Pussy Galore

Pussy Galore was an American garage rock band that formed in Washington, DC in 1985 and included the former drummer from Sonic Youth, Bob Bert.

Taking their name from the character in the James Bond film, Goldfinger (1964), their sound was inspired by The Velvet Underground and the New York Dolls. With no bass to clog up the sound, the four guitars entwined violently.

On a dare from Sonic Youth, they released a limited-edition cassette and vinyl cover album of the Rolling Stones‘ Exile on Main Street. They followed this up in January 1987 with another self-released mini-set, Pussy Gold 5000.

Martinez quit acrimoniously having tired of being Jon Spencer’s ‘whipping girl’. She and Spencer – a college professor’s son from the sedate environs of New Hampshire – eventually became husband and wife.

A further album, Right Now! (1987), kept the wolf from the door as acclaim and outrage gathered over Pussy Galore like polarised clouds. In early 1988 the group came to England where they played at London’s Mean Fiddler, and then, back at their home base in NYC, they recorded SuGarShit SharP with Steve Albini for Caroline Records.

Then it was Julie’s turn to leave, just before the release of Dial M For Motherfucker (1988), which is widely regarded as their consummate moment.

The album La Historia De La Musica Rock (1990) was recorded in two days in what would seem to have been a Nissen hut during an air raid, by a producer who must have stepped on a landmine on the way to the session.

After that, the main players deconstructed into various permutations – Free Kitten, Action Swingers, Boss Hog, Royal Trux and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Jon Spencer
Vocals, guitar
Julia Cafritz
Guitar, vocals
Neil Hagerty
Guitar
Cristina Martinez
Guitar
John Hammill
Drums
Bob Bert
Drums