Chainsaw Kittens

The Chainsaw Kittens were a part of the American alternative rock scene, drawing from pop, glam rock, punk, new wave and British Invasion music.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name="Trouser Press" /><ref name="Alternative Rock" /> Their lyrics tackled such varied topics as religion, the Stonewall riots, Federico Fellini, Oklahoma, Erik Menendez, and Oscar Wilde.<ref name=Allmusic>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Trouser Press">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Based in Norman, Oklahoma, its name a reference to the band members' youth and "chainsaw guitar sound",<ref name=Westword>Template:Cite news</ref> the Chainsaw Kittens were active from 1989 to 2000.<ref name=Allmusic /> Debuting with a sound described 1991 SPIN review as "The Smiths meet the New York Dolls meet the devil",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the group gained attention with "thrift-store transvestism," which it abandoned when the look "started to overshadow the music."<ref name=Westword /> The band underwent several personnel changes,<ref name="Alternative Rock">Template:Cite book</ref> but maintained the presence of principal singer/songwriter Tyson Meade, previously of Norman alt-rock outfit Defenestration, and guitarist/producer Trent Bell.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name="Trouser Press" /><ref name="Alternative Rock" />

Though the Kittens saw little commercial success during their period of activity, they have since won praise as "[a]rguably the best American band who never made it" in the 1990s heyday of alternative rock.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name="Trouser Press" />

In the 1995 movie Empire Records, the character Mark, played by Ethan Embry, is wearing a "Chainsaw Kittens" t-shirt throughout the movie.

The band reunited for a performance at the Norman Music Festival in Norman, Oklahoma on April 26, 2008.<ref name=Oklahoman>Template:Cite news</ref> The band reunited once more on September 8, 2017 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Norman music venue The Opolis.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On October 4, 2017, drummer Eric Harmon died from colon cancer at the age of 48.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Discography

Albums

• Violent Religion (Mammoth, 1990)
• Flipped Out in Singapore (Mammoth, 1992)
• Pop Heiress (Atlantic/Mammoth, 1994)
• Chainsaw Kittens (Mercury/Scratchie, 1996)
• The All American (Four Alarm, 2000)

EPs

• High in High School (Mammoth, 1992)
• Angel on the Range (Mammoth, 1993)
• Candy for You (Scratchie, 1996)

Singles

• "Mother (of the Ancient Birth)" b/w "Death-Sex Rattletrap" (Mammoth Records, 1990, MR 0019, Blue Vinyl)
• "Lazy Little Dove" b/w "Extinction Stomp" (Echostatic/Spacebaby, 1995)
• "Grandaddy's Candy" b/w "Bones in My Teeth" (Scratchie, 1996)

Others

• Bug (2007 soundtrack) (Lionsgate, Sony / RED Distribution, 2007) - track No. 3 "She Gets"
• Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth (soundtrack) - track No. 11 "Waltzing With A Jaguar"

References

<references />

External links

• [[[:Template:Allmusic]] AMG entry, undated]
• Trouser Press entry, undated
• "Pop Heiress Dies" video
• MySpace Fan Page
• Tyson Meade is a Rock God, 2002
• Enotes page, undated
• Babysue Interview, 1997
• Oasis Interview, 1996
• Obituary for Eric Harmon