Motorbaby

The New York City-based trio Motorbaby blends direct rock energy with swirling psychedelic textures, featuring Sharon Middendorf handling vocals and guitar alongside bassist Ronnie Mancuso and drummer Lez Warner. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Middendorf began chasing a music career while still young, spurred by her mother and grandmother, both of whom worked as music instructors. She eventually moved to New York City in pursuit of professional opportunities. During those initial struggling years she appeared as an extra in music videos for the Beastie Boys' "She's on It" and Cheap Trick's "Tonight It's You," modeled for High Times magazine, and performed as a dancer with ZZ Top at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards. She went on to form Ten Wings, which issued the album Wishing Well through Cargo Records, while also teaming with various other artists to sharpen her songwriting craft. Once Ten Wings disbanded, Middendorf assembled Motorbaby with Mancuso, formerly of Beggars & Thieves, and Warner, who had previously played with the Cult and the Waterboys. The group’s self-titled debut album appeared on Mercury in the middle of 1998. Four years passed before their follow-up, Rise, surfaced in 2002, during which time Middendorf made her first lead film appearance in Terror Firmer, released by Troma Films.