{{Short description|American alternative rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Chainsaw Kittens | image = | caption = | image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> | alias = | origin = Norman, Oklahoma | genre = Alternative rock, glam rock | years_active = 1989&ndash;2000 | label = {{hlist|Mammoth|Atlantic|Echostatic|Spacebaby|Mercury|Scratchie|Four Alarm}} | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = Tyson Meade<br/>Trent Bell<br/>Matt Johnson<br/>Eric Harmon | past_members = Mark Metzger<br/>Clint McBay<br/>Aaron Preston<br/>Kevin McElhaney<br/>Ted Leader }}

The '''Chainsaw Kittens''' were a part of the American alternative rock scene, drawing from pop, glam rock, punk, new wave and British Invasion music.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name="Trouser Press" /><ref name="Alternative Rock" /> Their lyrics tackled such varied topics as religion, the Stonewall riots, Federico Fellini, Oklahoma, Erik Menendez, and Oscar Wilde.<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web|last=Raggett|first=Ned|title=Chainsaw Kittens Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chainsaw-kittens-p12525/biography|work=Allmusic|accessdate=May 8, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Trouser Press">{{cite web|last=Sinclair|first=Tom|title=Chainsaw Kittens|url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=chainsaw_kittens|work=Trouser Press|accessdate=May 5, 2009}}</ref>

Based in Norman, Oklahoma, its name a reference to the band members' youth and "chainsaw guitar sound",<ref name=Westword>{{cite news|last=Barsotti|first=Mark|title=The Kittens' Meow|url=http://www.westword.com/1994-03-09/music/the-kittens-meow/|accessdate=May 30, 2011|newspaper=Denver Westword|date=March 3, 1994|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019171751/http://www.westword.com/1994-03-09/music/the-kittens-meow/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Chainsaw Kittens were active from 1989 to 2000.<ref name=Allmusic /> Debuting with a sound described 1991 ''SPIN'' review as "The Smiths meet the New York Dolls meet the devil",<ref>{{cite news|last=Greer|first=Jim|title=Chainsaw Kittens - Violent Religion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z9fMwxwJ7tkC&q=chainsaw+kittens&pg=PA18|accessdate=May 8, 2011|newspaper=SPIN|date=January 1991}}</ref> the group gained attention with "thrift-store transvestism," which it abandoned when the look "started to overshadow the music."<ref name=Westword /> The band underwent several personnel changes,<ref name="Alternative Rock">{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Dave|title=Alternative Rock|year=2000|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|location=Milwaukee, Wis.|isbn=0-87930-607-6|pages=248–249|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHP-r9-eqdAC&q=%22chainsaw+kittens%22+motorcycle+childhood&pg=PA249}}</ref> but maintained the presence of principal singer/songwriter Tyson Meade, previously of Norman alt-rock outfit Defenestration, and guitarist/producer Trent Bell.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name="Trouser Press" /><ref name="Alternative Rock" />

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.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name="Trouser Press" />

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.<ref name=Oklahoman>{{cite news|last=Triplett|first=Gene|title=Chainsaw Kittens reuniting|url=http://www.newsok.com/article/3237045|accessdate=May 8, 2011|newspaper=The Oklahoman|date=April 30, 2008}}</ref> The band reunited once more on September 8, 2017 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Norman music venue The Opolis.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.oudaily.com/a_and_e/opolis-to-celebrate-th-anniversary-with-special-concert-series/article_e78465c8-930c-11e7-baf0-1348ea32036e.html|title=Opolis to celebrate 15th anniversary with special concert series|last=reporter|first=Chandler Kidd, arts & entertainment|work=OU Daily|access-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref>

On October 4, 2017, drummer Eric Harmon died from colon cancer at the age of 48.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newsok.com/article/5566935/chainsaw-kittens-drummer-eric-harmon-dies|title=Chainsaw Kittens Drummer Eric Harmon Dies|access-date=December 10, 2018}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Violent Religion'' (Mammoth, 1990) *''Flipped Out in Singapore'' (Mammoth, 1992) *''Pop Heiress'' (Atlantic/Mammoth, 1994) *''Chainsaw Kittens'' (Mercury/Scratchie, 1996) *''The All American'' (Four Alarm, 2000)

===EPs=== * ''High in High School'' (Mammoth, 1992) * ''Angel on the Range'' (Mammoth, 1993) * ''Candy for You'' (Scratchie, 1996)

===Singles=== *"Mother (of the Ancient Birth)" b/w "Death-Sex Rattletrap" (Mammoth Records, 1990, MR 0019, Blue Vinyl) *"Lazy Little Dove" b/w "Extinction Stomp" (Echostatic/Spacebaby, 1995) *"Grandaddy's Candy" b/w "Bones in My Teeth" (Scratchie, 1996)

===Others=== *''Bug (2007 soundtrack)'' (Lionsgate, Sony / RED Distribution, 2007) - track No.&nbsp;3 "She Gets" *''Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth'' (soundtrack) - track No.&nbsp;11 "Waltzing With A Jaguar"

==References== <references />

==External links== * [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p12525/biography|pure_url=yes}} AMG entry, undated] * [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=chainsaw_kittens Trouser Press entry, undated] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001010128/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/chainsaw_kittens/videos.jhtml "Pop Heiress Dies" video] * [http://www.myspace.com/chainsawkittensrock MySpace Fan Page] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051215175926/http://www.popnirvana.com/meade.html Tyson Meade is a Rock God, 2002] * [https://archive.today/20130813025316/http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/chainsaw-kittens-biography Enotes page, undated] * [http://www.babysue.com/chainsawkittens.html Babysue Interview, 1997] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060512140456/http://www.oasismag.com/Issues/9604/oasis-coverstory.html Oasis Interview, 1996] *[http://www.tribute.care/obituaries/Eric-Edward-Harmon?obId=2616809#/obituaryInfo Obituary for Eric Harmon] {{Authority control}}

Category:Musicians from Norman, Oklahoma Category:Musical groups from Oklahoma Category:Musical groups established in 1989 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000 Category:Alternative rock groups from Oklahoma Category:Rock music groups from Oklahoma Category:1989 establishments in Oklahoma