Chainsaw Kittens

The Chainsaw Kittens were a part of the American alternative rock scene, drawing from pop, glam rock, punk, new wave and British Invasion music.^[1][2][3] Their lyrics tackled such varied topics as religion, the Stonewall riots, Federico Fellini, Oklahoma, Erik Menendez, and Oscar Wilde.^[1][2]

Based in Norman, Oklahoma, its name a reference to the band members' youth and "chainsaw guitar sound",^[4] the Chainsaw Kittens were active from 1989 to 2000.^[1] Debuting with a sound described 1991 SPIN review as "The Smiths meet the New York Dolls meet the devil",^[5] the group gained attention with "thrift-store transvestism," which it abandoned when the look "started to overshadow the music."^[4] The band underwent several personnel changes,^[3] but maintained the presence of principal singer/songwriter Tyson Meade, previously of Norman alt-rock outfit Defenestration, and guitarist/producer Trent Bell.^[1][2][3]

Though the Kittens saw little commercial success during their period of activity, they have since won praise as "[a]rguably the best American band who never made it" in the 1990s heyday of alternative rock.^[1][2]

In the 1995 movie Empire Records, the character Mark, played by Ethan Embry, is wearing a "Chainsaw Kittens" t-shirt throughout the movie.

The band reunited for a performance at the Norman Music Festival in Norman, Oklahoma on April 26, 2008.^[6] The band reunited once more on September 8, 2017 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Norman music venue The Opolis.^[7]

On October 4, 2017, drummer Eric Harmon died from colon cancer at the age of 48.^[8]