Editing Tribe 8

{{Short description|American Lesbian punk rock band}}
{{About|the lesbian punk band|the fantasy role-playing game|Tribe 8 (role-playing game)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name                = Tribe 8
| image               = 
| caption             = 
| image_size          = 
| background          = group_or_band
| origin              = [[San Francisco, California]]
| genre               = [[Punk rock]]
| years_active        = 1991–2005
| label               = [[Outpunk Records|Outpunk]], [[Alternative Tentacles]]
| associated_acts     = 
| website             = {{URL|http://www.tribe8.com/}}
| current_members     = 
| past_members        = [[Lynn Breedlove]]<br>[[Leslie Mah]]<br>Flipper ([[Silas Howard]])<br>[[Slade Bellum]]<br>Jen Schwartz<br>[[Mama T]]<br>Tantrum<br>Kat Buell
}}

'''Tribe 8''' was a lesbian [[punk rock]] band from San Francisco, considered one of the first [[queercore]] groups.<ref name="afterellen">{{citation |title=Review of "Rise Above" |author=Anafaith |date=August 23, 2006 |accessdate=September 21, 2007 |url=http://www.afterellen.com/Movies/2006/8/riseabove.html |periodical=[[AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com|AfterEllen.com]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703203125/http://www.afterellen.com/Movies/2006/8/riseabove.html |archivedate=July 3, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chonin |first=Neva |date=July 12, 2006 |title=Even within the world of womyn, Tribe 8 was a little too punk for comfort. The documentary film 'Rise Above' tells why. |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Even-within-the-world-of-womyn-Tribe-8-was-a-2493192.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107081957/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Even-within-the-world-of-womyn-Tribe-8-was-a-2493192.php |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=2024-05-31 |work=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref> The band took their name from the practice of [[tribadism]], with "tribe eight" being a play on the word ''tribade'', a sexual practice sometimes also known as "scissoring."<ref name="sfbg">{{citation |title=Rise Above: The Tribe 8 Documentary |date=July 12, 2006|periodical=[[San Francisco Bay Guardian]] }}</ref>

== Band members ==
The makeup of the group changed over time, but [[Lynn Breedlove]] and [[Leslie Mah]] (formerly of [[Anti-Scrunti Faction]]) were consistent members. Other members included Flipper ([[Silas Howard]]), [[Slade Bellum]], Jen Schwartz, [[Mama T]], Kat Buell, and Tantrum.<ref name="tribe8">{{citation |url=http://www.tribe8.com/wherearetheynow.html |title=Where Are They Now |periodical=Tribe 8 Official Site |accessdate=September 21, 2007 |archive-date=December 10, 2002 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021210083351/http://www.tribe8.com/wherearetheynow.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Concerts ==
In concert, lead singer Breedlove frequently performed shirtless, wearing a [[strap-on dildo]], and encouraged audience members to interact with it.<ref name="sfbaytimes">{{citation |title=Lynne Breedlove Does It All |periodical=[[San Francisco Bay Times]] |date=April 18, 2002 |first=Don |last=Baird}}</ref> Their songs often deal with subjects such as [[Sadomasochism|S/M]], nudity, [[fellatio]], and [[transgender]] issues, and the band was the subject of controversy because of this. An article from the Chicago Tribune praised their [[The Fireside Bowl|Fireside Bowl]] show in 1998 stating "If the members of Tribe 8 play punk rock like they own it, it's only because they do."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-05-18-9805180110-story.html|title=TRIBE 8 OWNS THE STAGE, BREAKING PUNK STEREOTYPES|last=Tribune|first=Chris Auman Special to the|website=chicagotribune.com|date=18 May 1998 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref>

Tribe 8 toured throughout the United States, playing at venues such as [[Dumba|DUMBA]] and [[924 Gilman Street]]; they also played in Europe and Canada, and released a number of recordings on [[independent record labels]].

In 1996, the band made its screen debut in ''A Gun For Jennifer'', directed by [[Todd Morris]]. The band performs live in the documentary film ''[[She's Real, Worse Than Queer]]'' by [[Lucy Thane]], released in 1997. Members of the band are also interviewed, speaking about a range of topics including the development of the queercore music scene.  In 2003 the film ''[[Rise Above: A Tribe 8 Documentary]]'', by director [[Tracy Flannigan]], was released, documenting not only performances by the band but the motivations and reasons behind the band and the part it plays in their lives. The movie has won many awards at film festivals throughout the U.S.

== Other work ==
Outside of the band, Lynn Breedlove is also the author of a novel, ''[[Godspeed (Breedlove novel)|Godspeed]]'', published in 2002, now translated into German as ''Goetterspeed'', and a memoir ''Lynnee Breedlove's One Freak Show'' published in 2009, winner of the 2010 Lambda Award for Transgender Writing. Leslie Mah has appeared in various films including ''[[The Yo-Yo Gang]]'' by [[G. B. Jones]]; ''Shut Up White Boy'', co-directed by [[Vu T.]] and [[Thu Ha]]; and produced her own film, ''Estrofemme'', in 1998. Breedlove wrote, co-directed, co-produced, and starred in a short film, ''[[Godspeed (2007 film)|Godspeed]]'', based on his novel. It debuted in festivals in 2007. It features [[Jillian Lauren]], [[Adam Horowitz (screenwriter)|Adam Horowitz]], Leslie Mah, and Bucky Sinister, with cameos by [[Meliza Banales]] and [[Jewelle Gomez]]. His comedy solo show on trans bodies, community and feminism, "[[Lynnee Breedlove's One Freak Show]]", toured worldwide from 2004 to 2009. He now runs Homobiles, a queer ride service.

Outside of Tribe 8, Jen Schwartz is a solo singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who released her debut album ''Candy from a Stranger'' in 2000.  She also owns Rampage Productions, a service business for musicians in Los Angeles. In 2010, she formed the band Me of a Kind. Me of a Kind's debut album is slated for release in the fall of 2010 on the Rampage Productions label.

==Discography==
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===Albums and EPs===
*''Allen's Mom'' EP 1994, [[Outpunk Records]]
*''By the Time We Get to Colorado'' EP, 1995, Outpunk Records
*''Roadkill Cafe'' EP, 1995, [[Alternative Tentacles]]
*''[[Fist City (Tribe 8 album)|Fist City]]'' 1995 Alternative Tentacles
*''Snarkism'' 1996, Alternative Tentacles
*''Role Models for Amerika'' 1998 Alternative Tentacles
*''Thanx For the Mammaries'' 2005 Self
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===Singles===
*''Pig Bitch'' EP 7-inch, 1991, Harp Records
*''Bitches and Brews'' split 7-inch single with [[Blatz (band)|Blatz]] 1992 [[Lookout! Records]]

===Compilation appearances===
*''There's a Dyke in the Pit'' 7-inch EP, 1991 [[Outpunk]] - "Manipulate"
*''[[Stars Kill Rock]]'', 1993 [[Kill Rock Stars]] - "Speed Fortress"
*''[[Outpunk Dance Party]]'', 1996 [[Outpunk]] - "Oversized Ego"
*''[[New Women's Music Sampler-Class of 1999]]'', 1999, [[Mr Lady]] - "What The Papers Didn't Say"
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== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050206213741/http://www.riseabovethetribe8documentary.com/ The "Rise Above: A Tribe 8 Documentary" official website]
*[http://www.myspace.com/lynnbreedlove Lynn Breedlove's MySpace page]

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[[Category:All-female punk bands]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-themed musical groups]]
[[Category:Punk rock groups from California]]
[[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Queercore groups]]
[[Category:Riot grrrl bands]]
[[Category:Alternative Tentacles artists]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in California]]