Jean Caffeine

Jean Leider entered the world in New York as the daughter of a physician father and Emily Leider, a mother who wrote biographies centered on Hollywood figures. Multiple cross-country relocations brought the household to San Francisco by the time she reached second grade. A 1975 Rolling Stones show at the Cow Palace awakened her teenage interest in rock and roll. She soon took up drums, embraced punk, performed with the Urge, and drew early motivation from the Nuns, whose members included Alejandro Escovedo.

In 1980 she relocated to New York City and entered a downtown scene still charged with post-punk energy. She began as a DJ at Danceteria and Club 57 before joining the all-girl group Pulsallama, which counted Ann Magnuson—later of Bongwater—among its members. Theatrical shows and an English tour supporting the Clash built the band’s profile until it dissolved.

She next appeared briefly in Clambake alongside Cathy Crane of the Foams, Liz Gall from Buffalo Gals, and future Rolling Stone editor Holly George. The band issued an EP mixed by Alex Chilton before disbanding. Drawn afterward to Austin, Texas, she shifted toward roots music by fronting the garage-country outfit Jean Caffeine’s All-Night Truckstop, whose sets spanned Tammy Wynette to the Rolling Stones. Regulars Mick Buck and Dennis Ku anchored the lineup, which at times also featured Seth and Amy Tiven of Dumptruck, Mark Rubin of Bad Livers, and Charlie Llewellin of the Gourds. The group released a self-titled CD and the cassette-only Hard Work and a Lot of Hairspray, produced by Gurf Morlix of Lucinda Williams.

Caffeine issued the candid solo album Knocked Down 7 Times Got Up 8 in 1997 while teaching elementary-school art and working as an animator. Idée Fixee followed in 2000 with production by Lars Göransson of the Cardigans.