Throwing Muses
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Throwing Muses are an alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects. Originally fronted by two distinctive lead singers, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly, who both wrote the group's songs, Throwing Muses are known for performing music with shifting tempos, creative chord progressions, unorthodox song structures, and surreal lyrics. The group was set apart from other contemporary acts by Hersh's stark, candid writing style; Donelly's pop stylings and vocal harmonies; and David Narcizo's unusual drumming techniques eschewing use of cymbals. Hallucinatory, febrile songs by Hersh occasionally touched on the subject of mental illness, more often drawing portraits of characters from daily life or addressing relationships. Throwing Muses' angular, anguished, mercurial sound had much to do with Hersh's mental illness (she suffered from a form of bipolarity that caused her to hallucinate).
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[edit] Early group history
Hersh enlisted her stepsister, Donelly, to help form the group when they were in high school. The two served as guitarists, lead vocalists, and songwriters for the group; drummer David Narcizo joined shortly thereafter. Hersh originally named the group "The Muses". Since the band was no longer composed of only female musicians after Narcizo joined, they decided to shift to a name with fewer gender-specific connotations, "Throwing Muses".
Early recordings were made in 1983 but not released. The group self-released a set of demos in 1984, later known as The Doghouse Cassette, garnering a number-one college radio hit, "Sinkhole," that year. A self-titled EP was also released in 1984 on their Blowing Fuses label. The demos came to the attention of Ivo Watts-Russell, who signed them as the first U.S. band on the 4AD Records label and released their self-titled debut album in 1986.
The group also co-released some of their later albums on Sire/Reprise Records and Rykodisc. With cover stories about them published in most major British music publications of the 1980s, they became one of the first successful alternative rock acts to be led by two female singer/guitarists, helping set the stage for later arrivals like Sleater-Kinney.
The band's personnel has changed over the years. Bassist Leslie Langston left after 1990, replaced by Fred Abong, but returned briefly to record tracks on Red Heaven in 1992. Donelly left Throwing Muses after 1991's The Real Ramona release, first to perform in The Breeders and afterwards to form Belly. Abong left in 1991, soon joining Belly, and was succeeded by Bernard Georges in 1993. Since 1992, the group has been a trio composed of Hersh on guitar and vocals, Georges on bass, and Narcizo on drums. During the mid-1990s, Hersh also began a solo recording career, releasing the album Hips and Makers, alongside her band work.
[edit] Later work
In 1995, the new lineup released University, recorded in New Orleans; the album included "Bright Yellow Gun," a single garnering airplay on commercial radio stations. The album's radio exposure led to long feature articles in Rolling Stone and other major music magazines. But the higher profile didn't lead to higher sales. Following the Limbo album in 1996, the band announced it was going on indefinite hiatus due to the high financial overhead of being a full-time recording and touring band.
Hersh continued her solo career during this period, releasing several well-received albums and EPs. Yet her enthusiasm for Throwing Muses remained high; the band recorded new versions of several early songs for inclusion in the double-CD In a Doghouse compilation comprised of the self-titled debut album and the Doghouse Cassette. The band regrouped to perform special "Gut Pageant" events in 2000 and 2001, and released an album 2003, Throwing Muses. Donelly made her first appearances with the group in a decade at the 2000 Gut Pageant, also singing backing vocals on several tracks on the 2003 album. The group toured the U.S. and Europe briefly in 2003 to support the album, with appearances by Donelly on guitar and vocals in a couple of the tour's shows.
Hersh and Georges formed a new band, 50 Foot Wave, with drummer Rob Ahlers in 2003, while Narcizo returned to his graphic design company and his occasional musical project Lakuna. Donelly continues to record as a solo artist.
[edit] Personnel
Long-term core lineup
- Bernard Georges: bass (1992–onwards)
- Kristin Hersh: vocals, guitar (1981–onwards)
- David Narcizo: drums (1983–onwards)
Other members
- Fred Abong: bass (1990–1991)
- Elaine Adamedes: bass, vocals (1981–1983)
- Becca Blumen: drums, vocals (1981—1983)
- Tanya Donelly: vocals, guitar (1981–1991, guest in concerts and recording 2001 and 2003)
- Leslie Langston: bass (1984–1990, recording briefly 1992)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums and EPs
- Throwing Muses EP, 1983
- Stand Up EP, 1984 (self-released 7")
- Doghouse Cassette, 1985 (self-distributed cassette)
- Untitled, 1986
- Chains Changed EP, 1987
- The Fat Skier, 1987 (seven-song mini-album)
- House Tornado, 1988
- Hunkpapa, 1989
- Dizzy EP, 1989
- The Real Ramona, 1991 (number 26, UK albums chart)
- Counting Backwards EP, 1991
- Not Too Soon EP, 1991
- Red Heaven, 1992 (number 13, UK albums chart)
- Firepile (part one) EP, 1992
- Firepile (part two) EP, 1992
- The Curse (live), 1992
- Bright Yellow Gun EP, 1994
- University, 1995 (number 10, UK albums chart)
- Limbo, 1996 (number 36, UK albums chart)
- Shark EP, 1996
- Ruthie's Knocking EP, 1996
- Live to Tape EP, 1997 (limited promotional release: 750 copies)
- Freeloader EP, 1997
- In a Doghouse (2 CD compilation), 1998
- Live in Providence, 2001
- Throwing Muses, 2003
[edit] Chart singles
| Year | Song | US Modern Rock | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Dizzy" | 8 | Hunkpapa |
| 1991 | "Counting Backwards" | 11 | The Real Ramona |
| 1995 | "Bright Yellow Gun" | 20 | University |
[edit] Song samples
[edit] References
- "Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved Dec. 13, 2005.
- Freydkin, Donna (August 19, 1999). "Kristin Hersh Checks Into her 'Sky Motel'." CNN Interactive. Retrieved Dec. 13, 2005.
- Haas, Marcel. "Throwing Muses Discography." Counting Backwards. Retrieved Jun. 3, 2005.
- Hampton, Mark. "Throwing Muses Section." Markwarehouse.com. Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.
- Hersh, Kristin (September 2001). "Kristin Hersh Online Q&A Session Number Two: Questions Posted to the ThrowingMusic Message Board." Bradley's Almanac website archives. Retrieved Apr. 17, 2005.
- Kirkcaldie, Matthew (October 15, 1994). "Throwing Muses/Kristin Hersh Discography, Third Edition." Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.
- Le, Vinh (1996–2005). "Tanya Donelly Timeline". Vinh Le's Belly/Tanya Donelly Pages. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
- "Number 4 of 2003 — Throwing Muses: Throwing Muses" (August 8, 2004). Ninth space. Retrieved Dec. 19, 2004.
- Phares, Heather. "Throwing Muses Biography." All Music Guide. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
- Reynolds, Simon (February 9, 1992). "Belting Out That Most Unfeminine Emotion." New York Times.
- Rykken, Rolf (May 1995). "May 1995 Live Review." Critics' Choice.
- Shirley, David (November/December 1991). "Cracking Up Is Hard to Do: The Break-ups (and Breakdowns) of Throwing Muses." Option.
- Strauss, Neil (March 9, 1995). "My So-Called Double Life: Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses Finds the Common Ground Between Motherhood and Rock & Roll." Rolling Stone.
- "Throwing Muses Discography". Eyesore. Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.
- Wolmarans, Francois. "Counting Backwards." Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.
[edit] External links
- Official ThrowingMusic website
- Beggars Group band site
- Counting Backwards resource site
- Tour history
- 4ad Throwing Muses pages
- Lyrics from Always on the Run site
- Red Eyes Throwing Muses and Kristin Hersh guitar tabs
- Guitar tabs at Passagen site
- Throwing Muses collection on the Internet Archive's live music archive
