Shrieking Violets Bio (1993 version)
Shrieking Violets are three women from New York City who play alternative rock with a punk edge. Described by their label, Broken Rekids, as "if the Slits grew up in Brooklyn and listened to post-John Cale Velvet Underground," these women combine diverse influences, including punk, metal and blues, to create their own sound.
Shrieking Violets began when Stephanie Saddler (bass) and Thea K. (guitar) met in 1990 at Hunter College Radio, where Thea did the heavy metal "Hunter From Hell" show and Stephanie did the punk "Hardcore at Hunter" show. Being the only hard-rock DJ's at a station better known for rap and dance music, the two formed an instant camaraderie, and decided to start an original band with the same hard edge and devoted following as their radio shows. Later joined by punk drummer Ingrid Tejeda, the band played their first couple of shows in 1991. In 1992, there was a lineup change with the addition of Tina Lewnes (also a City University student), a drummer with the street-smarts and energy to propel the band into a series of well-received shows.
In the fall of 1992, the band recorded their four-song 7" EP for Broken Rekids. This self-titled EP shows the diversity of their talents. The melodic "Do You Remember" has drawn comparisons to groups such as the Who and the Beatles, while "Bad Chinese Food" has an unmistakable early punk sound (MaximumRockNRoll called it "invigorating Ramones-ish powerchord rock"). "Bad Chinese Food" (which includes the memorable lines "We just wanted to order some lo mein ya know/They must have thought that we said ptomaine to go") is also on a compilation CD put out by the Philadelphia Music Conference. "War", about the Persian Gulf war, and "That'll Show 'Em" a scathing commentary on self-destructive youth culture, are proof that the band is not only socially aware but an important and unique voice of our time and culture. Produced by veteran New York rocker Mickey Leigh (Rattlers), this record is destined to make waves of tsunamic proportions.
During the summer of 1992, the band did a mini-tour of Ohio with NYC band Grit, and also played in Washington DC at the first annual Riot Grrrl convention. However, the group has primarily played in the NYC area at venues such as ABC No Rio and The Lion's Den, and are regulars every month at the Continental for "PMS" shows (Punk and Metal Sundays, featuring all-female bands). They have also recently gone back into the studio to record one song for an upcoming Johnny Thunders tribute CD entitled "Born To Lose", which will include 26 bands from NYC.
Shrieking Violets have big plans for 1993. In April, they played the 2nd Annual Independent Music Festival sponsored by New York University, and a Rock For Choice benefit concert at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and two shows in Canada with Chicken Milk (from Toronto). A small US tour is being planned for this summer.
Shrieking Violets will also be featured on two additional compilations coming out this summer: one will be on Beeswax Records, a new label started by Stephanie Saddler, and the other is "Feed Me I Eat Trash © Vol III" on Behemoth Records. The band also plans to record another 7" for Broken Rekids in the fall.
Stay tuned... Stay shrieking!