The Pandoras were an American all-female

garage punk A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include: *Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicl ...

band from

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, active from 1982 to 1991. The band is among the first handful of all-female rock bands to ever be signed to a major label. From the beginning, the band found a strong following in the Hollywood

garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock music that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The style is ...

and

Paisley Underground Paisley Underground is a musical genre that originated in California. It was particularly popular in Los Angeles, reaching a peak in the mid-1980s. Paisley Underground bands incorporated psychedelia, rich vocal harmonies and guitar interplay, owi ...

scene, making the gossip pages almost weekly. The Pandoras enjoyed strong radio support from DJ

Rodney Bingenheimer Rodney Bingenheimer (born December 15, 1946) is an American radio disc jockey who is best known as the host of ''Rodney on the ROQ'', a radio program that ran on the Los Angeles rock station KROQ-FM from 1976 to 2017. In the early 1970s, he als ...

. The band graduated from the garage rock sound to a more contemporary, hard rock style in later years, spawning the off-shoot band

the Muffs The Muffs were an American pop punk band based in Southern California, formed in 1991. Led by singer and guitarist Kim Shattuck, the band released four full-length studio albums in the 1990s, as well as numerous singles including "Lucky Guy" and ...

. The Pandoras founder/singer/guitarist/songwriter, Paula Pierce, died of a brain aneurysm on August 10, 1991, at the age of 31.

The Muffs The Muffs were an American pop punk band based in Southern California, formed in 1991. Led by singer and guitarist Kim Shattuck, the band released four full-length studio albums in the 1990s, as well as numerous singles including "Lucky Guy" and ...

frontwoman and founder

Kim Shattuck Kimberly Dianne Shattuck (July 17, 1963 – October 2, 2019) was an American singer, musician, and songwriter. She was the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the American punk rock band the Muffs, which formed in 1991. From ...

, who played bass in the Pandoras from 1985 to 1990, appeared as lead singer and guitarist of the reunited Pandoras until she died of complications from

ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or—in the United States—Lou Gehrig's disease (LGD), is a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorder that results in the progressive loss of both upper and low ...

on October 2, 2019, aged 56.

Formation

The Pandoras began in late 1982 as part of the 1960s garage rock revival. They were associated with the

era in Hollywood's underground rock scene that shared an aesthetic heavily influenced by 1960s garage rock and

psychedelia Psychedelia usually refers to a Aesthetics, style or aesthetic that is resembled in the psychedelic subculture of the 1960s and the psychedelic experience produced by certain psychoactive substances. This includes psychedelic art, psychedelic ...

. Pierce, a resident of

Chino, California Chino ( ; Spanish for "Curly") is a city in the western end of San Bernardino County, California, United States, with Los Angeles County to its west and Orange County to its south in the Southern California region. Chino's surroundings ha ...

, until 1984, had been a member of the Hollywood music scene; playing in bands since 1976. The Pandoras were formed when singer/guitarist Pierce, a member of the mod/garage/pop Action Now, met singer/guitarist/bass player Deborah Mendoza (aka Menday), at Chaffey College in

Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga was a Ranchos of California, Mexican land grant in present-day San Bernardino County, California, given in 1839 to the dedicated soldier, smuggler and politician Tiburcio Tapia by Mexican governor Juan Bautista Alvarado. The gra ...

in 1982. Mendoza, an art major, answered an ad that Pierce, a graphic arts major, had posted on the bulletin board in the cafeteria. The ad read, "Wanted, another female musician to jam with! Influenced by sixties garage punk." They began bringing their guitars to school and jamming between classes. Pierce, lead singer/songwriter/lead guitarist, brought in Gwynne Kahn on keyboards/rhythm guitar. Mendoza on bass/backing vocals, brought in drummer Casey Gomez. After a band meeting in December 1982, the Pandoras were born, though names such as the Keyholes, Hole, the wHolesome, and the Goodwylls were considered first.

Early career and controversy

After recording their first EP in 1983, ''I'm Here I'm Gone'' on Moxie Records, Mendoza left the group. She was replaced on bass by Bambi Conway, a childhood friend of Kahn, who recalled that the pair "used to go to the

Whiskey Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from Fermentation in food processing, fermented grain mashing, mash. Various grains (which may be Malting, malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, Maize, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky ...

together and we were like ... in grade school." In 1984 Conway, Kahn, Gomez, and Pierce appeared on the Pandoras' debut album, '' It's About Time'', on Greg Shaw's Bomp! Records.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 449 In 1984, the Pandoras split into two factions just as the ''It's About Time'' LP was being released. Founder/Singer/Songwriter Paula Pierce had focus on the direction she wanted to go with her band. Bassist Conway, unhappy with Pierce, quit The Pandoras; followed by Pierce firing keyboardist/guitarist Kahn. Shortly thereafter, drummer Gomez split from Pierce. Pierce decided to continue as The Pandoras, immediately recruiting three new members who embarked on tour for the ''It's About Time'' LP release. Former members Gomez and Conway joined Kahn in the short-lived Gwynne's Pandoras. The brief dispute over the Pandoras name was discussed on a

KROQ-FM KROQ-FM (106.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Pasadena, California, serving Greater Los Angeles. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an alternative rock format known as "The World Famous KROQ" (pronounced "kay-rock"). The sta ...

radio show hosted by

and in the local music zines such as '' BAM'', ''Music Connection'', and the ''

LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. The paper covers music, arts, film, theater, culture, and other local news in the Los Angeles area. ''LA Weekly'' was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin (among others), ...

'' (and its "L.A. Dee Da" gossip column). Pierce's fresh, new line-up of the Pandoras included Melanie Vammen on keyboards, Julie Patchouli on bass, and Karen Blankfeld on drums. Momentum began picking up with the release of the "Hot Generation" single on Bomp! Records in late 1984. The Pierce-led band toured the east coast with the

Fuzztones The Fuzztones are an American garage rock revival band formed in 1980. History Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi in New York City, the band has gone through several member changes but is currently active in Europe. Since the 1980s th ...

to promote the single. Gwynne's Pandoras released "Worm Boy" on an

Enigma Records Enigma Records (also known as Enigma Entertainment Corporation) was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. History Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/d ...

compilation, ''

Enigma Variations Edward Elgar composed his ''Variations on an Original Theme'', Op. 36, popularly known as the ''Enigma Variations'', between October 1898 and February 1899. It is an orchestral work comprising fourteen variations on an original theme. Elgar ...

'', in 1985. When readying for an EP on Enigma Records, the label insisted that Gwynne's Pandoras change their name. This ended the gossip-column controversies, and the Pierce-led Pandoras prevailed. Gwynne's EP, to be titled ''Psycho Circus'', was never released, and a new band name never settled upon. Bassist Julie Patchouli departed the Pandoras in the spring of 1985. A fill-in bassist Gayle Morency joined the Pandoras on bass for two shows. Morency was replaced by bassist/backing vocalist, and future founder of

in July 1985.

Rhino era

The Pandoras were signed to

Rhino Records A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...

and began recording the basic tracks for the '' Stop Pretending'' album during the winter of 1985 with producer

Bill Inglot Bill Inglot is an American music engineer and producer, best known for remastering older recordings to high quality digital standards. Inglot worked for Rhino Entertainment and other Warner Music Group labels from 1982 to 2007. He was largely res ...

, who had produced earlier Pandoras and Action Now releases. In 1986, ''Stop Pretending'' was released. The Pandoras was labeled "one of the bands that matter" by the ''

''. The band continued to play live and record new songs for their major label debut and were a top live club draw outside of Los Angeles, touring with

Nina Hagen Catharina "Nina" Hagen (; born 11 March 1955) is a German singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her theatrical vocals and rise to prominence during the punk and Neue Deutsche Welle movements in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is ...

, and performing on bills with such acts as

Iggy Pop James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor and radio broadcaster. He was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1 ...

, the Fuzztones,

the Beat Farmers The Beat Farmers are an American rock band that formed in San Diego, California, United States, in August 1983, and enjoyed a cult following into the early 1990s before the death of drummer and sometime lead singer Country Dick Montana. Thei ...

Johnny Thunders John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of New York Dolls. He later formed the He ...

the Alarm The Alarm are a Welsh rock band that formed in Rhyl, Wales in 1981. Initially formed as a punk band, the Toilets, in 1977 under lead vocalist Mike Peters, the group soon embraced arena rock and included marked influences from Welsh language ...

, Madness,

the Blasters The Blasters are an American rock music, rock band formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman (drummer), Bill Bateman. Their s ...

, and

the Cramps The Cramps were an American rock band formed in 1976 and active until 2009. Their lineup rotated frequently during their existence, with the husband-and-wife duo of singer Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy the only ever-present members. T ...

. The music video for "Stop Pretending" appeared on air, in the United States, Canada and Europe. The Pandoras played the inaugural LA Weekly Music Awards and showcased a slightly harder sound and were interviewed on the roof of the Variety Arts Center for French TV by Laurent Basset who would in later years go on to marry drummer Karen Blankfeld and direct the hit series

Below Deck ''Below Deck'' is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on July 1, 2013. The show chronicles the lives of the crew members who work and reside aboard a superyacht during charter season. The series has a number of spin- ...

on Bravo.

Elektra era

Elektra A&R man Steve Pross signed the band to

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

. The band made numerous attempts to record the album, to be titled ''Come Inside.'' During this period, Blankfeld was forced from the band due to disagreements about band management, and was replaced with Kelly Dillard on drums. Blankfeld went on to play bass with former Enigma recording artists Wednesday Week, before forming the ''Billboard''-charting all-female band the Rebel Pebbles. Dillard was in the Pandoras for only two months; during that time she appeared in photoshoots intended for the Elektra cover of ''Come Inside'' and recorded "Run Down Love Battery" for the album as well. She was replaced on drums in November 1987 by Sheri Kaplan. Before the release of the LP, which had reached the test-pressing stage, Pross was let go by Elektra Records. As a result, the label dropped both bands he had signed — Jetboy and the Pandoras — with their respective records being withdrawn from release. Many of the demo recordings the Pandoras made during the Elektra-era eventually surfaced on the ''Psychedelic Sluts'' bootleg CD.

Restless era

The band continued to play live while looking for a new record deal. Rita D'Albert joined as a guitarist in 1988. The Pandoras recorded new songs and released the ''Rock Hard'' mini-LP on

Restless Records Restless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1986 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute R ...

. A video for "Run Down Love Battery" received airplay on MTV's ''

Headbangers Ball ''Headbangers Ball'' is a music television program that consists of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obsc ...

'', expanding their audience to include metal fans. D'Albert left the Pandoras in February 1989, just before a tour in support of ''Rock Hard'', to join Human Drama, which had signed to

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic R ...

. She would go on to found Lucha VaVoom in subsequent years. The Pandoras concert at

Z Rock Z Rock was a nationally syndicated radio network based in Dallas, Texas, that, from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, played heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of several 24-hour satellite-delivered music formats offered ...

in Dallas, Texas, was recorded for a "Coast to Coast Concert Series" broadcast. They also made an appearance on the first episode of ''

The Arsenio Hall Show ''The Arsenio Hall Show'' is an American syndicated late-night talk show created by and starring comedian Arsenio Hall. There have been two different incarnations of ''The Arsenio Hall Show''. The original series premiered on January 3, 1989 ...

'' where they performed "Run Down Love Battery." Billie Jo Hash joined the band on guitar for the second leg of the Rock Hard tour. She lasted through the summer of 1989. Lissa Beltri joined the Pandoras in late 1989. Restless Records released the

Z-Rock Z Rock was a nationally Broadcast syndication#Radio syndication, syndicated radio network based in Dallas, Texas, that, from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, played Heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of ...

concert as a live mini-album. ''Live Nymphomania.'' Pierce and bandmates were not happy with the release, though the band went out on tour promoting it for Restless.

Disbandment and Pierce's Death

In July 1990, keyboardist Vammen was removed from The Pandoras by Pierce, over Shattuck's and Kaplan's objections. Though Pierce toiled over removing Vammen, she felt keyboards weren't right for band's newest direction. Both an Australian tour and a European tour in 1990 were cancelled; prompting Shattuck to leave the band two months later. There was a single show with Chris from the Sunset Strip rock band Taz, on bass, and then Kaplan quit the band to join Hardly Dangerous, ending The Pandoras. In the wake of their departure, Vammen and Shattuck, had been plotting a band of their own. They went on to form

, enjoying great success in the alternative music scene. In 1991, Pierce slowly worked on new material with guitarist Beltri. A new drummer joined Pierce and Beltri, as they began auditioning bass players. On August 9, a bass player auditioned who both Pierce and Beltri liked. She was to be brought back in for a rehearsal on August 11. However, on August 10, after dinner and an exercise session, Pierce suffered a fatal aneurysm in the shower of her Hollywood Hills apartment at the age of 31. She had been complaining of painful headaches for two weeks before her death, but did not seek medical help. Former Pandoras' crew Dave Eddy and organized a tribute and fundraising show at the Coconut Teaser on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. The show saw performances by

Cherie Currie Cherie Ann Currie (born November 30, 1959) is an American singer, musician, actress, and artist. Currie was the lead vocalist of the Runaways, a rock band from Los Angeles, in the mid-to-late 1970s. She later became a solo artist. Currie and h ...

The Runaways The Runaways were an American rock band who recorded and performed from 1975 to 1979. Formed in 1975 in Los Angeles, the band released four studio albums and one live album during its run. Among their best-known songs are " Cherry Bomb", " Holl ...

and her twin sister Marie Currie in their first public performance together in 20 years, with the final line up of the Pandoras backing them, as well as Precious Metal, who had broken up but who reunited for the show, Robert Hecker and Abby Travis, Dramarama with

Clem Burke Clement Anthony Burke (né Bozewski; November 24, 1954 – April 6, 2025) was an American musician best known as the drummer for the band Blondie. He joined the band shortly after its formation in 1975 and remained with Blondie throughout the b ...

of Blondie and

Sylvain Sylvain Sylvain Mizrahi (February 14, 1951 – January 13, 2021), known professionally as Sylvain Sylvain, was a Syrian-American rock guitarist, most notable for being a member of the New York Dolls. Early years Sylvain was born in Cairo, Egypt, to a S ...

from the

New York Dolls New York Dolls were an American rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1971. Along with the Velvet Underground, the MC5, and the Stooges, they were one of the first bands of the early punk rock scenes. Although the band never achieved ...

, The Muffs (Shattuck's and Vammen's band), African Violet (D'Albert band), Hardly Dangerous (Kaplan's band,)

White Flag White flags have had different meanings throughout history and depending on the locale. Contemporary use The white flag is an internationally recognized protective sign of truce or ceasefire and for negotiation. It is also used to symboliz ...

featuring Bill Bartell. Photographer Dianne Carter's 35mm slide show played in the club, with over 800 images of Pierce and The Pandoras.

Reunions

In October 2013, Pillbox frontwoman Susan Hyatt, guitarist Lisa Black, keyboardist Melanie Vammen, bassist Karen Blankfeld-Basset, and drummer Sheri Kaplan united to play three Pierce-penned Pandoras songs ("You Don't Satisfy", "In and Out of my Life In A Day" and "You're All Talk") at a private party in Redondo Beach, CA in October 2013. In July 2014, the reformed Pandoras — Shattuck on lead vocals and guitar, Vammen on keyboard, Basset on bass, and Kaplan on drums — recorded four songs at the

Green Day Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...

studio JingleTown Recording in Oakland, California. One year later, at the same studio, three more songs were recorded with new drummer Hillary Burton. On June 26, 2015, Shattuck, Vammen, Basset, and Kaplan performed their first official live show as the reunited Pandoras at The Casbah in San Diego, California. On July 4, 2015, there was a reunion show billed as The Pandoras at the 2015 Burger Boogaloo (hosted by Burger Records and filmmaker

John Waters John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including '' Multiple Maniacs'' (1970), '' Pink Flamingos'' (1972) and '' Fe ...

at Mosswood Park, in

Oakland, CA Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...

, which featured Shattuck, Vammen, Basset, and Kaplan. In July 2015, the reunited Pandoras — Shattuck, Vammen, Basset, and newly acquired drummer Hillary Burton — performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota at The Turf Club. The following month, they embarked on a comprehensive European tour, with two U.S. East Coast dates included. In March 2018, the group released an EP titled ''Hey It's the Pandoras'', which featured seven songs. On October 2, 2019, bassist/vocalist/guitarist Kim Shattuck died at the age of 56 due to complications from ALS. The surviving members of Pierce's Pandoras — Vammen, Basset, Burton, and Kaplan — planned to perform at a tribute concert for Shattuck at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles in 2020. However, the show was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. In June 2022, Vammen (guitar, keyboard and vocals), Blankfeld-Basset (bass and vocals), Kaplan-Weinstein (drums), and Burton (vocals and guitar) played as the "Tigerellas" at the Redwood in Downtown Los Angeles.

Members

*Paula Pierce - lead vocals and guitar (1982-1991, her death) *Deborah Mendoza - bass and backing vocals (1982-1983) *Gwynne Kahn - keyboards and guitar (1982-1984) *Casey Gomez - drums (1982- 1984) *Bambi Conway - bass (1983-1984) *Lisa Rae Black - guitar (Gwynne's Pandoras 1982-1984) *Melanie Vammen - keyboards (1984-1990, and reunions) *Julie Patchouli - bass (1984-1985) *Karen Blankfeld-Basset - drums (1984-1987, and reunions), lead vocals & lead guitar, present Pandoras, bass on past reunions *Gayle Morency - bass (1985) *

- bass and backing vocals (1985-1990, and reunions, died 2019), lead vocals and guitar on reunions *Kelly Dillard - drums (1987) *Sheri Kaplan-Weinstein - drums (1987-1990, and reunions) *Rita D'Albert - guitar (1987-1988) *Billy Jo Hash - guitar (1989) *Lissa Beltri - guitar (1989-1991)

Timeline

Discography

Albums and mini-albums

*'' It's About Time'' (1984 - Voxx Records) *'' Stop Pretending'' (1986 -

) *''Rock Hard'' (1988 - mini-album -

) *''Live Nymphomania'' (1989 -

) *''Hey It's The Pandoras'' (2018 - Burger Records)

Singles and EPs

*''I'm Here I'm Gone'' (1983 - EP - Moxie Records) *''Hot Generation/You Don't Satisfy'' (1984 - Single - Voxx Records) *''In And Out of My Life (In a Day)/The Hump'' (1985 - Single -

) *''I Didn't Cry/Thunder Alley'' (1999 - Dionysus)

Compilation appearances

*''

'' (1985 - Enigma) *''What Surf II'' (1985 - what records) *''Battle of the Garages, Vol. 2'' (1993 - Voxx Records) *''Tales From The Rhino'' (1994 -

) *''Destination Bomp'' (1994 - Voxx Records) *''The Roots of Power Pop'' (1996 - Voxx Records) *''Be A Caveman: The Best Of The Voxx Garage Revival'' (2000 - Voxx Records)

Reissues

*''Rock Hard/Live Nymphomania'' (2005 - Reissue -

Restless Restless or The Restless may refer to: Film and television * ''Restless'' (1998 film), a Chinese-American romance film * ''Restless'' (2000 film), a Finnish romantic film * ''The Restless'' (2006 film), a South Korean fantasy film * ''Restless'' ...

) *''Stop Pretending'' (2003 - Rhino Handmade - remastered re-release with additional tracks)

Videos/DVD

*''Slipping Through the Cracks (An Uprising of Young Pacifics)'' (video); IceWorld Video

Unreleased album

*''Come Inside'' (1987 -

)

Bootlegs

*''Psychedelic Sluts'' (1994 - Erekta)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandoras, The All-female punk bands American garage punk groups Indie rock musical groups from California Musical groups established in 1983 Musical groups disestablished in 1990 Musical groups from Los Angeles Restless Records artists Elektra Records artists