The Breeders

C U R R I C U L A V I T A R U M

.Rock group from Dayton, OH.
. Formed in 1989.
.Before that, sisters Kim and Kelley played as an acoustic duo at truckstops and saloons.
.Josephine, who is supposedly English, used to play in some band over there.
. Jim once played drums for local heroes Raging Mantras.

E C E N T A C T I V I T Y

.Jim’s first baby, Summer ’92.
.Last Splash released, August ’93.
.Headline tour of the states with Yo La Tengo, September ’93.
.Josephine gives Conan O’Brien a hickey, September 23, ’93.
.”Cannonball” added to MTV Buzz Bin, October 1993. Headline tour of Europe with Urge Overkill and Luscious Jackson, September/October ’93.
.Jim impregnates wife again during four-day break. Late Show with David Letterman, November 5, ’93.
.Tour with Nirvana, November/December ’93.
.MTV New Year’s Ball, New Year’s Eve, 1993.
.”Cannonball” picked Single of the Year by both the Melody Maker and the NME for 1993.
.Last Splash goes gold, January ’94.
. “Head To Toe,” a punk rock song written by Josephine, recorded, along with covers of songs by Guided By Voices and Sebadoh, for release on a seven inch record, March ’94.
.Pere Ubu’s “Navvy” recorded with members of Guided By Voices for an Ohio-bands only tribute comp put together by the fine Datapanik label in Columbus, March ’94.
.Last Splash goes gold in France, too, April ’94.
.U.S. tour (w/ Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Th’ Faith Healers), one day off, then European tour, March through May ’94.
.Lollapalooza, Summer ’94.
. Jim’s second baby expected, latter half of July ’94.

S E L E C T E D P R E S S

NME called Pod “pure, graceful, glowing.” Spin said that Safari showed “impressive sonic ambition.” The New Yorker opined that “like most great rock ‘n’ roll, the ecstasy of the Breeders is hard to describe.” Esquire included Kim in its 1992 “Women We Love” issue. Interview recently chose her as one of its “new breed of guitar heroes.” Entertainment Weekly raved about Last Splash’s “guitar miracles,” Rolling Stone gave it three-and-a-half stars, and both Spin and People picked it as one of the year’s 10 best records.

S T U F F A B O U T P O D

Recorded at Coast Recorders in San Francisco. Mixed at The Plant in Sausalito. Produced by Kim and Mark Freegard, a British guy. Engineered by Mark, with assistance from Andy Taub, whose dog Igor died during the recording, and Sean Leonard, who fell in the water. All songs written by Kim, except “Drivin’ On 9,” which was written by Dom Leone, who was in a band called Ed’s Redeeming Qualities, formerly from Boston, now repositioned in San Francisco. “Do you love me now” is a completely re-recorded version of the Safari EP song. Kelley sings lead on “I just wanna get along.” Josephine plays drums on “Roi.” All strings are by Josephine (cello) and Carrie Bradley (violin), who you might remember fiddled on Pod, and is also from Ed’s Redeeming Qualities. Carrie will be joining the band onstage for Lollapalooza to play on a couple of songs.

Funny story:

When the band drove from Ohio to San Francisco with their equipment in a U-Haul in January, and parked in front of a San Francisco rehearsal space, some local group graffitied the truck with the epithet “Hags”. This prompted an amused Kim to write a song called “Hag”, whose lyrics have nothing to do with the incident. Isn’t that funny?

Interesting coincidence:

All four band members have green eyes.

Easiest ways to get the band to like you:

Bring Taco Bell. Don’t talk about “women in rock.” Think “Evil Dead” is a great movie. Know that the video for “Safari” pays homage to Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” video. Act like Jean-Luc Picard. Pay for the drinks. Don’t smoke, if Kim is wearing her nicotine patch.

Stuff about the new record:

Recorded at Coast Recorders in San Francisco. Mixed at The Plant in Sausalito. Produced by Kim and Mark Freegard, a British guy. Engineered by Mark, with assistance from Andy Taub, whose dog Igor died during the recording, and Sean Leonard, who fell in the water.

Suggested topics of conversation:

Kim Gordon, director of the video for “Cannonball”, the first single, San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, The Plant and its legendary rock history (Fleetwood Mac, Steve Wonder, etc.). What it’s like to live on houseboats while mixing your record, The Tresnjevka Womens’ Group benefit w/ Nirvana et al. New York shows with Sonic Youth. Method of transport to NY (Hint: Family RV, Dad driving). Whether Vaughan Oliver is insane, and whether it matters. Is Josephine a Buckeye? Kim’s Jamaican holiday, and what she learned. Moog synthesizers. Last fall’s tour with Unrest, and the two bands’ planned split single. Drugs, should they be legalized? N.B.: All Pixies questions will be met with dull blank stares.