Erin Smith (musician)

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Erin Smith
Erin Smith with Bratmobile, 1994.jpg
Erin Smith with Bratmobile in 1994
Background information
Born (1972-08-16) August 16, 1972 (age 53)
Washington, D.C.
Genres Riot grrrl
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1990–present
Labels Kill Rock Stars, Lookout!
Formerly of

Erin Smith (born August 16, 1972) is best known for being the guitarist of riot grrrl band Bratmobile, a band with drummer Molly Neuman and vocalist Allison Wolfe.

Contents

Early life

Smith started her zine Teenage Gang Debs in 1987 with her brother Don. [1] [2] [3] In 1991, she started interning at Sassy magazine, where she wrote articles about independent music and exposed girls to DIY culture. [1] [3]

Her first guitar, a 1965 black teardrop KAPA Minstrel, was bought for $100 from Mike Schulman of Black Tambourine. Smith's brother was moving into Schulman's old room at a group house of students at University of Maryland, and it had been left behind to sell. [4]

Career

Smith and Molly Neuman were introduced by Calvin Johnson at a Nation of Ulysses concert in Washington D.C. on December 26, 1990. They agreed to trade zines and kept in touch by letter and phone. When Neuman, along with Allison Wolfe, visited the city again for spring break in 1991 they asked Smith if she wanted to play music with them. They were initially joined by Jen Smith and Christina Billotte in a band they called Bratmobile DC, but Jen Smith and Billotte departed within months. Wolfe, Neuman, and Erin Smith continued on as Bratmobile, playing their first show as a trio at Fort Reno Park in July. [5]

The band was active until 1994, when they went on hiatus. During this hiatus, Smith and Wolfe started a new band Cold Cold Hearts. [6] Bratmobile reformed in 1999, but split again in 2003 after two more albums. [7]

Her college major had been Radio, Television, and Film. In May 2000, Smith moved to California and started to work at Lookout! shortly after, doing radio promotion and reception. Then branching out to radio, video, and tour promotion, and later promoted to promotion director. [8]

Discography

With Bratmobile

Studio albums

YearTitleLabelFormats
1993 Pottymouth Kill Rock Stars LP/CD/CS
2000 Ladies, Women and Girls Lookout! Records CD/LP
2002 Girls Get Busy Lookout! RecordsCD/LP

EPs

Live albums

Singles

Split 7-inch

Compilation albums

  • Kill Rock Stars compilation, CD/LP, (Kill Rock Stars)
  • A Wonderful Treat compilation cassette
  • The Embassy Tapes cassette
  • Throw compilation CD (Yoyo Recordings)
  • International Pop Underground live LP/CD/CS (K Records)
  • Neapolitan Metropolitan boxed 7-inch set (Simple Machines)
  • Teen Beat 100 compilation 7-inch (Teen Beat)
  • Julep compilation LP/CD (Yo Yo)
  • Wakefield Vol. 2 V/A CD boxed set (Teen Beat)
  • Plea For Peace Take Action compilation CD (Sub City)
  • Boys Lie compilation CD (Lookout! Records)
  • Yo Yo A Go Go 1999 compilation CD (Yoyo Recordings)
  • Lookout! Freakout Episode 2 compilation CD (Lookout! Records)
  • Songs For Cassavetes compilation CD (Better Looking Records)
  • Lookout! Freakout Episode 3 CD (Lookout! Records)
  • Turn-On Tune-In Lookout! DVD (Lookout! Records)

With Cold Cold Hearts

Studio albums

Singles

References

  1. 1 2 Jesella, Kara; Meltzer, Marisa (2007). How Sassy Changed My Life. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. p. 76. ISBN   978-0571211852.
  2. ↑ Monem, Nadine, ed. (2007). Riot Grrrl: Revolution Girl Style Now!. Black Dog Publishing. p. 168. ISBN   978-1906155018.
  3. 1 2 Kelly, Christina (December 6, 2018). "Before #metoo, there was Riot Grrrl and Bratmobile". Grok Nation.
  4. ↑ White, Jason (November 25, 2025). "What's On Your Board? ...with Erin Smith from Bratmobile". What's On Your Board Substack. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  5. ↑ Davis, John R. (2025). Keep Your Ear to the Ground – A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington, DC. Georgetown University Press. ISBN   9781647126360.
  6. ↑ Gentry, Brandon (2012). Capitol Contingency - Post-Punk, Indie Rock, and Noise Pop in Washington, D.C., 1991-99. Garrett County Press. ISBN   9781891053740.
  7. ↑ Marcus, Sara. Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution, 59–61.
  8. ↑ Prested, Kevin; Michaels, Jesse (2022). Punk USA – The Roots of Green Day & the Rise & Fall of Lookout Records. Microcosm Publishing. ISBN   9781648410932.
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