Biography
Veruca Salt converted the rough-edged, abrasive punk-pop approach of the Pixies and Breeders into a more radio-friendly, guitar-riff-centered power pop style while also incorporating elements from pop and hard rock acts such as Cheap Trick. The method delivered both artistic and commercial results, yet it brought no indie rock legitimacy; instead the band emerged as one of the most severely reviewed acts in the alternative rock years after Nirvana, even though they counted among the first female-fronted groups to reach stardom in the genre.
The band originated in Chicago during the early months of 1992 when residents Louise Post and Nina Gordon began playing the local folk circuit. Both already performed capably as singers and guitarists, and twelve months of coffeehouse shows prompted them to add more players and form a proper group. Bassist Steve Lack and drummer Jim Shapiro, Gordon’s brother, completed the lineup, after which Veruca Salt issued the debut single “Seether”/“All Hail Me” in 1994 on the independent Chicago label Minty Fresh Records. Brad Wood, previously known for his work with Liz Phair, produced the track, which spread by word of mouth and reached alternative and college radio. While opening for Hole on their autumn tour, the band released the full-length American Thighs on Minty Fresh, though they soon signed with Geffen and the major label reissued the album. “Seether” became an MTV staple and achieved broad success, yet magazines and fanzines denounced the group as mere imitators who had used Minty Fresh only to manufacture credibility. Sales remained unaffected, and American Thighs reached gold certification despite the next two singles, “Number One Blind” and “All Hail Me,” failing to match the impact of “Seether.”
After the 1996 stopgap EP Blow It Out Your Ass It’s Veruca Salt, produced by Steve Albini, the band returned in early 1997 with Eight Arms to Hold You, an album that shifted toward hard rock and heavy metal. Critical response grew still more divided, but the record attained gold status, aided by the Top Ten rock single “Volcano Girls.” Shortly after the album’s completion, Shapiro departed and former Letters to Cleo drummer Stacy Jones took his place. Amid reports that Gordon and Post had clashed or planned solo work, Gordon confirmed her exit in early 1998 to launch a solo career.
Post kept Veruca Salt active as her own project, now featuring guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick, bassist Suzanne Sokol, and drummer Jimmy Madla. The band left Geffen, which had been absorbed in a corporate merger, and signed with Beyond. They recorded Resolver, a fierce album addressing Gordon’s departure and Post’s breakup with Dave Grohl. Released in spring 2000, Resolver did not match the commercial performance of earlier releases, though the group continued touring while Post developed new songs. The Officially Dead EP appeared in 2003 and performed strongly in Australia, prompting the band to concentrate additional live work there. With another revised lineup—Post, Fitzpatrick, drummer Kelli Scott, and bassist Nicole Fiorentino—Veruca Salt issued the five-song EP Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things in 2005. The full-length album IV followed the next year. After muted public response, the band entered an extended hiatus. As abruptly as their split had occurred, Gordon and Post announced in 2013 that they had “buried the hatchet” and were restoring the original lineup. They referred to the period after Gordon’s departure as “Veruca Starship” and prepared new material, beginning with the 2014 Record Store Day EP MMXIV. The full-length Ghost Notes arrived in July 2015.
The band originated in Chicago during the early months of 1992 when residents Louise Post and Nina Gordon began playing the local folk circuit. Both already performed capably as singers and guitarists, and twelve months of coffeehouse shows prompted them to add more players and form a proper group. Bassist Steve Lack and drummer Jim Shapiro, Gordon’s brother, completed the lineup, after which Veruca Salt issued the debut single “Seether”/“All Hail Me” in 1994 on the independent Chicago label Minty Fresh Records. Brad Wood, previously known for his work with Liz Phair, produced the track, which spread by word of mouth and reached alternative and college radio. While opening for Hole on their autumn tour, the band released the full-length American Thighs on Minty Fresh, though they soon signed with Geffen and the major label reissued the album. “Seether” became an MTV staple and achieved broad success, yet magazines and fanzines denounced the group as mere imitators who had used Minty Fresh only to manufacture credibility. Sales remained unaffected, and American Thighs reached gold certification despite the next two singles, “Number One Blind” and “All Hail Me,” failing to match the impact of “Seether.”
After the 1996 stopgap EP Blow It Out Your Ass It’s Veruca Salt, produced by Steve Albini, the band returned in early 1997 with Eight Arms to Hold You, an album that shifted toward hard rock and heavy metal. Critical response grew still more divided, but the record attained gold status, aided by the Top Ten rock single “Volcano Girls.” Shortly after the album’s completion, Shapiro departed and former Letters to Cleo drummer Stacy Jones took his place. Amid reports that Gordon and Post had clashed or planned solo work, Gordon confirmed her exit in early 1998 to launch a solo career.
Post kept Veruca Salt active as her own project, now featuring guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick, bassist Suzanne Sokol, and drummer Jimmy Madla. The band left Geffen, which had been absorbed in a corporate merger, and signed with Beyond. They recorded Resolver, a fierce album addressing Gordon’s departure and Post’s breakup with Dave Grohl. Released in spring 2000, Resolver did not match the commercial performance of earlier releases, though the group continued touring while Post developed new songs. The Officially Dead EP appeared in 2003 and performed strongly in Australia, prompting the band to concentrate additional live work there. With another revised lineup—Post, Fitzpatrick, drummer Kelli Scott, and bassist Nicole Fiorentino—Veruca Salt issued the five-song EP Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things in 2005. The full-length album IV followed the next year. After muted public response, the band entered an extended hiatus. As abruptly as their split had occurred, Gordon and Post announced in 2013 that they had “buried the hatchet” and were restoring the original lineup. They referred to the period after Gordon’s departure as “Veruca Starship” and prepared new material, beginning with the 2014 Record Store Day EP MMXIV. The full-length Ghost Notes arrived in July 2015.
Albums
Singles
