The Muffs
Encyclopedia
The Muffs are a rock
band based in Southern California
, formed in 1991 and led by Kim Shattuck
.
. The original lineup also included guitarist Melanie Vammen (like Shattuck, a former member of 1980s all-female garage rock outfit The Pandoras
), bassist Ronnie Barnett and drummer Criss Crass.
After releasing their initial 7" EP
s and singles
independently and on local labels, the Muffs signed to Warner Bros. Records
in the early '90s and released their self-titled debut album in 1993. The Muffs were eventually dropped from the label.
Vammen and Crass left after the band's self-titled debut album. Crass was replaced by Jim Laspesa after their 1993 tour with the Goo Goo Dolls
, and later by Roy McDonald in 1994. The Muffs have been a 3-piece since 1995 with members Kim Shattuck, Ronnie Barnett and Roy McDonald.
The Muffs' second album, Blonder and Blonder
, was released on Reprise Records in 1995.
Their cover of "Kids In America"
, originally by Kim Wilde
, was used in the soundtrack for the 1995 film Clueless. It was later reissued on the Muffs' 2000 album Hamburger
. The song is also used in Rock Band 2
.
The band contributed the song "Pimmel" to the Fat Wreck Chords
compilation
Short Music for Short People
in 1999. "I Wish That I Could Be You", from the band's Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow, was featured on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode The Freshman.
British indie band Silver Sun
covered the Muffs' song "I'm A Dick" on their Too Much, Too Little, Too Late EP
, while American punk rock band the Huntingtons
covered the Muffs song "Big Mouth" on their Rock 'N' Roll Habits For The New Wave
LP. "Big Mouth" was also covered by American punk rock band Off With Their Heads
on the Art of the Underground Singles Series Volume 9.
Compilation Albums:
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band based in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, formed in 1991 and led by Kim Shattuck
Kim Shattuck
Kim Shattuck is the lead singer and guitarist of the band The Muffs. From 1983 to 1991, she was a member of The Pandoras. Since 2001, she also has been lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for The Beards, a superpop sideproject composed of Shattuck, Lisa Marr, and Sherri Solinger.She sang on a...
.
History
The Muffs' leader is singer-songwriter Kim ShattuckKim Shattuck
Kim Shattuck is the lead singer and guitarist of the band The Muffs. From 1983 to 1991, she was a member of The Pandoras. Since 2001, she also has been lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for The Beards, a superpop sideproject composed of Shattuck, Lisa Marr, and Sherri Solinger.She sang on a...
. The original lineup also included guitarist Melanie Vammen (like Shattuck, a former member of 1980s all-female garage rock outfit 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...
), bassist Ronnie Barnett and drummer Criss Crass.
After releasing their initial 7" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s and singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
independently and on local labels, the Muffs signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
in the early '90s and released their self-titled debut album in 1993. The Muffs were eventually dropped from the label.
Vammen and Crass left after the band's self-titled debut album. Crass was replaced by Jim Laspesa after their 1993 tour with the Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
, and later by Roy McDonald in 1994. The Muffs have been a 3-piece since 1995 with members Kim Shattuck, Ronnie Barnett and Roy McDonald.
The Muffs' second album, Blonder and Blonder
Blonder and Blonder
Blonder and Blonder is the second album by the pop punk band The Muffs, released on April 11, 1995 on Reprise Records. The album contains the single "Sad Tomorrow".-Track listing:All songs were written by Kim Shattuck and The Muffs ....
, was released on Reprise Records in 1995.
Their cover of "Kids In America"
Kids in America (song)
"Kids in America" is a New Wave song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the US in 1982. It has famously been covered by many artists from different genres.-Background:...
, originally by Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
, was used in the soundtrack for the 1995 film Clueless. It was later reissued on the Muffs' 2000 album Hamburger
Hamburger (album)
-Album information:* "Get Me Out Of Here" previously released on the Nardwuar the Human Serviette Presents Clam Chowder & Ice Vs Big Macs & Bombers Compilation , NardWuar Records...
. The song is also used in Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
.
The band contributed the song "Pimmel" to the Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Short Music for Short People
Short Music for Short People
Short Music for Short People is a 1999 compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. The title is a parody of the 1980s punk compilation Rat Music for Rat People...
in 1999. "I Wish That I Could Be You", from the band's Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow, was featured on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode The Freshman.
British indie band Silver Sun
Silver Sun
Silver Sun may refer to:*Silversun , an Australian TV series*Silver Sun , an English rock/pop band*Silversun Pickups, an American indie rock band...
covered the Muffs' song "I'm A Dick" on their Too Much, Too Little, Too Late EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, while American punk rock band the Huntingtons
The Huntingtons
The Huntingtons are a punk band from Baltimore, Maryland which formed in 1993-1994 in the Maryland/Delaware area by Cliff Powell , Mike Holt and Mike Pierce . The band is heavily influenced by The Ramones.-1993-2005:The Huntingtons debut album Sweet Sixteen was released in 1996 by Flying Tart...
covered the Muffs song "Big Mouth" on their Rock 'N' Roll Habits For The New Wave
Rock 'N' Roll Habits for the New Wave
Rock 'n' Roll Habits for the New Wave is an album by the Huntingtons released in 2001 on the Burnt Toast Vinyl label. In 2011, the album was remastered and released digitally to improve clarity, dynamic range and song to song flow...
LP. "Big Mouth" was also covered by American punk rock band Off With Their Heads
Off With Their Heads (band)
Off with Their Heads is a punk rock band formed in 2002 from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since their formation, they have often featured a rotating line-up of tour players, due to their members' other commitments and Off With Their Head's own full-time touring schedule...
on the Art of the Underground Singles Series Volume 9.
Discography
Studio Albums:- The MuffsThe Muffs (album)The Muffs is the debut album by the pop punk band The Muffs, released on May 11, 1993 on Warner Bros. Records. The album contains the single "Big Mouth"...
(1993) - Blonder and BlonderBlonder and BlonderBlonder and Blonder is the second album by the pop punk band The Muffs, released on April 11, 1995 on Reprise Records. The album contains the single "Sad Tomorrow".-Track listing:All songs were written by Kim Shattuck and The Muffs ....
(1995) - Happy Birthday to MeHappy Birthday to Me (album)Happy Birthday to me is the third album by the pop punk band The Muffs, released on May 20, 1997 on Reprise Records.-Track listing:All songs were written by Kim Shattuck.#Crush Me - 1.48#That Awful Man - 1.59#Honeymoon - 1.55...
(1997) - Alert Today, Alive TomorrowAlert Today, Alive TomorrowAlert Today, Alive Tomorrow is the 4th album by the pop punk band The Muffs, released on June 15, 1999 on Honest Don's.-Track listing:All songs were written by Kim Shattuck.#I Wish That I Could Be You - 1.46#Silly People - 3.43...
(1999) - Really Really HappyReally Really HappyReally Really Happy is the 5th and last album by the pop punk band The Muffs, released in 2004.-Track listing:All songs were written by Kim Shattuck.#Freak Out#A Little Luxury#Really Really Happy#Something Inside...
(2004)
Compilation Albums:
- HamburgerHamburger (album)-Album information:* "Get Me Out Of Here" previously released on the Nardwuar the Human Serviette Presents Clam Chowder & Ice Vs Big Macs & Bombers Compilation , NardWuar Records...
(2000) - Kaboodle (2011)