Maureen Herman
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Maureen Herman (born July 25, 1966) was from 1992 until 1996 the bass player for the Minneapolis-based Babes in Toyland.
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[edit] Early years
Herman was raised in Libertyville, Illinois, the same town that produced Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Adam Jones of Tool. There she met Stephanie Brown, a friend who turned her on to punk bands and shows in Chicago.
Maureen's parents moved to Minnesota a few months before graduation and Maureen stayed behind and lived with Brown's mother so she could graduate with her class. She attended the University of Minnesota and subsequently lived in Minneapolis, where she got to know the other members of Babes before being invited to replace the departed Michelle Leon.
[edit] Babes in Toyland
Herman described her initiation into the band (Harmony Central, 8/23/00):
- An old friend phoned with news that the bassist had quit the band and asked if I'd like to join. That band, Babes in Toyland, had just signed to Reprise and was about to record their major label debut. I joined. In two weeks I was on tour, with a recording session scheduled immediately after we got off the road.
She played on the band's albums Fontanelle and Nemesisters and the Painkillers EP. She sang lead vocals on the Nemesisters cut "Killer on the Road." All Music Guide described her bass playing as a "gut-pounding, throttling beat."
She recounted her state of mind when she quit the band after four years, citing health issues (South Loop Review, Vol. 1):
- I couldn't remember the last time I had enjoyed music either as a player or a listener. It had been far too long. Warner Bros. and the rest of their dysfunctional family had chewed up all the good parts, leaving only the greedy, ugly parts exposed.
After Herman left, the band played sporadically with other bassists for several years, but never released another studio album.
[edit] Post-Babes
Herman went on to work as Associate Editor for Musician magazine and freelance journalist for Rolling Stone. In 1998, Herman started her own company, Pollyanna, and served as a manager for several acts, including P.W. Long and Laurie Webb. In 2000 she produced friend Hank Williams III's, CMT-circulated video "You're the Reason", directed by P.W. Long.
In June 2006 Herman joined San Francisco music company start-up Fuzz, where she began as Senior Director of Business Development. In March 2008, Herman became Editor-in-Chief of Fuzz editorial section The Fix.
The site also employs fellow former Chicagoan Duane Denison of The Jesus Lizard (whose band USSA was signed by the Fuzz label) and Herman's former Warner Bros. publicist Bill Bentley (who launched his own Fuzz editorial venture and spin-off SonicBoomers in Spring 2008.
In addition to her work at Fuzz, Herman began doing charitable work in 2008 with non-profit venture Project Noise. The organization partnered with fellow Libertyville High School graduate Tom Morello, Amnesty International and Axis of Justice on The Nightwatchman's Justice Tour, and featured artists Perry Farrell, Wayne Kramer of The MC5 and others. The tour aimed to spotlight regional social justice causes and activism combined with music in two day events across the U.S.
[edit] External links
- [1] Fuzz
- [2] Fuzz: Maureen Herman
- [3] Fuzz: Babes in Toyland
- All Music Guide: Babes in Toyland
- "Great Managers & How to Find Them", Harmony Central, August 23, 2000
- "Yeah... Why Not...", South Loop Review, Vol. 1
- [4] Project Noise
