Kat Bjelland

Kat Bjelland
Kat Bjelland in 2015
Kat Bjelland in 2015
Background information
Birth nameKatherine Lynne Bjelland
Born (1963-12-09) December 9, 1963 (age 62)
Salem, Oregon, United States
OriginWoodburn, Oregon, United States
GenresAlternative rock, punk rock, indie rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, Rickenbacker 425, bass, piano
Years active1985–present
LabelsDoomedelic Records, Treehouse, Twin Tone, Southern, Reprise, Sympathy for the Record Industry, Integrity Records, Rish
Websitewww.katbjelland.com

Katherine "Kat" Lynne Bjelland (born December 9, 1963) is an American singer. She became known as the singer of the punk rock band Babes in Toyland. In 2001 the band broke up. That year Bjelland released an album as part of Katastrophy Wife. Since then Katastrophy Wife has released one more album.

Early life

Bjelland was born in Oregon. Her parents divorced when she was young. Bjelland said that her stepmother was "abusive" and that her mother beat her. When Bjelland was in second grade she was bought an acoustic guitar after she asked for one.

Career

In 1982 Bjelland moved to Portland, Oregon. There she formed a series of bands. The Neurotics was the first. In 1981 Bjelland started Sugar Babydoll with her friend Courtney Love. Bjelland and Love made a new band called Pagan Babies around 1985. They made a demo tape of four songs. Bjelland wrote songs inspired by the punk rock band Frightwig. Love said, "you're never going to get anywhere playing that punk rock noise" and left the band. In 1986 Bjelland started The Italian Whorenuns.

In 1987 Bjelland started Babes in Toyland. The band released their first album, Spanking Machine, in 1990.

In 1993 Babes in Toyland performed at the Lollapalooza tour. Bjelland started a band with her husband Glenn Mattson called Crunt. In 1994 they released an album, Crunt. In 1995 Bjelland divorced her husband and Crunt broke up. In 1999 Bjelland started Katastrophy Wife. Babes in Toyland broke up in 2001.

Personal life

In 1999 Bjelland's son Henry was born.

References

  1. ↑ Brian, Burrows (July 11, 2000). Natural Babe Killers (CD booklet). United Kingdom: Snapper Music. p. 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  2. ↑ The Rickenbacker 425 model, as seen in all photographs and live concert performances, was Bjelland's sole choice of guitar.
  3. ↑ True, Everett (September 22, 1990). Spanks for the memory. Interview with Kat Bjelland. "I remember one time I was listening to my mum's Kenny Rodgers album and I took it off and there was a scratch on it [...] I just noticed it, you see. I got beaten for that- like WHHAM! - It was horrible. Another time I wasn't folding the bags right for the jar lids. Instead of, like, indenting the bag and folding it, I was scrunching it - I got beat for that"
  4. 1 2 Swensson, Andrea. "Kat Bjelland on Babes in Toyland and her long and winding career". Local Current Blog - The Current from Minnesota Public Radio.
  5. ↑ "Bernadine | all those bands, all that glam". Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Crunt - Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. ↑ "Katastrophy Wife's Kat Bjelland gets her Heart-On on FasterLouder.com.au". Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2014-02-25.