tour what was to become one of the Violent Femmes' biggest-selling records, the ''[[Add It Up (1981–1993)]]'' collection. Over the next nine years, the band, with Hoffman, recorded five full-length CDs and a handful of one-offs for motion picture soundtracks, such as "I Swear It (I Can Change)" from the [[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (soundtrack)|''South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut'' soundtrack]], "Color Me Once" for the [[The Crow (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]'' and other compilation projects. In 1997, the band appeared as themselves in the fifteenth episode of the TV show ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'', "Hilda and Zelda: the Teenage Years." The first full studio album with Hoffman on drums, ''[[New Times (album)|New Times]]'' ([[Elektra Records]]), was released in 1994, and the band scored another minor hit with the song "Breakin' Up". ''[[Rock!!!!!]]'' ([[Mushroom Records]]) was released in 1995 in Australia only, though it has since become available in the United States.

===Later years and reunion with DeLorenzo (1999–2006)===
[[File:Violent Femmes Matters.ogg|thumb|right|Gordon Gano interviewed in 2000]]
''[[Viva Wisconsin]]'', a live album, was released in the United States in 1999 through [[Beyond Music]] and was followed by ''[[Freak Magnet]]'' in 2000. ''[[Something's Wrong (album)|Something's Wrong]]'' (2001), an album of unreleased studio tracks, covers, demos, and acoustic live performances,  was released as an MP3-only album through [[eMusic]]. In 2002, Rhino Records repackaged the band's 1983 debut <!-- do not change this to 1982 --> album, along with [[Demo (music)|demos]] and live tracks, to coincide with a 20th-anniversary reissue. DeLorenzo asked to rejoin for what was to be a farewell tour, thus reinstating the original lineup.

In 2001, they recorded a cover of the [[SpongeBob SquarePants]] theme song for [[Nickelodeon]] as a promotion for the show moving to prime time. In 2003, it was featured in the Complete 1st Season DVD as a special feature.

2005 saw the release of two collections of past work—a CD called ''[[Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes]]'' on [[Slash Records|Slash]]/[[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]] and a DVD, ''[[Permanent Record – Live & Otherwise]]'' from [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]], which showcases a concert performance from 1991, along with many of the group's [[Music video|videos]]. The CD is the first release that recognizes all four musicians and their contributions on the same disc.

After touring in promotion of ''[[Freak Magnet]]'', primary songwriter Gano decided that the band would no longer make new music, but would continue to play shows when booked. On New Year's Eve of 2005, and for one show in January 2006, all four Violent Femmes members played together.

===Lawsuit and disbanding (2007–2009)===
In 2007, Gano angered Ritchie by selling advertising rights for the classic "[[Blister in the Sun]]" to [[Wendy's]].

Although nearly all of the band's songs, including "Blister in the Sun," credit Gano as the sole songwriter, Ritchie responded to the use of the song in the commercial by saying:
<blockquote>
"For the fans who rightfully are complaining about the Wendy's burger advertisement featuring "Blister in the Sun," Gordon Gano is the publisher of the song and Warners is the record company. When they agree to use it there's nothing the rest of the band can do about it, because we don't own the song or the recording. That's showbiz. Therefore when you see dubious or in this case disgusting uses of our music you can thank the greed, insensitivity, and poor taste of Gordon Gano, it is his karma that he lost his songwriting ability many years ago, probably due to his own lack of self-respect as his willingness to prostitute our songs demonstrates. Neither Gordon (vegetarian) nor me (gourmet) eat garbage like Wendy's burgers. I can't endorse them because I disagree with corporate food on culinary, political, health, economic, and environmental grounds. However, I see my life's work trivialized at the hands of my business partner over and over again, although I have raised my objections numerous times. As disgusted as you are I am more so."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onmilwaukee.com/music/soundcheck/articles/femmeschili2.html|title=Femmes' Ritchie reacts to Wendy's chili {{sic|comme|rical|nolink=y}} controversy|website=Onmilwaukee.com|date=March 6, 2007|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-date=July 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706153757/http://www.onmilwaukee.com/music/soundcheck/articles/femmeschili2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Ritchie filed a lawsuit against Gano in August 2007, seeking half ownership of Violent Femmes' music and access to royalty accounting.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Violent Femmes Embroiled In Inter-Band Lawsuit|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049850/violent-femmes-embroiled-in-inter-band-lawsuit|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 10, 2016|archive-date=September 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910073100/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049850/violent-femmes-embroiled-in-inter-band-lawsuit|url-status=live}}</ref> Many speculated this would lead to the band's breakup. However, on June 17, 2008, the band released a cover of "[[Crazy (Gnarls Barkley song)|Crazy]]" by [[Gnarls Barkley]], who had previously covered "[[Gone Daddy Gone]]".

The band disbanded in 2009 as a result of Ritchie's lawsuit against Gano.<ref name="musicau">{{cite web |url=http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2013/01/25/grinderman-reform-for-coachella/ |title=Grinderman reform for Coachella |website=Themusic.com.au |date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219180543/http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2013/01/25/grinderman-reform-for-coachella/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Reunion (since 2013)===
Violent Femmes reunited to perform at the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]] in April 2013. They performed there, the Bottlerock Napa Valley in May, and Milwaukee's [[Summerfest]] in June.<ref name="musicau"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/violentfemmes26-6a8h40o-188374531.html |title=Blisters healed? Violent Femmes announce Coachella reunion |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-date=January 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128022647/http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/violentfemmes26-6a8h40o-188374531.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/violentfemmessummerfest.html |title=Violent Femmes kick off Summerfest 2013 |magazine=OnMilwaukee |date=March 26, 2013 |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329013335/http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/violentfemmessummerfest.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The band was also on the bill for [[Riot Fest]], which took place in Chicago in September 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/riot-fest-2013-lineup-fall_n_3285355.html|title=Riot Fest 2013 Lineup: Fall Out Boy, Public Enemy, Violent Femmes, Blondie And More To Headline|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=May 15, 2013|access-date=July 13, 2013|archive-date=June 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609130647/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/riot-fest-2013-lineup-fall_n_3285355.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Drummer [[Victor DeLorenzo]] said in March 2013 that he would be open to recording new material with the Violent Femmes,<ref>{{cite news |first=Piet |last=Levy |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/femmesfest27-g19ag8a-200076981.html |title=Reunited Violent Femmes to kick off Summerfest with homecoming show |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date=March 26, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2013 |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602052752/http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/femmesfest27-g19ag8a-200076981.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but on July 15, 2013, it was announced that [[The Dresden Dolls|Dresden Dolls]] drummer [[Brian Viglione]] would replace DeLorenzo as the band's drummer.<ref name=jso>{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Piet|title=Recently reunited Violent Femmes replaces founding drummer|url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/recently-reunited-violent-femmes-replaces-founding-drummer-b9954747z1-215548471.html|access-date=July 15, 2013|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|date=July 15, 2013|quote=Less than three weeks after the recently reunited alternative folk-rock band co-headlined the Marcus Amphitheater on Summerfest's opening night comes news that the band's lone Milwaukee resident, Victor DeLorenzo, is out of the group. He's been replaced by new drummer Brian Viglione of the Dresden Dolls, the cabaret rock act that features Amanda Palmer.|archive-date=December 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231845/http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/recently-reunited-violent-femmes-replaces-founding-drummer-b9954747z1-215548471.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/07/brian-viglione-of-dresden-dolls-joins.html |title=VVN Music: Brian Viglione of the Dresden Dolls Joins the Violent Femmes |website=Vintagevinylnews.com |date=July 15, 2013 |access-date=July 16, 2013 |quote=Former Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione is the new drummer for The Violent Femmes replacing Victor DeLorenzo who announced his departure today. |archive-date=July 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719022217/http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/07/brian-viglione-of-dresden-dolls-joins.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a statement, DeLorenzo said "It's always hard to write a eulogy for a lost loved one. In this case, I sadly lament the loss of a dream and an ideal that was once Violent Femmes."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shepherdexpress.com/blog-9428-victor-delorenzo-has-been-kicked-out-of-the-violent-femmes-(again).html |title=Victor DeLorenzo Has Been Kicked Out of the Violent Femmes (Again) |first=Evan |last=Rytlewski |website=[[Shepherd Express]] |date=July 16, 2013 |access-date=May 3, 2016 |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604022922/http://shepherdexpress.com/blog-9428-victor-delorenzo-has-been-kicked-out-of-the-violent-femmes-(again).html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Violent Femmes played three shows in Australia as part of the 2013/2014 [[Falls Festival]], performing at Marion Bay on December 30, Lorne on December 31, and Byron Bay on January 2.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url          = http://marionbay.fallsfestival.com.au/artists/#violent-femmes
 |title        = Artists {{!}} Marion Bay
 |work         = ExpressMilwaukee.com
 |date         = July 16, 2013
|access-date   = January 2, 2014
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191204/http://marionbay.fallsfestival.com.au/artists/#violent-femmes
 |archive-date = January 2, 2014
|url-status     = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref> On May 11, 2014, they performed at the Shaky Knees music festival in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shakykneesfestival.com/|title=Home – Shaky Knees 2014|website=Shaky Knees Festival 2014|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=October 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019091627/http://shakykneesfestival.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The band played several shows in Australia around the start of 2015, including the [[Woodford Folk Festival]], the [[Sydney Opera House]], and [[MONA FOMA]] festival. In the midst of these performances, they recorded their first new material in 15 years on New Year's Eve 2014 in Hobart, Tasmania. These four songs were released on an exclusive four-song EP on clear 180-gram vinyl on April 18, 2015, for [[Record Store Day]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/hear-violent-femmes-first-new-song-in-15-years-20150304|title=Hear Violent Femmes' First New Song in 15 Years|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 4, 2015|access-date=March 8, 2015|archive-date=March 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308113930/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/hear-violent-femmes-first-new-song-in-15-years-20150304|url-status=dead}}</ref> The band then joined [[Barenaked Ladies]] and [[Colin Hay]] on a two-month tour in the summer of 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.tiqiq.com/2015/02/barenaked-ladies-2015-last-summer-earth-tour-includes-violent-femmes-colin-hay/|title=Barenaked Ladies 2015 "Last Summer On Earth" Tour Includes Violent Femmes and Colin Hay|website=TiqIQ Blog|access-date=March 8, 2015|archive-date=February 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217184405/http://blog.tiqiq.com/2015/02/barenaked-ladies-2015-last-summer-earth-tour-includes-violent-femmes-colin-hay/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2016, Viglione announced via his Facebook page that he had "handed in his resignation" to the band, adding that he was "grateful to have had the experience."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brianviglionemusic/photos/a.184740138769.125813.174751688769/10153805374528770/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/174751688769/10153805374528770 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Brian Viglione – Evolution and change are always exciting, and...|last=Brian Viglione|website=Facebook.com|date=January 1, 2016|access-date=January 1, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Later that month, the band announced that its first full album in 16 years, ''[[We Can Do Anything]], '' would be released on March 22, 2016.<ref name="wcda">{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/01/13/462656061/hear-a-song-from-violent-femmes-first-album-in-15-years |title=Hear A Song From Violent Femmes' First Album In 15 Years |first=Robin |last=Hilton |website=[[All Songs Considered]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=January 23, 2016 |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121085928/http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/01/13/462656061/hear-a-song-from-violent-femmes-first-album-in-15-years |url-status=live }}</ref> Viglione is credited as the drummer on the album.<ref name="wcda"/>

Drummer John Sparrow, who began playing [[cajón]] in the Femmes' backing band, the Horns of Dilemma, in August 2005, joined the band as its new drummer after Viglione's exit. On February 23, 2016, he appeared with the band on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' to promote ''We Can Do Anything.''<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/violent-femmes-jam-with-stephen-colbert-introduce-new-local-drummer-b99676458z1-370029861.html| title = Violent Femmes jam with Stephen Colbert, introduce new local drummer| last = Levy| first = Piet| newspaper = [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]| access-date = February 27, 2016| archive-date = February 27, 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160227032636/http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/violent-femmes-jam-with-stephen-colbert-introduce-new-local-drummer-b99676458z1-370029861.html| url-status = live}}</ref> On April 30, 2019, the band announced a new studio album, ''[[Hotel Last Resort]]'', released on July 26, 2019.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/violent-femmes-new-song-album-hotel-last-resort-828975/|title=Hear Violent Femmes' New Song With Television's Tom Verlaine, 'Hotel Last Resort'|first1=Ryan|last1=Reed|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=April 30, 2019|access-date=April 30, 2019|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430123927/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/violent-femmes-new-song-album-hotel-last-resort-828975/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2019, the band returned to the East Side neighborhood of Milwaukee, in and around the street art destination Black Cat Alley, to film the music video for the single "I'm Nothing".<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/07/25/violent-femmes-return-busking-roots-new-made-milwaukee-music-video/1829052001/| title = Violent Femmes return to their busking roots in new filmed-in-Milwaukee music video| last = Levy| first = Piet| newspaper = [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]| access-date = July 25, 2019| archive-date = July 26, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190726150633/https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/07/25/violent-femmes-return-busking-roots-new-made-milwaukee-music-video/1829052001/| url-status = live}}</ref>

The Violent Femmes are featured on the song "Gotta Get to Peekskill" by [[Dropkick Murphys]] that appears on the band's 2023 album ''[[Okemah Rising]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://consequence.net/2023/03/dropkick-murphys-violent-femmes-gotta-get-to-peekskill/| title = Dropkick Murphys and Violent Femmes Fight the Ku Klux Klan on "Gotta Get to Peekskill": Stream| last = Kaufman| first = Spencer| newspaper = [[Consequence of Sound]]| access-date = March 31, 2023| archive-date = March 31, 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230331134734/https://consequence.net/2023/03/dropkick-murphys-violent-femmes-gotta-get-to-peekskill/| url-status = live}}</ref>