VERUCA SALT performing “Centipede” @ The Boardwalk - Orangevale, CA 2006 1993 - 1998: Formation and Success Named after a character from the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Veruca Salt was formed in Chicago by Louise Post (guitar/vocals) and Nina Gordon (guitar/vocals). Post and Gordon were introduced through mutual friend and actress Lili Taylor, and began playing music together. They wrote songs for a year and a half before being joined by drummer Jim Shapiro, who is Gordon’s brother, and bassist Steve Lack. It’ interesting to see that the guitarists are using vintage Gibson guitars… an SG and a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. Vintage instruments are popular with many new bands because of their linkage to the past. The band had done a handful of shows when Jim Powers of Minty Fresh Records asked to sign them to the independent label. http://verucasalt.com The band’s first release was the single “Seether”/”All Hail Me” on Minty Fresh Records, in 1994. The single was a success and Veruca Salt accompanied Hole on a tour, before releasing their debut full-length LP, American Thighs, which eventually reached gold status. After signing to Geffen Records, the band quickly gained in popularity as “Seether” became an MTV hit. A stopgap EP produced by Steve Albini, Blow It Out Your It’s Veruca Salt, was released in 1996. Veruca Salt’s popularity skyrocketed after their second full album, Eight Arms to Hold You, was released in 1997. Produced by Bob Rock, the album generated the hit lead single “Volcano Girls”, which gained exposure as the opening theme to teen comedy Jawbreaker. Shapiro left the band soon after the release of Eight Arms and was replaced by Stacy Jones (of Letters to Cleo and now American Hi-Fi). Songwriting duties were shared between Gordon and Post, though the two seldom collaborated. Rather, each would typically submit a complete song to the group and sing the lead vocal on that song, while the other would submit backing vocals. Critics often cited the harmonies between Gordon and Post as one of the band’s major strengths. [edit] 1998 - 2005: Gordon’s Departure, Reformation and Resolver In 1998, Gordon left the band acrimoniously to pursue a solo career (her debut album Tonight and the Rest of My Life was released in 2000). The undisclosed dispute between Gordon and Post has been described as “one of the greatest rock soap operas since Fleetwood Mac or Hüsker Dü.”[2] Post recruited a new band, consisting of Stephen Fitzpatrick (guitar), Suzanne Sokol (bass) and Jimmy Madla (drums), and continued to record and perform under the Veruca Salt moniker. The new band signed with Beyond Records. The debut album with the new lineup was 2000’s Resolver. December 2002 saw the release of both Resolver and lead single “Born Entertainer”, in Australia through Embryo Records / MGM. Following the release of “Born Entertainer” Embryo Records / MGM released the single “Officially Dead” which contained newly recorded tracks as well as a remix of ‘the Same Person. The band toured Australia, including the “Splendour in the Grass” festival alongside bands such as Placebo and Coldplay. ‘Yeah Man’ was released as a radio only single and like “Officially Dead”. After planning to take some time to step away from the music industry the band once again toured and performed at some festival shows in Australia. The tour took in the capital cities as well as performances at both the “Falls Festival” and the newly created Southbound festival in Perth.The band completed the 2 week tour and upon arrival back in the United States performed a show at the iconic “Viper Room”. The band debuted the tracks ‘Blissful Queen’ and ‘Circular Trend’ live, both would end up on the album “IV” [edit] 2005 - Present: VSIV 2005 saw the release of a new EP and new lineup; the band now consists of Post, Fitzpatrick, with drummer Kellii Scott and bassist Nicole Fiorentino, and the band completed a tour of America during the fall. The EP, released independently at the band’s live shows and via their website, was entitled Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things, and included six new songs. The title of the EP is an extract from Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. This preluded the full length album, “IV”, released September 2006. Lead single “So Weird” was released to radio at the end of October 2006. The band are now on a short spring tour including their first ever Canadian date. They recently recorded a cover of Neil Young’s song “Burned” for a 2007 Breast Cancer Benefit album due for release in October 2007 http://capitalchaos.net
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February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
i love this song.
i love this song.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
any of these guys …
any of these guys complaining about her weight would bang her in a second if they could and they know it.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
cont: doesn’t …
cont: doesn’t present well to her own target demographic, not like she used to. Remember Heart? Not saying its right, just real. If I die tomorrow, and angels asks me what my favorite female hardrock song was, its Shutterbug! {w/Andre a close 2nd} As a human, I am thnakful to have known the emotions imparted by the art of Post/Gordon Veruca Salt. I finally decided to look them up, saddened to see reality. Post’s doesn’t moved as well as she used to, because of weight. Will always love my sister
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Final Round: 1st, …
Final Round: 1st, please forgive any offense. It is not my intention to be disrespectful, EVER! Regarding her health, it is doctorate level science in psychology that says there is a ‘weakness’ for those who are not raised obese but become! My first thought for a sister I love is ‘what happened’. I’m not saying the industry position is right, my attempt is to point out hard truths. NEVER SAID her art was bad. It has, by skewed industry standards, lost its marketability. Speaking carnally, she
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
First off, I’m not …
First off, I’m not angry. I do get annoyed, however, at people whose opinion seems ego centric and hurtful. Attacking her weight is just rude. She is 100% beautiful the way she is and you should keep any opinions to the contrary to yourself. If you want to promote health and fitness that is fine. Just go find a Richard Simmons video to do it on.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I reread what you …
I reread what you wrote… I get your point, you have a twisted beleif that her weight is evidence of some sort of thought defect. This makes her music bad. I say that you are high and that you are making all this up because you have issues with people whose weight is not equal to your’s or society’s standards. No where did you mention her health. She seemed healthy and happy to me when we met. Furthermore music is Art. People who see it as product are what’s wrong with the industry.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
In closing, I …
In closing, I studied your site, and love it. I prefer alternative/indie music - artists are usually more true to the art! I loved Veruca Salt, was hoping for more tunes like SB. By industry standards, what happened - they couldn’t play the game! Try not to get angry at me for pointing out a dark reality. You wanna be disappointed in someone, go to Geffen. What would happen if Louise lost 15 pounds and began exercising - I bet her art would be better, and definately her head clearer!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Obesity is an issue …
Obesity is an issue effecting psychological/emotional chemical processes in the brain. Its often TRUE that the very same thought defect that says its OK to not be healthy can be the same defect that can cause an artist to miss or dismiss that breakthrough riff, hook, concept, that can reach the art masses. Eat a piece of pie over exercising, the chemicals in the brain are different, scientifically more adverse to the body. Ask a record exec. what happened to them: easy answer-Louise got fat!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Ooooh, Brother, we …
Ooooh, Brother, we could talk about this for a while, but my point is clear - Reread what I wrote. I think you missed the point. I believe Shutterbug was their best song, at least by commercial release standards, and it was the only single where Louise sang lead however, there is the game that must be played. Reality check, history has shown us that the rocknroll demographic doesn’t want to see heavy females dancing - the turn off (for the majority) steals focus from the art, right or wrong!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
while it’s true …
while it’s true that in this shallow society, thinner is better, maybe we should look to the artists to change that fact. Isn’t that one of the attractions to rock as opposed to pop? We rebel against stubid norms of society. If you want to critique people because of their weight–go to the TMZ web site.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Yes she is …
Yes she is beautiful, but the reality is that this is art & product, & the product doesn’t sell well if the primary talent is heavy or even (she’s not, yet in pic) fat. Believe, the same lack of awareness that keeps her from understanding why condition DOES COUNT, is the same functional thought defect that will keep her from producing better art, and growing in scope as a career musician. Volcano Girls, great song/video but poppy, Shutterbug rocked, was beautiful & brilliant. Go back, fix it!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
She’s sooooooooo …
She’s sooooooooo beautiful…and amazingly talented. LOVE her/them!!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
its a band too
its a band too
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Amen to that. She’s …
Amen to that. She’s gorgeous and she still rocks.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I thought Veruca …
I thought Veruca Salt was the girl in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
aw c’mon…she …
aw c’mon…she looks fine and more importantly still rocking!!!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Louise looks great. …
Louise looks great. And besides - her music isn’t about what she looks like.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
They were the first …
They were the first band I ever watched play live. They were on tour with Hole in ninty five. Cool.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I aggree
I aggree
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Louise, please stay …
Louise, please stay away from the buffet.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Please post more! …
Please post more! This song is called Centipede btw.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
right on, my lady …
right on, my lady and me were at this show, rockin!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Yea!!!! I love …
Yea!!!! I love hearing new Veruca Salt.. Thank you so much!!!! Always checking on here.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
lol!
lol!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Great video! This …
Great video! This made my day. I know I speak for many Veruca Salt fans when I say, ‘more please’.