Babes in Toyland was an American punk rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland (lead vocals and guitar), with Lori Barbero (drums) and Michelle Leon (bass), who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992. Courtney Love had a brief stint in the band in 1987 as a bass player before being kicked out and forming Hole in 1989.
Between 1989 and 1995, Babes in Toyland released three studio albums: Spanking Machine (1990), the commercially successful Fontanelle (1992), and Nemesisters (1995), before becoming inactive in 1997 and eventually disbanding in 2001. While the band was inspirational to some performers in the riot grrrl movement in the Pacific Northwest, Babes in Toyland never associated themselves with the movement.
Studio albums YearTitleLabelUS sales1990Spanking MachineTwin Tone Records70,0001992FontanelleReprise Records220,0001995Nemesisters150,000
Extended plays YearTitleLabelUS sales1991To MotherSouthern Records50,0001993Painkillers60,000
Live albums YearTitleType2001MinneapolismCherry Red Records
Compilation albums YearTitleType1992The Peel SessionsStrange Fruit Records1994DystopiaInsipid Records2000LivedAlmafameDevilViledNatural Babe KillersRecall Records2001Collector's ItemDigimode EntertainmentThe Further Adventures of Babes in ToylandFuel 2000 Records2004The Best of Babes in Toyland and Kat BjellandWarner Music Records
Singles YearTitleAlbumLabel1989Dust Cake BoySpanking MachineTreehouse Records1990House(None)Sub Pop1991Handsome and GretelFontanelleInsipid Records1992Bruise VioletSouthern Records1993CatatonicTo MotherInsipid Records1995Sweet '69NemesistersReprise RecordsWe Are FamilyNemesisters
Chart positions YearSingleChartPeak position1991To MotherUK Indie Chart11992FontanelleUK Albums Chart241993PainkillersUK Albums Chart531995"Sweet '69"US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks37"Sweet '69"UK Singles Chart1731995"We Are Family"US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play22
Other contributions YearTitleAlbumLabel1989"Watching Girl"Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves ThemGiant Records 1991"Handsome & Gretel"Indie Top 20 Volume 13Beechwood Music"Ripe"New Season – The Peel SessionsStrange Fruit"Flesh Crawl"Teriyaki Asthma Vols. I-V C/Z RecordsHouseThe Grunge Years Sub Pop Records 1992Handsome & GretelBest of IndependentBeechwood MusicSometimesVolume 4Volmume1993DirtyMilk for PussyMad Queen RecordsDust Cake BoySonic Youth in 1991: The Year Punk Broke (VHS)Geffen Home Video1994Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft If I Were a CarpenterA&M RecordsSay What You WantS.F.W.1995Sweet '69Alternative Final Mix 11Warner MusicMore, More, MoreSpirit Of '73: Rock For Choice550 MusicSweet '69Triple J: This Is Twelve – Too Louder Compilation Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1996Handsome & Gretel (Live)Volume Fourteen – Reading '95 Special Volume1998Overtura: AstroantiquitySongs of the WitchbladeDreamWorks
Videography
The best places to catch a Babes in Toyland video in the US were through various MTV outlets. The music videos for "Bruise Violet" and "Sweet '69" were Buzzworthy Clip Features, and "Sweet '69" was the cheapest video ever made to be played on the network at the time. The "Sweet '69" music video was made on a $5,000 budget. Beavis and Butthead episodes were another notable place to catch clips for "Ripe" and "Bruise Violet''. 120 minutes also played music videos by the band. They also guest-hosted the show on July 9, 1995.
Music videos YearTitle1990He's My Thing (from Spanking Machine)1991Ripe (from To Mother)1992Bruise Violet (from Fontanelle)1992Won't Tell (from Fontanelle)1993Istigkeit (from Painkillers)1995Sweet '69 (from Nemesisters)1995We Are Family (from Nemesisters)
Other videography YearTitle1990The Making of Spanking Machine1991"Dust Cake Boy" from 1991: The Year Punk Broke1993MTV's Beavis and Butthead "Ripe"1993MTV's Beavis and Butthead "Bruise Violet"1993The Making of Painkillers1995The Making of Nemesisters1995Babes in Toyland "Nemesisters" EPK1995Babes in Toyland host MTV's 120 Minutes1995Performance of "Sweet '69" on MTV's 120 Minutes1995Performance of "Memory" on MTV's 120 Minutes
References
External links