Victor DeLorenzo
Encyclopedia
Victor DeLorenzo was born on October 25, 1954, and is best known as the drummer for the folk-punk band the Violent Femmes
.
He grew up in Racine
, Wisconsin
and has lived in Milwaukee
, Wisconsin
, since. He has been a drummer since the age of sixteen, but an actor since the age of five. While attending the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, he auditioned for and was accepted into Theatre X
in 1976, and worked with them in various roles for more than twenty years.
As a drummer, DeLorenzo paired up with bassist Brian Ritchie
in 1981, as a rhythm section that they called Violent Femmes. When singer, guitarist and songwriter Gordon Gano
joined them in 1980, the band called themselves the Violent Femmes
. DeLorenzo's father loaned the band $10,000 to record their debut album, Violent Femmes
, in 1982. However, the Violent Femmes were forced to delay its release until 1983 after they signed to Slash Records
. His signature sound is due to his minimalist drum kit. He often uses nothing more than a snare drum
, a tranceaphone and steel brushes
. The tranceaphone consists of a metal bushel basket inverted over a tom
. He favors this style of kit because in their early days, the band often played on the streets.
DeLorenzo continued to act with Theatre X, and record and tour with the Femmes until 1993, when he left to devote more of his time to acting and to recording his own music. He toured as part of Moe Tucker's band in that year. In 1996 he opened a recording studio called Joe's Real Recording. He has released three solo records since 1990. in addition to recording his own music, he has played with several side projects, including Ash Can School. In 2000, he teamed up with Ritchie to put together a Femmes compilation, and subsequently rejoined the band. The Violent Femmes disbanded in 2009.
DeLorenzo's biggest influences are the painter Marcel Duchamp
, and his father.
Nowadays DeLorenzo performs percussion in the chamber rock trio Nineteen Thirteen with cellist Janet Schiff and percussionist Scott Johnson. Nineteen Thirteen's recording of Hurricane Noel was featured in the 2011 TED Global Conference.
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
.
He grew up in Racine
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and has lived in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, since. He has been a drummer since the age of sixteen, but an actor since the age of five. While attending the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, he auditioned for and was accepted into Theatre X
Theatre X
Theatre X was an American theatre company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Until its demise in 2004, it was one of the oldest operating experimental theatre ensembles in the U.S.-History:...
in 1976, and worked with them in various roles for more than twenty years.
As a drummer, DeLorenzo paired up with bassist Brian Ritchie
Brian Ritchie
Brian Ritchie was the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Violent Femmes.In addition to his bass playing, Ritchie is proficient at the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute...
in 1981, as a rhythm section that they called Violent Femmes. When singer, guitarist and songwriter Gordon Gano
Gordon Gano
Gordon James Gano is an American musician. He is best known for being the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American alternative rock band Violent Femmes.-Early life:...
joined them in 1980, the band called themselves the Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
. DeLorenzo's father loaned the band $10,000 to record their debut album, Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes (album)
Violent Femmes is the debut album by Violent Femmes. Mostly recorded in July 1982, the album was released by Slash Records on vinyl and on cassette in April 1983, and on CD in 1987 with two extra tracks "Ugly" and "Gimme the Car"....
, in 1982. However, the Violent Femmes were forced to delay its release until 1983 after they signed to Slash Records
Slash Records
Slash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album...
. His signature sound is due to his minimalist drum kit. He often uses nothing more than a snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
, a tranceaphone and steel brushes
Drum stick
A percussion mallet is an object used to beat drums and other percussion instruments. Some specialized mallets are called beaters, drumsticks.Note: See Rute .-Drum sticks:...
. The tranceaphone consists of a metal bushel basket inverted over a tom
Tom-tom drum
A tom-tom drum is a cylindrical drum with no snare.Although "tom-tom" is the British term for a child's toy drum, the name came originally from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala; the tom-tom itself comes from Asian or Native American cultures...
. He favors this style of kit because in their early days, the band often played on the streets.
DeLorenzo continued to act with Theatre X, and record and tour with the Femmes until 1993, when he left to devote more of his time to acting and to recording his own music. He toured as part of Moe Tucker's band in that year. In 1996 he opened a recording studio called Joe's Real Recording. He has released three solo records since 1990. in addition to recording his own music, he has played with several side projects, including Ash Can School. In 2000, he teamed up with Ritchie to put together a Femmes compilation, and subsequently rejoined the band. The Violent Femmes disbanded in 2009.
DeLorenzo's biggest influences are the painter Marcel Duchamp
Marcel Duchamp
Marcel Duchamp was a French artist whose work is most often associated with the Dadaist and Surrealist movements. Considered by some to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Duchamp's output influenced the development of post-World War I Western art...
, and his father.
Nowadays DeLorenzo performs percussion in the chamber rock trio Nineteen Thirteen with cellist Janet Schiff and percussionist Scott Johnson. Nineteen Thirteen's recording of Hurricane Noel was featured in the 2011 TED Global Conference.
Discography
- Infinite Prelude Ep (2011)
- Peter Corey Sent Me (1990)
- Pancake DayPancake Day (album)Pancake Day is the second solo album by Victor DeLorenzo, better known as drummer of Violent Femmes. It was produced and engineered by Michael Hoffman and DeLorenzo...
(1996) - The Blessed Faustina (1999)