Formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, Throwing Muses became one of the most influential American alternative rock bands in the US and spawned several offshoot bands including Belly, The Breeders, and 50 Foot Wave. Founded by stepsisters Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly while both were still in high school, the group’s line-up solidified with the arrival of bassist Leslie Langston and drummer David Narcizo. The quartet released their debut self-titled EP in 1984, followed by a collection of demos that is now referred to as The Doghouse Cassette. Signing with influential British label 4AD, they became the first American band to join the label’s roster. Their self-titled debut album was issued in the UK and was a critical success, selling briskly as an import in their home country. After the release of two 1987 EPs – Chains Changed and The Fat Skier – Throwing Muses issued their sophomore album, House Tornado (1988), which was their first album released in the U.S. (on Sire Records). The following year, they issued their third album, Hunkpapa (1989), an album that found the band adding more melody and song structure to their unique sound. Bassist Leslie Langston left the group and was replaced by Fred Abong by the time they released their fourth album, The Real Ramona (1990). The album was their most successful yet and the group seemed poised for their commercial breakthrough, but the departure of Tanya Donelly and Fred Abong slowed that trajectory down. While Donelly – who had also been an early member of The Breeders - formed Belly with Abong, Kristin Hersh and David Narcizo continued as Throwing Muses with the addition of bassist Bernard Georges. After three more albums as Throwing Muses – Red Heaven (1992), University (1995), and Limbo (1996), Kristin Hersh decided to split the band up in 1997 and pursue a solo career as well as forming the short-lived group 50 Foot Wave with Georges. Hersh, Narcizo, and Georges reunited as Throwing Muses in 2002 and issued their self-titled album the following year. Working on various projects in between releases, Throwing Muses has continued to release albums since their reformation including Purgatory / Paradise (2013), Sun Racket (2020), and Moonlight Concessions (2025).
