Venus and the Razorblades | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Razorblades |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Punk rock, new wave |
| Years active | 1976-1978 |
| Labels | Visa, Bomp!, Spark |
| Associated acts | The Runaways, Cherie & Marie Currie, Kim Fowley |
| Past members | Vicki Razorblade Steven T. Dyan Diamond Danielle Faye Kyle Raven Roni Lee |
Venus and the Razorblades were a short-lived punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed and managed by Kim Fowley after he severed professional relations with The Runaways.[1] They are believed to be one of the first mixed-gender American punk band. The band included guitarist/singer Roni Lee (born Rhonda Lee Ryckman), who had co-written the song "I Wanna Be Where the Boys Are" for the Runaways; guitarist/singer Steven T.; bassist Danielle Faye (formerly of Atomic Kid); drummer Nickey Beat (formerly of The Weirdos and the Germs) (who was soon replaced by Kyle Raven); and singers Dyan Diamond and Vicki Razorblade (born Vicki Arnold). When the band formed, Diamond and Razorblade were only 14 and 17 years old respectively.[1] Session musicians were used in some of the band's recordings.[2]
The Woman's International Music Network, founded by Laura B. Whitmore, gives credit to Venus and the Razorblades, as well as the Runaways, for performing in a genre that was dominated mostly by men.[3] Venus and the Razorblades played a memorable concert with Van Halen at the Whisky a Go Go in 1976,[4] and Van Halen sometimes played the Venus and the Razorblades song "Young and Wild" in their early concert performances.[5]
The band put out a novelty single called "Punk-A-Rama" on the independent label Bomp! Records to capitalize on the popularity of the punk rock genre, but then broke up. A compilation album called Songs from the Sunshine Jungle was released in 1978 on Visa Records; it is extremely rare today.[1] After Venus and the Razorblades disbanded, Fowley tried to make Dyan Diamond into a star, and got a deal for her with MCA Records; her 1978 album, In the Dark was a commercial failure.[6] Roni Lee collaborated and performed with Randy California and Ed Cassidy of Spirit, as well as Mars Bonfire and Jerry Edmonton of Steppenwolf, in 1977-78.[7] In 2013, Lee was granted an endorsement with Paul Reed Smith guitars for her distinctive style of playing as well as her place in punk rock's early history.[8][9] Lee released the album Heros of Sunset Blvd. in 2016.[10]
References
- ^ a b c "Venus and the Razorblades". AllMusic.
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "Venus and the Razorblades". Trouser Press. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ France, Pauline (September 9, 2013). "Front and Center: Lead Guitarist and Vocalist, Roni Lee". The Women's International Music Network. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ Renoff, Greg (April 6, 2015). "Riot on Sunset". Cuepoint. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Songs From The Sunshine Jungle….Venus And The Razorblades". 53rd and 3rd. July 9, 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Dyan Diamond". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Roni Lee". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
- ^ "PRS Women in Rock Clinic & Guitar Showcase - 11/18/17". bananas.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Roni Lee". prsguitars.com.
- ^ "Heros of Sunset Blvd". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 March 2018.