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Violent Femmes were formed in 1980 by bassist/multi-instrumentalist Brian Ritchie and drummer Victor De Lorenzo. The band's name reflects a contradiction, with "Violent" being straightforward and "Femmes" being Milwaukee slang for wimp. In 1981, high school singer/songwriter Gordon Gano joined the group, having previously performed with Ritchie at Gano's National Honor Society induction ceremony, an event that resulted in Gano's expulsion and suspension due to their disruptive performance. The band is known for their aversion to rehearsal, often taking their music to the streets to refine it and earn money. During one of these street performances, they caught the attention of the Pretenders, who invited them to open a show. Despite facing boos from the Milwaukee audience initially, the Femmes managed to win over about 50% of the crowd by the end of their set. Years later, when Ritchie encountered Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, she remarked, “Oh, you’re still around.” With a loan of $10,000 from De Lorenzo's father, the band recorded their iconic first album in 1982. They signed with Slash Records in Los Angeles, which was the only label to offer them a deal with no advance. This led to a cycle of world tours, recording, band member changes, solo projects, and various personal challenges, including divorces and legal issues. Despite the many changes over the years, the sound of Viol

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