An interview with the Fabulous Melanie Vammen of The Muffs, The Pandoras, and The Tigerellas.
Interview By: John Wisniewski
In this interview, Melanie speaks about forming The Muffs with Kim Shattuck, her favorite bands, and The Tigerella’s new music.
Punk Globe: So what’s happening with The Coolies, currently Melanie?
Melanie: Some months back we released our King of Confusion single on Wicked Cool Records. It’s a Go Go’s cover that we had recorded for the Go Go’s tribute album If You Gotta Go Go Now, Go Go Now. Our label loved it and wanted to put it out!!!. Joining Palmyra and myself are Kathy Valentine (bass) and Clem Burke (drums) w/spoken words from Kim Shattuck. The vinyl of our single sold out within 24 hours. We love how the single came out, so much.
Punk Globe: How did The Coolies form?
Melanie: We formed The Coolies while Kim was still alive, but succumbing to ALS. At this point Kim was only able to use a Toby Dynavox to communicate using only her eyes. She had wished Palmyra, her, and myself could have been a band. And Palmyra said well we can!!! And we did. Wicked Cool Records which is Little Steven’s label said We’d love to put out an EP. Stevie van Zandt said what can I do to help. We took off demos and ideas and recorded ourselves onto what we had. Adding vocals, guitars, bass, organ etc. We also recorded twonew songs and recorded them. When our EP Uh Oh It’s The Coolies came out all the monies we made we donated to ALS. We raised over 20k. Kim was still alive when it was released. She was so proud and it meant everything in the world to her and us. It was the last thing she ever recorded. She wasn’t able to record anything new onto the tracks like Palmyra and I did but all her original parts and singing is on it.
Every step of the way she was involved with picking the songs, photos, titles and writing the words to the two new songs we wrote along with us two. She heard us get the Coolest Song in the World and my interview that was aired on Underground Garage. Smiles and happiness from us all. The Coolies will continue putting stuff out and Kim will always be on it somehow.
Punk Globe: How did you meet Kim Shattuck?
Melanie: I met Kim when I was in The Pandoras. I was shopping with Roy McDonald and ran into her then-boyfriend whom I knew but didn’t know her. Pandoras were looking for a new bass player so I mentioned it. Apparently,
Kim got mad because her boyfriend didn’t mention her trying out because she didn’t know how to play the bass. We ended up in another store and this time we said to Kim you should try out. I contacted her, and she tried out and became our new bass player. She and I instantly became best friends.
How did The Muffs form?
Melanie: Towards the end of The Pandoras Kim and I didn’t like the musical direction anymore. We decided let’s have our own band and play the music we want. Kim played guitar and had written some songs. I started playing guitar. So before Pandora’s rehearsals, we started rehearsing what was to become The Muffs. Ronnie was Kim’s boyfriend and knew how to play bass so he could play bass. We wanted Roy on drums but he wasn’t available he recommended Criss. They had worked together. Kim, myself, Ronnie and Criss started rehearsing and named ourselves The Muffs.
Punk Globe: any favorite bands?
Melanie: Wilson Pickett, Bobby Fuller, Brenda Lee, Everly Brothers, George Jones, Beach Boys, Big Star, Great Scots, Barbara Lynn, The Gants, Howard Tate, Shoes, Squire, Sanford Clark, Gene Vincent, The Ventures, The Tornadoes, Joe Meek.
Punk Globe: How did The Pandoras form?
Melanie: Paula Pierce formed The Pandoras. She put an ad out at Chaffy College looking for girls to play with. Deborah Mendoza saw it and contacted her. They thought of names. Paula had a few called The Keyholes and The Pandoras. The Pandoras sounded right!!! I joined about a year and some months later after she had started it. Some members quit and others were let go. She wanted a new band. She kept asking me and so I tried out and bam asked me to join. I was in high school.
Punk Globe: You were also in The Tigerellas.
Melanie: The Tigerellas are our new band. It’s us Pandoras (me, Karen, Sheri, and Hillary) It’s fun. We still want to play together. We’re best pals and family. We’ve been playing some great fun shows.