Victor DeLorenzo was born on October 25, 1954, and is best known as the drummer for the folk-punk band the Violent Femmes.[1]
He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin and has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since. He has been a drummer since the age of sixteen, but an actor since the age of five. While attending the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, he auditioned for and was accepted into Theatre X in 1976, and worked with them in various roles for more than twenty years.[2]
As a drummer, DeLorenzo paired up with bassist Brian Ritchie in 1981, as a rhythm section that they called Violent Femmes. When singer, guitarist and songwriter Gordon Gano joined them in 1980, the band called themselves the Violent Femmes.[2] DeLorenzo's father loaned the band $10,000 to record their debut album, Violent Femmes, in 1982. However, the Violent Femmes were forced to delay its release until 1983 after they signed to Slash Records. His signature sound is due to his minimalist drum kit. He often uses nothing more than a snare drum, a tranceaphone and steel brushes. The tranceaphone consists of a metal bushel basket inverted over a tom. He favors this style of kit because in their early days, the band often played on the streets.
DeLorenzo continued to act with Theatre X, and record and tour with the Femmes until 1993, when he left to devote more of his time to acting and to recording his own music.[2] He toured as part of Moe Tucker's band in that year. In 1996 he opened a recording studio called Joe's Real Recording.[2] He has released three solo records since 1990. in addition to recording his own music, he has played with several side projects, including Ash Can School.[3] In 2000, he teamed up with Ritchie to put together a Femmes compilation, and subsequently rejoined the band.[4] The Violent Femmes disbanded in 2009.
DeLorenzo's biggest influences are the painter Marcel Duchamp, and his father.
Nowadays DeLorenzo performs percussion in the chamber rock trio Nineteen Thirteen with cellist Janet Schiff and percussionist Scott Johnson. Nineteen Thirteen's recording of Hurricane Noel was featured in the 2011 TED Global Conference.
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