The Pandoras

The Pandoras were a woman rock band from Los Angeles.

Paula Pierce (guitar, vocals), from Chino (California), with her great talent as a musician, songwriter and performer, was the defining personality of the band. Before the Pandoras she had already played in numerous local bands, such as Action Now, The Rage and The Direct Hits.

The Beginnings 1983-1984

The Pandoras were in spring 1983 by Pierce and Gwynne Kahn (keyboards), the niece of songwriter Gus Kahn Tin Pan Alley, and Deborah Mendoza ( also Mende or Debbie Debbie Menday ) on the bass and Casey Gomez on drums. As a band name they rejected including The Keyholes and Hole to eventually be named according to the "Pandora 's Box ", a nightclub in the 1960s on the Sunset Strip, was in the wrong, inter alia, the revered Pierce Sky Saxon.

The Pandoras were originally part of the Paisley Underground, the scene of the neo- garage rock, in West Hollywood. In other local bands such as Redd Kross, The Three O 'Clock, The Dream Syndicate and The Rain Parade they shared a liking for the garage rock and psychedelic rock of the 1960s.

Successful years at Voxx and Rhino 1984-1986

The band recorded several demos and an EP for Voxx Records. After Mendoza left the band and was replaced by Bambi Lee Convay, which began with the band's album " It's About Time ". The record received good reviews and established the Pandora as a serious band of the Paisley Underground, whereas they were previously laughed at musically.

Despite this initial success, the band broke up into two factions: Pierce one hand, and Kahn, Convay and Casey, who left the band. The whole thing ended in a bizarre dispute over the name of The Pandoras, since both factions claimed the name for their respective bands and used. Press and fans called the band Pierce also " Paula Dora ," while the band by Gwynne Kahn welcomed the " Gwynnedoras ".

Pierce "won " this argument because she had written all the songs of the band with new musicians was far more successful than their competitors and was able to maintain the cooperation with Voxx Records. Gwynne Kahn called her band from now on Mad Monster Party.

Together with Julie Patchouli ( bass), Melanie Vammen ( keyboards) and Karen Blank field (drums) took Pierce 1984, the single " Hot Generation" / "You Do not Satisfy " for Voxx on. For the promotion of them were Voxx the opportunity to take a tour on the east coast, where Irving Plaza, New York played with the Fuzztones.

Was from another LP for Voxx but then nothing because the new manager, Randall wanking, the Pandora's got a better-paid contract with Rhino Records. During the recording of the album "Stop Pretending " in winter 1985/86 Julie Patchouli was replaced by Kim Shattuck. The album, whose title was originally a song by Pierce's former band Action Now, finally appeared in February 1986 and is considered a successful example of garage rock with pop appeal. For promotion of the album toured the Pandoras several months by the United States.

Since "Stop Pretending " but in spite of all qualities are not developed for commercial success à la Bangles or The Go- Go's, altered Pierce subsequently the musical style, the appearance and image of the band. Instead of following a strict as before Sixties - style, music, clothes and hairstyles have been adjusted in the direction of Metal. Thus, the tape should be better marketed and forced the commercial breakthrough.

The flop on Elektra Records and the later years 1987-1990

Through the mediation of Steve Pross they came to a recording contract with Elektra Records, who was reported to have created eight albums. From 1986 to 1987, the Pandoras recorded the album "Come Inside" and revised it several times. But despite countless subsequent changes and new additions, which delayed publication for over a year, neither the band nor the record company were really pleased. Elektra said from the release of " Come Inside " in December 1987, only a week before the scheduled date, and cooperation with the Pandora was completed in silence. The endless and fruitless recording work also had personal consequences: Karen Blank field left in the fall of 1987 the band and was briefly replaced by Kelly Dilliard and then definitely by Sheri Kaplan.

Published in 1988, The Pandoras on Restless Records EP "Rock Hard", which was well received by metal fans, and the video was even played on music television. At this time the band toured again to fifth with a second guitarist, especially with Rita D' Albert, who had taken part in the recording of " Rock Hard", but also with Susan Hyatt and Lissa Belltri.

In 1989, Restless Records out the live album "Live Nymphomania ", recorded in the same year at a concert in Dallas. The album was a Billigstprodukt, with virtually no post-production, and was panned by critics. Sales were accordingly poor, and the contract with Restless was dissolved.

Then Melanie Vammen and Kim Shattuck left the band and formed The Muffs. As then drummer Sheri Kaplan went, put Pierce Pandoras on ice, wrote new songs and was looking for musicians for a fresh start. While in her apartment made ​​fitness exercises on August 10, 1991, she suffered a stroke and died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of only subsequent 31 years.

Conclusion

Posthumously reached the Pandora's some feminist cult status: Paula Pierce's impetuous, self-confident and independent lifestyle, combined with talent and freedom of movement, became the model of what the mid-1990s by the Riot Grrrl bands like Hole, L7, Lunachicks, Bikini Kill or Seven Year Bitch was continued. It was certainly no coincidence that the later icon of the woman Rocks, Courtney Love, was from the same club scene in Los Angeles, where the Pandora had begun 10 years before, to establish women's rock as a serious, independent division.

The Pandoras today have the same cult status as the obscure garage rock bands of the 1960s, the Paula Pierce admired so much as role models.

Band Members

  • Paula Pierce: guitar, lead vocals, composer of most songs (1983 - 1990)
  • Melanie Vammen: Keyboards (1984 - 1990)
  • Kim Shattuck: Bass (1985 - 1990)
  • Julie Patchouli: Bass (1984 - 1985)
  • Karen Blank field: drums (1984 - 1987)
  • Gwynne Kahn: Keyboards (1983 - 1984)
  • Deborah Mendoza: Bass (1983 - 1984)
  • Casey Gomez: Drums (1983 - 1984)
  • Bambi Lee Convay: Bass (1983 - 1984)
  • Sheri Kaplan: Drums (1987 - 1990)
  • Rita D' Albert: Guitar (1987 - 1990)

Trivia

In 1986 the band The Mr. T Experience as a tribute to the song "I'm In Love With Paula Pierce " for her own album " Everybody's Entitled To Their Own Opinion" on.

Discography

Singles, EPs

  • The Pandoras (EP, Moxie Records in 1984, produced by Bill Inglot and Chris Ashford )
  • Hot Generation / You Do not Satisfy (7'', Voxx Records 1984)
  • In And Out Of My Life ( In One Day) (7 ", Rhino Records 1986)
  • Hard Rock (EP, Restless Records, 1988)
  • I Did not Cry / Thunder Alley (7 ", Dionysus Records 1999)

Albums

  • It's About Time ( Voxx Records 1984: Recorded at Silvery Moon Studio, produced by Gary Stern and Greg Shaw)
  • Stop Pretending ( Rhino Records 1986 produced by Bill Inglot )
  • Come Inside ( Elektra Records, recorded in 1986 - 1987th Not officially released )
  • Nymphomania Live ( live album on Restless Records in 1989. Recording of a concert in Austin, Texas)

Videos

  • 'L. A. In " TV show, 1984

Compilations

  • Battle Of The Garage, Part 3 ( Voxx Records 1984 Song:. MELVIN )
  • Various compilations of Bomp! Records

Bootlegs

  • The Lingerie, Hollywood, February 15, 1985
  • RPM Club, Toronto, Canada, April 26, 1986
  • The Palomino, Hollywood, October 23, 1987
  • Sample Club, Los Angeles, August 5, 1988
  • San Diego, August 1988
  • Iguana's, Tijuana, Mexico, June 10, 1989
  • Puma's, Campbell ( California), June 23, 1989
  • The Stone, San Francisco, December 31, 1989
  • The Cactus Club, San Jose (California), March 24, 1990
Chino, California Rhino Entertainment The Bangles Hole (Band) L7 (band) Campbell, California
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