Kim Shattuck of the Muffs

The Muffs are a band that, once seen, can never be described or exaggerated. A cross between hard driven punk rock in a Blondie tradition and a three ring circus. Led by Kim Shattuck on vocals and guitar, Ronnie Barnett on bass, and Roy McDonald on drums this LA band has been causing a ruckus since their debut in 1993. Their most recent CD is Alert Today Alive Tomorrow has already been making a scene.  For the best information on where to catch the band check out their official website

FEMMUSIC was lucky to catch Kim Shattuck in between tours. Here’s what she had to say:

FEMMUSIC: How did you decide that you wanted to pursue music professionally?

KS: Out of college I was a photographer who after a while was sick of working for tasteless, common, asshole bosses so I joined a band. But I didn’t get to write songs  for that band and I had a bunch of what I thought were really good songs laying around. Better songs than what I was playing in this other band. And besides, the boss of that band was equally as tasteless as the other bosses I had, so I started my own band.

FEMMUSIC: What is your songwriting process like?

KS: I get melodies in my head and also work on them in my head. (Arrangements, everything) Words come to me sometimes at the same time, sometimes later on. Other times I sit down with a guitar and just start singing with the tape recorder on.

FEMMMUSIC:  Who have been your biggest influences?

KS: Early Kinks, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, The Sex Pistols, Blondie, Brian Wilson, The early Who, Dean Martin, Music from the 20s, kiddie music from the 60’s.

FEMMUSIC:  What have been your biggest challenges (individually & as a band) starting out?

KS: Getting the right lineup was kind of hard. We started out with some really dysfunctional people in the band and had to weed them out.

FEMMUSIC: What would you like to see changed most in the music industry? Why?

KS: I hate that big corporations decide what gets played on the radio. It gets worse and more disgusting every year. They decide what gets played and they are usually crusty old men with absolutely no musical background or taste. It’s ruining the music industry.

FEMMUSIC: As a woman lead singer in a band, have you ever faced any sort of discrimination?

KS: I think I’ve had to try a little harder to prove myself and have people trust my taste and opinions. I have to fight really hard because people tend to be dismissive of me sometimes but I don’t know if that has to do with my being female. Put it this way- everything is a fucking fight and its almost always me on one side and everybody else on the other and it’s been that way from the beginning. My biggest quote is ‘What am I? A fucking revolutionary?’ Maybe so. HAH!

FEMMUSIC: What’s been your best experience with this last tour?

KS: Some of the shows were really fun. Nothing stands out but there were a lot of good moments.

FEMMUSIC: What are your plans for the next millennium?

KS: Being happy is my ultimate goal.

FEMMUSIC: What advice would you give to an emerging artist?

KS: Please, PLEASE remember that it’s an art and to only do it if you write really good songs. Oh yeah, and be original.