Spitboy
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Michelle "Todd" Gonzales, Adrienne Droogas, Paula Hibbs-Rines, Karin Gembus |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco Bay Area , United States |
| Products | Punk music recordings and performances |
Spitboy was a pioneering American anarcho-punk ensemble formed in the San Francisco Bay area in 1990. This all-women band confronted issues surrounding patriarchy and gender roles with a critical perspective, though they maintained a distinct identity separate from the contemporaneous riot grrrl movement. Over their active years, they produced multiple recordings, embarked on extensive tours, and ultimately dissolved in 1995. Following the breakup, members went on to participate in bands such as Instant Girl and Aus Rotten, while drummer Michelle Cruz Gonzales and vocalist Adrienne Droogas transitioned into careers in writing.
History
The inception of Spitboy involved drummer Michelle "Todd" Gonzales, vocalist Adrienne Droogas, bassist Paula Hibbs-Rines, and guitarist Karin Gembus. Prior to the release of the Rasana 7-inch EP, Paula departed and was succeeded by Dominique Davison.
Their touring schedule spanned across the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Releases appeared on prominent punk labels like Lookout Records, Allied Recordings, and Ebullition Records, including a split LP with Chicago’s hardcore band Los Crudos.
Following the band's dissolution, Davison, Gonzales, and Gembus established Instant Girl, which adopted a softer sound and issued an LP through Allied Recordings. Droogas briefly joined Aus Rotten before moving to Richmond, Virginia; she also contributed written pieces to punk publications such as Heartattack and Profane Existence. Currently, Davison manages Draw, an architecture firm located in Kansas City. Gonzales is an English instructor at Las Positas College in Livermore, California, and has authored memoirs reflecting on her experience with Spitboy.
In April 2021, Don Giovanni Records revealed plans to release Spitboy's entire recorded output as a compilation titled Body of Work (1990-1995), which was issued on June 25. The compilation’s lead single, "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", was made available in May 2021.
Legacy
Spitboy left a lasting impact on several influential artists including Alice Bag, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, as well as members from bands such as Operation Ivy, Fugazi, Neurosis, and Citizen Fish.
Discography
- The Threat Sexism Impressed b/w Ultimate Violations 7-inch (Lookout Records 51) - 1991
- True Self Revealed LP (Ebullition Records) - 1993
- Mi Cuerpo Es Mio 7-inch (Allied Recordings) - 1994
- The Spitboy CD (Allied Recordings) - 1994 – A compilation of their initial singles and LP
- Rasana 7-inch (Ebullition Records) - 1995
- Split LP with Los Crudos (Ebullition Records) - 1995
- Body of Work (1990-1995) (Don Giovanni Records) - 2021