Katastrophy Wife
Encyclopedia
Katastrophy Wife is an American rock band formed by Kat Bjelland
and her former husband Glenn Mattson in 1998. Bjelland also fronted the alternative rock band Babes in Toyland
between 1987 and 2001. The band currently consists of Bjelland on lead vocals and guitar and her boyfriend, Adrian Johnson, on drums. The band released two albums, Amusia
(2001) and All Kneel (2004). A third album was due for release in 2008, but, as of 2011, has yet to surface.
. Seeing as Babes in Toyland were not performing much shows - and were unofficially defunct after bassist Maureen Herman
left in 1996 - Katastrophy Wife soon became Bjelland's main musical output.
The band's first production was the soundtrack for the comic Witchblade
on Dreamworks
. The soundtrack featured other artists such as Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins, Lydia Lunch
, Miho of Cibo Mato, Girls Against Boys and Dave Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy
.
In 2001, the band recorded their debut album Amusia
and released it later that year. Featuring original bassist Keith St. Louis, the album achieved considerable indie success, even acquiring the band a slot at the infamous Reading Festival in 2002 and a headline spot on the UK leg of the United States' Ladyfest in 2001. Their first single, and opening track from the album, "Gone Away
", was released in 2001. After the performance at the Reading Festival, Glenn Mattson and Keith St. Louis departed from the band, with Adrian Johnson and Andrew Parker replacing them, respectively. Vanessa White, former guitarist of Twist, also joined the band.
. However, after facing legal problems from former band members, Bjelland reconsidered and reverted the name back to Katastrophy Wife. Around this time, Bjelland's friend Courtney Love
of Hole
announced her new, short-lived punk band, Bastard, which she asked Bjelland to join. Bjelland denied Love's offer stating that:
Katastrophy Wife's second studio album, All Kneel, was released in June 2004 to favourable reviews. Three singles singles were released from the album, "Liberty Belle", "Money Shot" and "Blue Valient", a song originally written and recorded during the sessions for Witchblade.
Pregnant was initially planned for released in 2008 but was postponed for undisclosed reasons. It was reported that in 2007, Bjelland suffered a schizophrenic
breakdown and was receiving treatment. A further release date was announced for 2009, however, this did not follow through either. The band's MySpace
page has been inactive since September 2010.
Kat Bjelland
Katherine "Kat" Bjelland is an American musician who is currently the lead singer-guitarist of the band Katastrophy Wife, and is the former lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock band Babes in Toyland....
and her former husband Glenn Mattson in 1998. Bjelland also fronted the alternative rock band Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (band)
Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...
between 1987 and 2001. The band currently consists of Bjelland on lead vocals and guitar and her boyfriend, Adrian Johnson, on drums. The band released two albums, Amusia
Amusia
Amusia is a musical disorder that appears mainly as a defect in processing pitch, but it also encompasses musical memory and recognition. Two main classifications of amusia exist: acquired amusia, which occurs as a result of brain damage, and congenital amusia, which results from a music processing...
(2001) and All Kneel (2004). A third album was due for release in 2008, but, as of 2011, has yet to surface.
Formation and early years (1998-2001)
Kat Bjelland and her then-husband Glenn Mattson formed Katastrophy Wife in 1998, during the time in which Bjelland was still in Babes in ToylandBabes in Toyland (band)
Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...
. Seeing as Babes in Toyland were not performing much shows - and were unofficially defunct after bassist Maureen Herman
Maureen Herman
Maureen Herman was from 1992 until 1996 the bass player for the Minneapolis-based Babes in Toyland.-Early years:Herman was raised in Libertyville, Illinois, and attended Libertyville High School...
left in 1996 - Katastrophy Wife soon became Bjelland's main musical output.
The band's first production was the soundtrack for the comic Witchblade
Witchblade
Witchblade is an American comic book series published by Top Cow Productions, an imprint of Image Comics, from 1995 until present. The series was created by Top Cow editors Marc Silvestri and David Wohl, writers Brian Haberlin and Christina Z, and artist Michael Turner.The series follows Sara...
on Dreamworks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
. The soundtrack featured other artists such as Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins, Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress whose career was spawned by the New York No Wave scene...
, Miho of Cibo Mato, Girls Against Boys and Dave Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
.
In 2001, the band recorded their debut album Amusia
Amusia
Amusia is a musical disorder that appears mainly as a defect in processing pitch, but it also encompasses musical memory and recognition. Two main classifications of amusia exist: acquired amusia, which occurs as a result of brain damage, and congenital amusia, which results from a music processing...
and released it later that year. Featuring original bassist Keith St. Louis, the album achieved considerable indie success, even acquiring the band a slot at the infamous Reading Festival in 2002 and a headline spot on the UK leg of the United States' Ladyfest in 2001. Their first single, and opening track from the album, "Gone Away
Gone Away
-Sales:The single reached Gold in Australia, selling 35,000 copies. It was the first single released by the Offspring to reach Gold status in any country.-Music video:...
", was released in 2001. After the performance at the Reading Festival, Glenn Mattson and Keith St. Louis departed from the band, with Adrian Johnson and Andrew Parker replacing them, respectively. Vanessa White, former guitarist of Twist, also joined the band.
Name issues, Bastard, and All Kneel (2002-2004)
During Katastrophy Wife's short tour of Europe in 2002, Kat Bjelland used the title of her old band Babes in ToylandBabes in Toyland (band)
Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...
. However, after facing legal problems from former band members, Bjelland reconsidered and reverted the name back to Katastrophy Wife. Around this time, Bjelland's friend Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
of Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
announced her new, short-lived punk band, Bastard, which she asked Bjelland to join. Bjelland denied Love's offer stating that:
"It seemed too conceptualised, like she'd spent too much time thinking about how a band should be [...] Courtney and I make great music together, there's a good spark there, but let's say our personalities would not have been a great mix at that time."
Katastrophy Wife's second studio album, All Kneel, was released in June 2004 to favourable reviews. Three singles singles were released from the album, "Liberty Belle", "Money Shot" and "Blue Valient", a song originally written and recorded during the sessions for Witchblade.
New single and current status (2005-present)
Parker, Donovan and White left the group in 2006, leaving Bjelland and Johnson the remaining band members. After their bandmates' departues, both Bjelland and Johnson continued to record under the name Katastrophy Wife. They began recording again and in May 2007 released "Heart-On", their first single in three years and first from the upcoming album Pregnant.Pregnant was initially planned for released in 2008 but was postponed for undisclosed reasons. It was reported that in 2007, Bjelland suffered a schizophrenic
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
breakdown and was receiving treatment. A further release date was announced for 2009, however, this did not follow through either. The band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page has been inactive since September 2010.
Current members
- Kat BjellandKat BjellandKatherine "Kat" Bjelland is an American musician who is currently the lead singer-guitarist of the band Katastrophy Wife, and is the former lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock band Babes in Toyland....
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1998–present) - Adrian Johnson - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(200?-present)
Former members
- Andrew Parker - bass (2003–2006)
- Darren Donovan - drums (2003–2006)
- Vanessa White - guitars (2003–2006)
- Glen Mattson - drums (1998–2002)
- Keith St Louis - bass (1999–2002)
- Brendon Parkes - guitars (1999)
- Oliver James - bass (1999)
Studio albums
- AmusiaAmusia (album)Amusia is the first album by Punk rock band Katastrophy Wife, released in 2001.-Track listing:All songs by Katastrophy Wife#Gone Away#Boomerang Doll#Git Go#Rosacea#Pretty Car#Anathema#Knife Fight#Haunted#Window#Widdershins...
(2001) - All Kneel (2004)
- Pregnant (TBA)
Singles/EPs
- Gone Away (2001)
- Liberty Belle (2003)
- Money Shot (2003)
- Blue Valiant (2004)
- Heart On (2007)
External links
- www.katastrophywife.com (official site)
- www.katbjelland.com (fansite)