The Nymphs

Last updated
Nymphs
The Nymphs, 1989.jpg
Nymphs, 1989
Background information
Origin Hollywood, California, U.S.
Genres Alternative rock, punk rock, glam metal, hard rock
Years active1985–1992, 2016, 2017-Present
Labels Geffen Records
Associated acts The Leaving Trains, Iggy Pop, Jordan Lawson, The Trolls, Failure (band), Jeff Buckley, Henry Rollins

Nymphs were an American alternative rock band that performed in the late 1980s and early 1990s with lead singer Inger Lorre. The band was signed to Geffen Records, and released their debut album in 1991. Nymphs are known for their wild stage shows and their rebellious attitude towards record companies. The band formed in 1985 and broke up in 1992, formed again in 2016, and broke up the same year, later reforming in 2017.

Contents

Members (past and present)

Band history

Lorre and Bobby Belltower formed the band in New Jersey in the mid 1980s. The band moved to Los Angeles to pursue their musical careers, and after two members returned to New Jersey, Lorre and Siegel recruited guitarist Sam Merrick, drummer Alex Kirst and bass player Cliff D. (Cliff Jones). [1]

The band was hoping to sign with an alternative label such as Alternative Tentacles, but their reputation led to interest from the major labels. However, the band's wild behavior led to some companies losing interest. [2]

Nymphs made an appearance in the 1990 film Bad Influence as a band playing in a club. [3]

Iggy Pop sang vocals on the track "Supersonic" from the debut album. [4]

It was at about this time that Nymphs began to have problems with their label. Almost two years had passed since Nymphs had completed their album. Lorre was losing her battle with heroin and in an alcohol induced fit she urinated on the desk of A&R man Tom Zutaut. " Rolling Stone [5] quipped, 'Talk about being pissed at your record label.'" [6]

Things came to a head when Inger Lorre performed fellatio on her then-boyfriend, Rodney Eastman, on stage during their set at the Marquis club in Anaheim, California in 1992. [7] Shortly afterwards, Lorre was fired from the band after she refused to go onstage during a concert that year in Miami opening for Peter Murphy. [8] The band broke up soon after.

After Nymphs, Inger Lorre went on to record with Jeff Buckley and release solo albums. Alex Kirst went on to play drums for Iggy Pop. [4] Geoff Siegel went on to do A&R for Columbia and Giant records. Sam Merrick briefly returned to his original band, Leaving Trains. He now plays guitar in Boise, Idaho based band a.k.a. Belle.

Alex Kirst died on January 13, 2011 as the result of a car accident. His body was found just before midnight near Date Palm and Gerald Ford Drive in Cathedral City, California. He was 47. [9] [10] Kirst is the brother of guitarist Whitey Kirst, who has also played with Iggy Pop. [11]

In the summer of 2016, Inger Lorre announced Nymphs were re-forming and going back into the studio with new material for the first time in over 20 years. A new album and touring would follow. The news spread through various magazines, television interviews and online social media. The new band lineup would bring back Inger Lorre (vocals) with all new members including Mario Tremaine (guitar), Jordan Lawson (bass), Aaron Cruz (guitar) and Eric James Contreras (drums). However, after several brief studio rehearsals, a cover of Dolly Parton's Hard Candy Christmas for Amazon, and an appearance at The Viper Room in Hollywood, California, the newly formed Nymphs called it quits almost as quickly as they got started.

November 18, 2016 a reissue of Nymphs' one and only Geffen release from 1991, now an underground classic was released by Rock Candy Records in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the original Geffen release. The reissue was remastered and included a 16-page full-color booklet containing a 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork with previously unseen photos, interviews and band history.

As of April 2017 Nymphs’ lineup consists of Inger Lorre (vocals-keyboards), Joe Perez (lead guitar), T.J. (rhythm guitar), Angelique Congleton (bass-vocals) and Eric James Contreras (drums). The new Nymphs lineup is writing/rehearsing/recording new material to be released and for an upcoming European tour. A live recording from a 2016 show at the famous Viper Room in Hollywood was released in 2017.

Discography

Related Research Articles

The Stooges

The Stooges, originally billed as the Psychedelic Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, were an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander. Initially playing a raw, primitive style of rock and roll, the band sold few records in their original incarnation and gained a reputation for their confrontational performances, which often involved acts of self-mutilation by Iggy Pop.

Iggy Pop American musician

James Newell Osterberg Jr., known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Designated the "Godfather of Punk", he was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band The Stooges, who were formed in 1967 and have disbanded and reunited many times since.

<i>Brick by Brick</i> 1990 studio album by Iggy Pop

Brick by Brick is the ninth studio album by American singer Iggy Pop released in June 1990 by record label Virgin.

<i>The Idiot</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Iggy Pop

The Idiot is the debut studio album by American musician Iggy Pop, released on March 18, 1977, through RCA Records. After the break-up of his band the Stooges in 1974, Pop struggled with drug addiction. Although attempts to get sober proved unsuccessful, by 1976, he was ready to end his addiction. Pop accepted an invitation to accompany his friend David Bowie on his Isolar Tour. At the end of the tour, Pop agreed to join Bowie, also struggling with drug addiction, in moving to Europe to rid themselves of their addictions. The two settled into the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, where Bowie agreed to produce an album for Pop.

Inger Lorre American singer

Inger Lorre is an American singer who is best known for her band Nymphs.

<i>Skull Ring</i> 2003 studio album by Iggy Pop

Skull Ring is the fourteenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop, released in November 2003. Every track on the album features guest performers. The performers are The Stooges, The Trolls, Green Day, Sum 41, and Peaches.

<i>Metallic K.O.</i> 1976 live album by The Stooges

Metallic K.O. is a live recording by American hard rock band The Stooges. In its original form, the album was purported to contain the last half of a performance at the Michigan Palace in Detroit, on February 9, 1974—the band's final live performance until their reformation in 2003. The performance was notable for the level of audience hostility, with the band being constantly pelted with pieces of ice, eggs, beer bottles and jelly beans, among other things, in response to Iggy Pop's audience-baiting.

<i>Beat Em Up</i> 2001 studio album by Iggy Pop

Beat Em Up, is the thirteenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop. Recorded at Hit Factory Criteria studios in Miami Beach, Florida, it is the first Iggy Pop album in which the Trolls were credited. The Trolls were: Iggy Pop, Whitey Kirst, Pete Marshall, Alex Kirst and Lloyd "Mooseman" Roberts.

<i>Avenue B</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Iggy Pop

Avenue B is the twelfth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop, released in 1999.

<i>Naughty Little Doggie</i> 1996 studio album by Iggy Pop

Naughty Little Doggie is the eleventh studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop released in 1996. The last track, "Look Away", features his tribute to Johnny Thunders and Sable Starr. The photography is by David Sims and Anton Corbijn; and the artwork by Phil Bicker.

Toe Fat were an English rock band, active from June 1969 to 1971, notable for including two future members of Uriah Heep and a future member of Jethro Tull.

<i>The Nymphs</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Nymphs

Nymphs is the debut full-length studio album recorded by the American rock band Nymphs. It was produced by Bill Price, and released in 1991 on Geffen Records. There were music videos made for "Imitating Angels" and "Sad and Damned," neither of which attained commercial recognition. Iggy Pop sang on "Supersonic". The band broke up a few months after release.

<i>Sea Hags</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Sea Hags

Sea Hags is the eponymous only album by the American hard rock band Sea Hags. It was released in 1989 through Chrysalis Records. During recording, the band's line up changed several times as the label and the band didn't think they were capable of producing the right sound. After the album was released, the band went on a European tour, where they promptly broke up.

<i>Episode 1999: Live</i> 1999 live album by Loaded

Episode 1999: Live is a live album by American rock band Loaded, released in May 1999. Recorded during two shows in Los Angeles, California, it is the only album to be released by this incarnation of the band. Initially a backing band for bassist/vocalist Duff McKagan's solo and Guns N' Roses material, they later formed as their own band.

Beggars Opera was a Scottish progressive rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, formed in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner, vocalist Martin Griffiths, and bassist Marshall Erskine. The line-up consisted of Ricky Gardiner (guitar/vocals), Alan Park (keyboards), Martin Griffiths (vocals) Marshall Erskine (bass/flute) and Raymond Wilson (drums). After working together building parts of the M40 Motorway near Beaconsfield, the lads moved back to Glasgow to look for an organist and drummer and found Alan Park and Ray Wilson. After an intensive time in rehearsal they took up residency at Burns Howff club/pub in West Regent Street in the center of Glasgow. Tours of Europe followed and the band found success in Germany, appearing on German TV's legendary Beat-Club, then at the First British Rock Meeting in Speyer in September 1971.

<i>Transcendental Medication</i> 1999 studio album by Inger Lorre

Transcendental Medication is a 1999 album by Inger Lorre, formerly of The Nymphs. The album includes a duet with Jeff Buckley as well as the song "Yard of Blonde Girls" which Buckley covered on his 1998 posthumous album Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk. It also includes "She's Not Your Friend", a shot at Courtney Love, with whom Inger had had a spat played out across Hole's Pretty on the Inside album and a Vanity Fair article.

Le Butcherettes Mexican rock band

Le Butcherettes is a Mexican garage punk band formed in 2007 in Guadalajara by Teri Gender Bender.

<i>Space Im In</i> 1991 studio album by The Candyskins

Space I'm In is the debut album from the British rock band The Candyskins. It contains their hit single "Submarine Song" and the title track was an MTV favourite. A video was also made for their cover of the Buffalo Springfield song For What It's Worth, directed by Samuel Bayer, whose video for Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana had recently entered heavy rotation on MTV. The recording of the album was financed by Geffen Records, although the first single release was under the Long Beach label. The band were signed to Geffen by A&R man Tom Zutaut.

<i>Weve All Been There</i> 2010 studio album by Alex Band

We've All Been There is the debut solo album by American singer-songwriter Alex Band, best known for being the former lead vocalist and songwriter of rock band The Calling. The album was released on June 29, 2010 through Band's own label, AMB Records, in a distribution deal with EMI Records.

<i>A Practical Guide to Astral Projection</i> 1992 EP by Nymphs

A Practical Guide to Astral Projection is an EP and the second studio record by American rock band Nymphs. It was produced by Bill Price and released in 1992 on DGC Records. The EP consists of demos of "The Highway" and "Alright" the band made prior to being signed, a previously unreleased cover of Badfinger's "Come and Get It" plus the album versions of "Imitating Angels" and "Wasting My Days". The EP was released after the band broke up.

References

  1. "The Nymphs bio". Teenage Wasteland. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  2. "The Nymphs bio". Art in Base. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  3. "bad Influence". IMDB. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Stratosphere, Jen (May 31, 2007). "Interview with Inger Lorre of Nymphs". DOA. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  5. Rolling Stone , May 2, 1991, No.603, p.13.
  6. Pearson, Sarah Luck (March 23, 1999). "Inger Lorre, Patron Saint of Fucked-over Musicians". LA Weekly . Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  7. Farr, Joey (21 Jul 2001). "Tom Zutaut and the Nymphs". Moguls and Madmen. Simon and Schuster. p. 44. ISBN   978-0743228930. And on February 28, Lorre caused her first riot: at Anaheim's Marquis, before four hundred or so people, she performed fellatio on her boyfriend, actor Rodney Eastman, onstage--midway through the group's set.
  8. Hochman, Steve (July 4, 1992). "Nymphs Release Inger Lorre after Concert Incident". L.A.Times. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  9. McGinty, Kate (January 15, 2011). "Alex Kirst, former drummer for Iggy Pop and Nymphs, killed in hit-and-run". The Desert Sun. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  10. "Former Iggy Pop drummer dies in hit and run". The Guardian UK. January 15, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  11. Wilton, Lisa (July 1, 2011). "Iggy guitarist no stooge". The Calgary Sun. Retrieved January 21, 2011.