Melissa York | |
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![]() Melissa York with fist in air during performance at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ, April 2012 | |
Background information | |
Born | February 22, 1969 |
Genres | Punk rock, hardcore punk, indie rock |
Instrument(s) | Drums, percussion |
Years active | 1990–present |
Labels | Vermiform, Kill Rock Stars |
Melissa York is a rock drummer noted for her work with iconic lesbian bands such as Team Dresch, The Butchies, and Amy Ray. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.
Biography
[edit]York first began drumming with the New York-based hardcore punk bands Born Against, the Manacled, and Vitapup. Following this, she moved to the West Coast to drum for Team Dresch in 1993.[1] When Team Dresch broke up in 1998, York and band-mate Kaia Wilson, together with Alison Martlew, formed the power punk lesbian-feminist band, The Butchies (1998-2005), which put out four albums.
She has remained active in the lesbian and punk music scene, touring with the Indigo Girls' Amy Ray and playing in a band called The Ex-Members and the band Humble Tripe.[2]
In popular culture
[edit]Her name appears in the lyrics of the Le Tigre song "Hot Topic."[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Vivinetto, Gina (February 27, 2002). "The Butchies powerfully fill headliners' shoes". St Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
- ^ Bendix, Trish (May 6, 2010). "An interview with Melissa York". After Ellen.
- ^ Oler, Tammy (October 31, 2019). "57 Champions of Queer Feminism, All Name-Dropped in One Impossibly Catchy Song". Slate Magazine.