Gail Greenwood
Encyclopedia
Gail Greenwood is an American musician notable for performing with the bands Belly
and L7
. Having originally learned to play the baritone horn, she switched to guitar after high school. Her first band, the Dames, won the WBRU
Rock Hunt in 1986. After this, Greenwood was a member of the Providence, Rhode Island
-based band known as Boneyard, who opened for the Goo Goo Dolls
and Social Distortion
. In 1993, Throwing Muses
alumna Tanya Donelly
recruited Greenwood to join Belly as a bass guitarist. She played on that band's second album King
and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. Donelly disbanded Belly in 1996 and Greenwood joined L7 as a bassist the following year. She continued with that group for three years. In 2001, Greenwood was recruited to play bass on tour in support of Canadian singer Bif Naked
.
As of 2006, Greenwood and her partner, singer/bassist Chil Mott, as well as drummer Mike Fleming and guitarist Mark Tomis (all formerly of the '90s punk band One Ton Shotgun), continue to perform in Benny Sizzler, which formed in 2003. Alumni of this band include the late guitarist/singer Gene Severens
(who had played with Greenwood in Boneyard) and guitarist Terry Linehan (a fill-in guitarist for Green Day
). Greenwood and Mott remain active in anti-sprawl efforts through middletown1st.com, promoting the retention of open spaces, responsible development and lobbying for land conservation in the face of tremendous pressure by big-box corporations including Wal-Mart.
Belly (band)
Belly was an alternative rock band formed in 1991 by former Throwing Muses members Tanya Donelly and Fred Abong. The band was based in Boston, Massachusetts, though all of the original members grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. The band consisted of Donelly on lead vocals and guitar, Abong on bass,...
and L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
. Having originally learned to play the baritone horn, she switched to guitar after high school. Her first band, the Dames, won the WBRU
WBRU
WBRU is a commercial alternative rock radio station in Providence, Rhode Island that broadcasts on 95.5 FM. It was the first student-owned-and-operated campus radio station in the United States when it started as the Brown Network at Brown University in 1936...
Rock Hunt in 1986. After this, Greenwood was a member of the Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
-based band known as Boneyard, who opened for the Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
and Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
. In 1993, Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses is an alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects. The group was originally fronted by two lead singers, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly, who both wrote the...
alumna Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly is an American Grammy-nominated singer songwriter and guitarist based in New England who co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh. She then went on to work in The Breeders and Belly in the 1990s...
recruited Greenwood to join Belly as a bass guitarist. She played on that band's second album King
King (Belly album)
King is an album released by Belly in 1995, two years after their previous album, Star. Although the members had tightened their focus and polished their hook-laden songs, the album and its singles were commercial failures in the grunge-friendly atmosphere of 1995, and the band broke up shortly...
and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. Donelly disbanded Belly in 1996 and Greenwood joined L7 as a bassist the following year. She continued with that group for three years. In 2001, Greenwood was recruited to play bass on tour in support of Canadian singer Bif Naked
Bif Naked
Bif Naked is a Juno Award-winning, Indian-born American-Canadian multi-platinum record selling, rock singer, writer, poet, motivational speaker and actress.-Personal life:...
.
As of 2006, Greenwood and her partner, singer/bassist Chil Mott, as well as drummer Mike Fleming and guitarist Mark Tomis (all formerly of the '90s punk band One Ton Shotgun), continue to perform in Benny Sizzler, which formed in 2003. Alumni of this band include the late guitarist/singer Gene Severens
Gene Severens
Gene Severens was an American songwriter, musician and visual artist. He was the driving force behind a number of punk rock bands, first in Worcester, Massachusetts, but mostly in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition to lead vocals, Severens would perform on both bass and guitar, usually bass...
(who had played with Greenwood in Boneyard) and guitarist Terry Linehan (a fill-in guitarist for Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
). Greenwood and Mott remain active in anti-sprawl efforts through middletown1st.com, promoting the retention of open spaces, responsible development and lobbying for land conservation in the face of tremendous pressure by big-box corporations including Wal-Mart.
External links
- Benny Sizzler official site
- [ Gail Greenwood's entry at Allmusic]
- L7's entry at Rock Detector
- Gail Greenwood, Activist