Dickless | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Seattle, Washington, United States |
Genres | Grunge, punk rock, funk rock, riot grrrl |
Years active | 1989 | -1998
Labels | Sub Pop Records |
Past members | Kelly Canary[1] (vocals) Megan Jasper[1] (vocals) |
Dickless was a Seattle-based grunge band[3][4] signed to Sub Pop records in 1990.[citation needed] Dickless is notable for their unique raspy/screamy vocal style.[5][6] During their first few years, their loud and abrasive sound was new and unusual for an all-female music group. Simultaneously, their short discography included song titles and a song cover, "I'm a Man" by Bo Diddley, that were blatantly ironic given their abrasive sound and female members.[7] The band name itself is meant to be satire.[8] The group's period of activity coincided with the emerging "Riot grrrl" music culture.[9]
The original lineup consisted of Lisa Buckner (drums), Kelly Canary (vocals), Jana McCall (bass), Kerry Green (guitar). Lisa Buckner was soon replaced by Lisa Smith from Atomic 61 on drums.[10] After a few years, Kelly Canary quit to form the Teen Angels.[11][12] Lisa Smith would also join Teen Angels later.[11] Sub Pop employee Megan Jasper became the new vocalist after Kelly Canary's last show.[12] Jennie Trower eventually replaced Jana McCall on bass.
The group had a relatively short discography during their sporadic nine-year existence. Their entire discography was seven short songs (most songs were between 1:00 to 2:00 minutes) spread across seven different releases (not counting the planned, but never released Anthology album).
Their release as Thee Dickless All Stars included Mark Arm of Mudhoney on vocals and Duane Bodenheimer of Derelicts on guitar.[13] Their song Lumber Jack again included Mark Arm of Mudhoney on vocals.
It used to strike us as silly to see the term "grunge" applied to slick, carefully marketed, radio-ready bands like Stone Temple Pilots and Blind Melon, because Dickless embodied grunge better than perhaps any other band from that era, and nobody would consider them slick or ready for radio.