Violent Femmes Gordon Gano

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Violent Femmes Become Violent

by Paul Cashmere - August 20 2007
photo by Ros O'Gorman

The relationship between Violent Femmes lead singer Gordon Gano and bass player Brian Ritchie is a shamble. Ritchie is suing Gano for unpaid royalties.

In the suit, Ritchie claims he is the founder of the band, having formed the group in 1980 with drummer Victor DeLorenzo and bringing in Gano a year later.

Ritchie is suing Gano not only over the royalties but also because Gano, who wrote the group's signature tune 'Blister In The Sun', allowed the song to be used in a Wendy's commercial.

Gano told the Associated Press that case has taken him by surprise. The band had just returned from a tour of South America and earlier this year appeared on The Big Day Out in Australia.

Ritchie is asking for half of song royalties to go to the band. Gano insists that with a few exceptions, he wrote all of the songs.