The Violent Femmes are an alternative rock band that formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the early 1980s. Gordon Gano (singer/guitarist), Brian Ritchie (bassist), and Victor DeLorenzo (percussionist) founded the group.

The music was an innovative combination of American folk music and punk rock. The lyrics mix common adolescent themes like yearning for love, sex and affection with explorations of sin, death, and the hope of salvation. Their songs often expressed both a lyrical and musical sense of humor.

The group quickly gained a small cult following after the release of their 1981 self-titled album that never burgeoned into widespread popularity, although a few songs from this album did get some recognition (“Add It Up”, “Blister in the Sun” and “Gone Daddy Gone”). The debut album Violent Femmes went platinum ten years after its release.