An early band formation (left to right): Narcizo, Hersh, Donelly, and Langston. Photo by Victoria Cessna.

Throwing Muses are an alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects. Originally fronted by two distinctive lead singers, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly, who both wrote the group's songs, Throwing Muses are known for performing music with shifting tempos, creative chord progressions, unorthodox song structures, and surreal lyrics. The group was set apart from other contemporary acts by Hersh's stark, candid writing style; Donelly's pop stylings and vocal harmonies; and David Narcizo's unusual drumming techniques eschewing use of cymbals. Hallucinatory, febrile songs by Hersh occasionally touched on the subject of mental illness, more often drawing portraits of characters from daily life or addressing relationships. Image File history File links Throwing_Muses_bw_promo. ... Image File history File links Throwing_Muses_bw_promo. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music[1] or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Newport as seen from the International Space Station. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kristin Hersh (born August 7, 1966) is a prolific American singer/songwriter who performs solo acoustic concerts; she also has performed as lead singer and guitarist for alternative rock group Throwing Muses and currently leads the hardcore punk-influenced power trio 50 Foot Wave. ... Tanya Donelly, 2004 Photo: Reuben Cox Tanya Donelly (born July 14, 1966, in Newport, Rhode Island) is an American singer songwriter and guitarist based in New England who co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh. ... Psalm 69, egg tempera and oil on wood by Ernst Fuchs Surrealism[1] is a movement stating that the liberation of our mind, and subsequently the liberation of the individual self and society, can be achieved by exercising the imaginative faculties of the unconscious mind to the attainment of a... David Narcizo, born May 6, 1966, in Newport, Rhode Island, is primarily known for his work as the longtime drummer for Throwing Muses. ...

Early group history

Hersh enlisted her stepsister, Donelly, to help form the group when they were in high school. The two served as guitarists, lead vocalists, and songwriters for the group; drummer David Narcizo joined shortly thereafter. Hersh originally named the group "The Muses". Since the band was no longer composed of only female musicians after Narcizo joined, they decided to shift to a name with fewer gender-specific connotations, "Throwing Muses". David Narcizo, born May 6, 1966, in Newport, Rhode Island, is primarily known for his work as the longtime drummer for Throwing Muses. ...

Early recordings were made in 1983 but not released. The group self-released a set of demos in 1984, later known as The Doghouse Cassette, garnering a number-one college radio hit, "Sinkhole," that year. A self-titled EP was also released in 1984 on their Blowing Fuses label. The demos came to the attention of Ivo Watts-Russell, who signed them as the first U.S. band on the 4AD Records label and released their self-titled debut album in 1986. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ivo Watts-Russell is the founder and president of the record label 4AD. He has also produced a few records, including the Cocteau Twins debut, Garlands. ... The British indie rock record label 4AD Records was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records. ... Throwing Muses is the name of the 1986 debut album of the band Throwing Muses, according to 4AD, the label that released the album. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The group also co-released some of their later albums on Sire/Reprise Records and Rykodisc. With cover stories about them published in most major British music publications of the 1980s, they became one of the first successful alternative rock acts to be led by two female singer/guitarists, helping set the stage for later arrivals like Sleater-Kinney. Sire Records Company is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Brothers Records The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer. ... Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... Rykodisc Records is an American record label, and subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... Sleater-Kinney are an indie rock trio from Olympia, Washington influenced by the riot grrrl movement of the 1990s. ...

The band's personnel has changed over the years. Bassist Leslie Langston left after 1990, replaced by Fred Abong, but returned briefly to record tracks on Red Heaven in 1992. Donelly left Throwing Muses after 1991's The Real Ramona release, first to perform in The Breeders and afterwards to form Belly. Abong left in 1991, soon joining Belly, and was succeeded by Bernard Georges in 1993. Since 1993, the group has been a trio composed of Hersh on guitar and vocals, Georges on bass, and Narcizo on drums. During the mid-1990s, Hersh also began a solo recording career, releasing the album Hips and Makers, alongside her band work. This article is about the year. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Real Ramona is an album by Throwing Muses. ... The Breeders are an American rock band, formed in 1988 as a side project for Kim Deal of Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. ... Belly were an alternative rock band formed in 1991 by former Throwing Muses members Tanya Donelly and Fred Abong. ... Bernard Georges, born on March 29, 1965, is best known for his bass guitar work in Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Germans dancing on the Berlin Wall in late 1989, the symbol of the cold war divide falls down as the world unites in the 1990s. ... Hips and Makers is the debut solo album by Kristin Hersh, best known as the primary singer and song-writer of the band Throwing Muses. ...

Later work

Formation since 1993 (left to right): Kristin Hersh, David Narcizo, Bernard Georges

In 1995, the new lineup released University, recorded in New Orleans; the album included "Bright Yellow Gun," a single garnering airplay on commercial radio stations. The album's radio exposure led to long feature articles in Rolling Stone and other major music magazines. But the higher profile didn't lead to higher sales. Following the Limbo album in 1996, the band announced it was going on indefinite hiatus due to the high financial overhead of being a full-time recording and touring band. Image File history File links ThrowingMuses_1small. ... Image File history File links ThrowingMuses_1small. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Rolling Stone is an American magazine devoted to music, politics and popular culture. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Hersh continued her solo career during this period, releasing several well-received albums and EPs. Yet her enthusiasm for Throwing Muses remained high; the band recorded new versions of several early songs for inclusion in the double-CD In a Doghouse compilation comprised of the self-titled debut album and the Doghouse Cassette. The band regrouped to perform special "Gut Pageant" events in 2000 and 2001, and released an album 2003, Throwing Muses. Donelly made her first appearances with the group in a decade at the 2000 Gut Pageant, also singing backing vocals on several tracks on the 2003 album. The group toured the U.S. and Europe briefly in 2003 to support the album, with appearances by Donelly on guitar and vocals in a couple of the tour's shows. This article is about the year 2000. ... This article is about the year 2001. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Hersh and Georges formed a new band, 50 Foot Wave, with drummer Rob Ahlers in 2003, while Narcizo returned to his graphic design company and his occasional musical project Lakuna. Donelly continues to record as a solo artist. 50 Foot Wave: Ahlers, Georges, Hersh Photo: Steve Gullick 50 Foot Wave is an American alternative rock band, formed in 2003. ... Lakuna was an electronic instrumental project begun by drummer David Narcizo after Throwing Muses first split up following their 1996 Limbo album. ...

Personnel

Long-term core lineup

• Bernard Georges: bass (1992–onwards)
• Kristin Hersh: vocals, guitar (1981–onwards)
• David Narcizo: drums (1983–onwards)

Other members

• Fred Abong: bass (1990–1991)
• Elaine Adamedes: bass, vocals (1981–1983)
• Becca Blumen: drums, vocals (1981—1983)
• Tanya Donelly: vocals, guitar (1981–1991, guest in concerts and recording 2001 and 2003)
• Leslie Langston: bass (1984–1990, recording briefly 1992)

Discography

Albums and EPs

• Throwing Muses EP, 1983
• Stand Up EP, 1984 (self-released 7")
• Doghouse Cassette, 1985 (self-distributed cassette)
• Untitled, 1986
• Chains Changed EP, 1987
• The Fat Skier, 1987 (seven-song mini-album)
• House Tornado, 1988
• Hunkpapa, 1989
• Dizzy EP, 1989
• The Real Ramona, 1991 (number 26, UK albums chart)
• Counting Backwards EP, 1991
• Not Too Soon EP, 1991
• Red Heaven, 1992 (number 13, UK albums chart)
• Firepile (part one) EP, 1992
• Firepile (part two) EP, 1992
• The Curse (live), 1992
• Bright Yellow Gun EP, 1994
• University, 1995 (number 10, UK albums chart)
• Limbo, 1996 (number 36, UK albums chart)
• Shark EP, 1996
• Ruthie's Knocking EP, 1996
• Live to Tape EP, 1997 (limited promotional release: 750 copies)
• Freeloader EP, 1997
• In a Doghouse (2 CD compilation), 1998
• Live in Providence, 2001
• Throwing Muses, 2003

Throwing Muses is the name of the 1986 debut album of the band Throwing Muses, according to 4AD, the label that released the album. ... House Tornado is a 1988 album by Throwing Muses. ... Hunkpapa is a 1989 album by Throwing Muses. ... The Real Ramona is an album by Throwing Muses. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In a Doghouse is a compilation album by Throwing Muses. ...

Chart singles

The Modern Rock Tracks chart is a music chart that has appeared in Billboard magazine since the early 1980s. ...

Song samples

• Official ThrowingMusic website downloads
• 4ad site audio samples

References

• "Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved Dec. 13, 2005.
• Freydkin, Donna (August 19, 1999). "Kristin Hersh Checks Into her 'Sky Motel'." CNN Interactive. Retrieved Dec. 13, 2005.
• Haas, Marcel. "Throwing Muses Discography." Counting Backwards. Retrieved Jun. 3, 2005.
• Hampton, Mark. "Throwing Muses Section." Markwarehouse.com. Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.
• Hersh, Kristin (September 2001). "Kristin Hersh Online Q&A Session Number Two: Questions Posted to the ThrowingMusic Message Board." Bradley's Almanac website archives. Retrieved Apr. 17, 2005.
• Kirkcaldie, Matthew (October 15, 1994). "Throwing Muses/Kristin Hersh Discography, Third Edition." Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.
• Le, Vinh (1996–2005). "Tanya Donelly Timeline". Vinh Le's Belly/Tanya Donelly Pages. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• "Number 4 of 2003 — Throwing Muses: Throwing Muses" (August 8, 2004). Ninth space. Retrieved Dec. 19, 2004.
• Phares, Heather. "Throwing Muses Biography." All Music Guide. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2005.
• Reynolds, Simon (February 9, 1992). "Belting Out That Most Unfeminine Emotion." New York Times.
• Rykken, Rolf (May 1995). "May 1995 Live Review." Critics' Choice.
• Shirley, David (November/December 1991). "Cracking Up Is Hard to Do: The Break-ups (and Breakdowns) of Throwing Muses." Option.
• Strauss, Neil (March 9, 1995). "My So-Called Double Life: Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses Finds the Common Ground Between Motherhood and Rock & Roll." Rolling Stone.
• "Throwing Muses Discography". Eyesore. Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.
• Wolmarans, Francois. "Counting Backwards." Retrieved Dec. 2, 2004.

August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... August 8 is the 220th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (221st in leap years), with 145 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official ThrowingMusic website
• Beggars Group band site
• Counting Backwards resource site
• Tour history
• 4ad Throwing Muses pages
• Lyrics from Always on the Run site
• Red Eyes Throwing Muses and Kristin Hersh guitar tabs
• Guitar tabs at Passagen site
• Throwing Muses collection on the Internet Archive's live music archive