The Muffs

Formation and early years: 1991–1996 The band started as a collaboration between guitarists Kim Shattuck and Melanie Vammen, both former members of the 1980s all-female hard rock group, The Pandoras. The Muffs started performing and recording after the addition of bassist Ronnie Barnett and drummer Criss Crass. In the words of musician and critic Scott Miller, the Muffs had "an uncommon flair for simple, catchy melodies" which, he noted approvingly, were always delivered in "Kim Shattuck's almost comically sneering adolescent rasp". The band released their self-titled debut album in 1993. Crass left soon after its release, and drummer Jim Laspesa filled in during the subsequent tour, with Roy McDonald (formerly of Redd Kross) taking over the position permanently in 1994. The album included the college radio hit single, "Sad Tomorrow". Subsequent releases and hiatus: 1996–2005 The Muffs contributed a cover of the 1981 Kim Wilde hit "Kids In America" to the soundtrack for the 1995 film Clueless. Their version of the song is also used in the music video game Rock Band 2, and was later reissued on The Muffs' 2000 compilation album, Hamburger. The band made their third album, Happy Birthday to Me, in 1997, and it proved to be their final release through Warner Bros. Final years and death of Kim Shattuck: 2012–2019 In 2012, the Muffs appeared at the "Girls Got Rhythm" fest in St. Paul, Minnesota, along with Ronnie Spector, The 5.6.7.8's, Nikki Corvette and L'Assassins. Shattuck credited former member Laspesa as being instrumental in bringing about the reunion of Barnett, McDonald, and herself. Shattuck wrote all 12 songs, and handled production and engineering of almost the entire album. Its sound is "rough with punk edges", and it keeps a "heavy emphasis on humor and brevity". A positive review of the album on Pitchfork notes: "They haven't slowed down or softened their attack, or lost their way with tune-construction. Even Shattuck's voice remains barely touched by time... There is scarcely a more consistent band in all of American pop-punk". Lead singer Kim Shattuck died on October 2, 2019, after a two-year battle with ALS. On October 18, 2019, The Muffs released their final album No Holiday, which comprises tracks spanning the beginnings of the band in 1991 to 2017. ==Covers and tributes==

Punk rock band The Queers covered the Muffs song "End It All" on their 2007 reissue of the album ''Don't Back Down''. British indie band Silver Sun covered the Muffs song "I'm a Dick" on their Too Much, Too Little, Too Late EP. American punk rock band The Huntingtons covered the Muffs song "Big Mouth" on their ''Rock 'N' Roll Habits For The New Wave LP. "Big Mouth" was also covered by American punk rock bands Off with Their Heads (on the Art of the Underground Singles Series Volume 9) and The Linda Lindas (for the soundtrack of the film Moxie''). == Band members ==

Former line-up • Kim Shattuck - lead vocals, lead guitar, occasional keyboards • Melanie Vammen - rhythm guitar, backing vocals • Ronnie Barnett - bass guitar, occasional backing vocals • Criss Crass - drums, backing vocals ==Discography==

Studio albums • The Muffs (1993) (reissued with bonus tracks by Omnivore Recordings in 2015) • Blonder and Blonder (1995) • Happy Birthday to Me (1997) • Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow (1999) • Really Really Happy (2004) • Whoop Dee Doo (2014) • No Holiday (2019) Compilation albums • Hamburger (2000) • Kaboodle (2011) Singles • "New Love" (1991) • "Guilty" (1991) • "I Need You" (1992) • "Big Mouth" (1993) • "Lucky Guy" (1993) • "Everywhere I Go" (1993) • "Sad Tomorrow" (1995) (#29 Canadian RPM Alternative Singles) • "I'm a Dick" (1996) • "Outer Space" (1998) • "Happening" (1999) • "No Action" (2000) • "Really Really Happy" (2004) • "A Lovely Day Boo Hoo" (2019) • "Changes" (2023) Music videos ==References==