Femme Fatale (80s band)
Encyclopedia
Femme Fatale was an American
hard rock
band active from 1987 to 1990. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico
, the band moved to Los Angeles
but only released one studio album
before disbanding.
. Later on that year, the band moved to Los Angeles
and signed a recording contract
with a subsidiary of MCA Records
after a well-received showcase. The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1988, peaked at #141 on the Billboard 200
the following year. MTV
gave heavy airplay to the videos
for "Waiting for the Big One" and "Falling in and out of Love", the band's two signature songs. The airplay helped the album to sell nearly 200,000 copies, but Femme Fatale was unable to match the popularity of other bands in the glam metal
scene. The band saw their status at MCA shrink and the band's manager, Andrea Accardo, developed a rare brain cancer. Shortly after touring the world in support of Cheap Trick
, recording was to commence on a new studio album, but ultimately it was never completed and the band dissolved in 1990.
, new age
and other rock
genres. Lewis competed on MTV's Remote Control
in 1988, against Britny Fox
's Dizzy Dean Davidson and Anthrax
's Charlie Benante
, who won.
Guitarist Mazzi Rawd left the music industry and went on to get his PhD in Physics, and is now a Vice President in a Fortune 500 company. Guitarist Bill D'Angelo died of a heart attack
in 2005, aged 43. The Albuquerque Tribune
reported on March 26, 2006, that D'Angelo's death was due to methamphetamine
misuse.
In recent years, satellite radio
and VH-1 Classic have given the band's two signature songs a new life, with display on VH1C's Metal Mania
and the two main satellite networks' 1980s-themed stations.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band active from 1987 to 1990. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, the band moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
but only released one studio album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
before disbanding.
Formation and disbandment (1987-1990)
Femme Fatale was formed in 1987 in Albuquerque, New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Later on that year, the band moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and signed a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with a subsidiary of MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
after a well-received showcase. The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1988, peaked at #141 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
the following year. MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
gave heavy airplay to the videos
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Waiting for the Big One" and "Falling in and out of Love", the band's two signature songs. The airplay helped the album to sell nearly 200,000 copies, but Femme Fatale was unable to match the popularity of other bands in the glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
scene. The band saw their status at MCA shrink and the band's manager, Andrea Accardo, developed a rare brain cancer. Shortly after touring the world in support of Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, recording was to commence on a new studio album, but ultimately it was never completed and the band dissolved in 1990.
Post breakup (1990-present)
Since leaving Femme Fatale, Lorraine Lewis has recorded a few modestly successful solo albums in countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, new age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
and other rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
genres. Lewis competed on MTV's Remote Control
Remote Control (game show)
Remote Control is a TV game show that ran on MTV for three seasons from 1987 until 1990. It was MTV's first original non-musical program. New episodes were made for first-run syndication in 1989 which were distributed by Viacom...
in 1988, against Britny Fox
Britny Fox
Britny Fox was an American Glam metal band from the Philadelphia area, initially active from 1985 to 1992 then subsequently reforming in 2000. They are best known for their music video for "Girlschool" and their hit "Long Way to Love" .-History:...
's Dizzy Dean Davidson and Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
's Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...
, who won.
Guitarist Mazzi Rawd left the music industry and went on to get his PhD in Physics, and is now a Vice President in a Fortune 500 company. Guitarist Bill D'Angelo died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 2005, aged 43. The Albuquerque Tribune
Albuquerque Tribune
The Albuquerque Tribune was an afternoon newspaper in Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded in 1922 by Carlton Cole Magee as Magee's Independent. It was published in the afternoon and evening Monday through Saturday....
reported on March 26, 2006, that D'Angelo's death was due to methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
misuse.
In recent years, satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
and VH-1 Classic have given the band's two signature songs a new life, with display on VH1C's Metal Mania
Metal Mania
Metal Mania is a block of classic heavy metal/hard rock music videos on VH1 Classic, sometimes hosted by Eddie Trunk.Musicians who have appeared on the show as guests include Rob Zombie, Black Sabbath, Geoff Tate , and the founding members of Judas Priest.The show also includes news of upcoming...
and the two main satellite networks' 1980s-themed stations.
Band members
- Lorraine Lewis - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Mazzi Rawd - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Bill D'Angelo - guitar (replaced Michael J. Downey - aka Mick Nichols - in 1986)
- Rick Rael - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Bobby Murray - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Studio albums
- Femme Fatale (1988)
- 'Lady In Waiting' (unreleased 1989)
Singles
- "Touch and Go" (1988, Kerrang!Kerrang!Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
flexi disc) - "Waiting for the Big One" (1988)
- "Falling In and Out of Love" (1989, b/w "It's a Long Way To The TopIt's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"It's a Long Way to the Top " is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the first track of the group's album T.N.T., released in December 1975, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott...
" and "Fortune and Fame") - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#69 - "Rebel" (1989)
Other appearances
- License to Drive soundtrack (1988, "Touch and Go")
- Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's DeadDon't Tell Mom the Babysitter's DeadDon't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a 1991 comedy film directed by Stephen Herek starring Christina Applegate.Applegate stars as a teenager whose mother leaves for a two-month summer vacation in Australia, putting all five siblings in the care of a strict tyrannical elderly babysitter...
soundtrack (1991, "Chains") - Lorraine Lewis solo track.