Screamin' Sirens
Encyclopedia
Screamin' Sirens were an all-women band
that combined country music
, punk rock
, rockabilly
and a dash of funk
for their own wild party music. They pre-dated what is usually referred to as alternative country
, but undoubtedly influenced it. They were based in Hollywood, California. The band featured Rosie Flores
, who went on to have a successful solo career in the alternative country and rockabilly
scene. Pleasant Gehman
is also a successful writer and editor, and a member of the Ringling Sisters. Bassist
Miiko Watanabe went on to play with American Girls
. Casey Gomez, who played drums with the group for a time, had also played with the Pandoras
. Screamin' Sirens were notorious for their wild live shows and party-inducing image. They also did a film called The Runnin' Kind which starred Brie Howard
as well as Screamin' Sirens.
All-women band
An all-female band is a musical group composed of female musicians exclusively. A distinction is made here with a girl group, in which the members are solely vocalists, though this terminology is not universally followed.-1920s-1940s:In the Jazz Age and during the 1930s, "all-girl" bands such as...
that combined country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
and a dash of funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
for their own wild party music. They pre-dated what is usually referred to as alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
, but undoubtedly influenced it. They were based in Hollywood, California. The band featured Rosie Flores
Rosie Flores
Rosie Flores is a rockabilly and country music artist of Mexican American heritage. Her music blends rockabilly, honky tonk, jazz, and Western swing along with traditional influences from her Tex-Mex heritage...
, who went on to have a successful solo career in the alternative country and rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
scene. Pleasant Gehman
Pleasant Gehman
Pleasant Gehman is a magazine writer, poet, actor, dancer and musician from Los Angeles.In the 1980s, she was the singer for the punk rock band Screamin' Sirens, and later, The RIngling Sisters and Honk If Yer Horny. All three bands have released numerous titles on vinyl, as well as cd...
is also a successful writer and editor, and a member of the Ringling Sisters. Bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Miiko Watanabe went on to play with American Girls
American Girls (band)
American Girls were an all-women band based in California, USA.American Girls originally started as a film project, which fizzled. After some personnel changes and more rehearsing, the band surprised those who hadn't previously taken it seriously by taking on a life of its own...
. Casey Gomez, who played drums with the group for a time, had also played with the Pandoras
The Pandoras
The Pandoras were an all-female rock and roll band from Los Angeles, California from 1983–1991, who found a following in the Hollywood "Paisley Underground" scene and later adapted a more contemporary Sunset Boulevard, hard rock look and sound. The band ended when, on August 10, 1991 band leader...
. Screamin' Sirens were notorious for their wild live shows and party-inducing image. They also did a film called The Runnin' Kind which starred Brie Howard
Brie Howard
Brie Howard is an American musician and actress. She has also appeared or been credited under the names Brie Brandt, Brie Darling, and Brie Howard Darling....
as well as Screamin' Sirens.
Personnel
- Diane ("Boom-Boom") Dixon: 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 ....
and 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... - Pleasant Gehman: vocals
- Annette Zilinskas ( bass and vocals)
- Jenni Shore ( guita & vocals)
- Fur Dixon (bass & vocals)
- Shayn Taylor-Shubert bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and 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...
; switched to lead 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...
before quitting - Marsky Reins: fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, rhythm guitar, vocals - Rosie Flores: lead 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...
, vocals (replaced Shayn Taylor-Shubert) - Miiko Watanabe: bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Laura Bandit: bass ( and later switched to rhythm guitar)
- Casey Gomez: drums
- Kathryn Grimm: guitar
- Brie Howard ( played live with the band after shooting the film "The Running Kind"
Discography
- "Sound of Hollywood Women" 1983 Mystic Records track: "Ugly & Slouchy"( compilation)
- "Rodney On The Roq" 1983 compilation track "Black And White Thunderbird"original song by the DelicatesThe DelicatesThe Delicates, were a three-girl singing group, made up of members Denise Ferri, Arleen Lanzotti, and Peggy Santiglia. The group was formed in 1958 while all three members were attending Belleville High School in Belleville, New Jersey....
1959. - "Hell Comes To Your House" 1983 Enigma Records compilation tracks: "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad", "Runnin' Kind"
- Fiesta! 19841984 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
, Enigma RecordsEnigma RecordsEnigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
produced by Michael Reid, Greg Humphrey & Brian Ahern - UK Import 45 "You're Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad" b/w "Runnin' Kind" 1984 Beach culture records
- Enigma VariationsEnigma Variations (album)The Enigma Variations is a compilation album of newer artists that were on Enigma Records or one of its subsidiaries. It was originally released as a double LP and cassette, but was then subsequently also released as a CD with a reduced number of tracks. The album was compiled by Steve Pross and...
- 1985 Enigma compilation, track: "Maniac" - "Radio Tokyo Tapes" 1985 Compilation, Chameleon Records track "Little White Lies"
- "Skaterock" 1986 Thrasher records track: "Heartbreak Train
- Voodoo 19871987 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, Restless RecordsRestless RecordsRestless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
produced by Ethan JamesEthan JamesEthan James could refer to:* Ethan James * Ethan James , British fashion company* The fictional Power Rangers character Ethan James... - "Reform School Girls ( soundtrack) 1987 track "Love Slave"