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![[Babes In Toyland]](bit.jpg)
Katherine Bjelland Lori Barbero Danna Cochran [now playing : Babes In Toyland - He's My Thing]
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Biography
This hardcore rock trio spearheaded a new wave of US female bands at the turn of the 90s. Their origins can be traced back to 1987, when Kat Bjelland (b. Katherine Bjelland, 9 December 1963, Woodburn, Oregon, USA - adopted, though she did not know it until she was much older; vocals/guitar) moved to Minneapolis. Previously she had played in a band, Sugar Baby Doll, with Courtney Love (Hole) and Jennifer Finch (L7) in San Francisco. The trio was completed by Michelle Leon (bass) and Lori Barbero (b. 27 November 1960, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; drums/vocals). They first came to prominence at the legendary singles club at Sub Pop Records, then made a deep impression on a European support tour with Sonic Youth. A debut album, produced by Jack Endino, was recorded live with the vocals overdubbed. Soon afterwards, WEA A&R representative Tim Carr saw the band live in Minneapolis and was impressed. After signing to the label, they recorded the 1992 mini-album To Mother.
Bjelland, meanwhile, was busy defending the band from the suspicious minds of a media that wanted to lump the band together with other all-girl bands to create a movement.
'Men and women play their instruments to a completely different beat. Women are a lot more rhythmic - naturally - than men. It doesn't even have anything to do with music, it all has to do with timing.'
In 1992 Leon left the group and was replaced by Maureen Herman (b. 25 July 1966, Chicago, Illinois, USA). Fontanelle received excellent reviews throughout the rock and indie press, and a support tour with Faith No More brought them further plaudits, as they signed with their first manager, Debbie Gordon. However, when the group took a break in 1993, press speculation suggested their imminent demise. Lori Barbero formed her own label, Spanish Fly, home of Milk, while Kat worked with her husband Stuart Grey, singer with Australian noise outfit Lubricated Goat, on two projects, Crunt and KatSu.
Babes In Toyland reconvened in time for the the Lollapalooza tour and in 1995 Nemesisters was a powerful return to form, with memorable cover versions of Sister Sledge 's 'We Are Family' and Eric Carmen 's 'All By Myself' sitting well alongside strong original compositions such as 'Memory' and 'Scherezadian 22'. Herman was replaced by Danna Cochran in late 1996.
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Discography
Albums Spanking Machine, 1989 To Mother, 1991 Fontanelle, 1992 Nemesisters, 1995 Links Babes In Toyland Showcase
Babes In Toyland on Sub Pop Records
Babes In Toyland Homepage
Southern web site of Babes In Toyland
Info on Fontanelle
Babes in Toyland Twintone page
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