Inger Lorre
Encyclopedia
Inger Lorre is an American singer who is best known for her bands The Nymphs
and Motel Shootout.
The band's distinctive sound, a mixture of punk rock
and goth
, glam and grunge
, and image began to attract the attention of major record labels. At the time, the band simply wanted to sign to an Indie label, as most grunge and punk bands did before the 1991 success of Nirvana
's Nevermind
, but by 1989 the Nymphs were signed to Geffen Records
with a nearly million-dollar recording contract. The band even made a brief appearance in the film Bad Influence
performing "The Highway", a song Lorre wrote about the a young girl infatuated by serial killer Richard Ramirez
.
It was at about this time that the Nymphs began to have problems with their label. Almost 2 years had passed since the Nymphs had completed their album. Lorre was losing her battle with heroin and in an alcohol induced fit she urinated on the desk of A&R man Tom Zutaut. "Rolling Stone
quipped, 'Talk about being pissed at your record label.'" The band fired Lorre when she refused to go on stage in Miami opening for Peter Murphy
. An EP
called The Practical Guide to Astral Projection was released the same year but it failed to chart.
's label, Sympathy for the Record Industry
. She entered rehab and worked toward permanent recovery.
She befriended singer Jeff Buckley
and they began collaborating on music. Lorre's vocals are featured on "Angel Mine" while Jeff played guitar, sitar, and mouth sax on the track. Jeff and Lorre dueted again on the track "Thief Without The Take" contained on Lorre's album Transcendental Medication. Buckley also covered "Yard of Blonde Girls
" co-written by Lorre, which appeared on Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk
. Sadly, at the height of his popularity, Buckley drowned during an evening swim on May 29, 1997, before the album's release. Lorre reemerged from New Jersey with her solo album, Transcendental Medication released on Triple X Records
in 1999.
In 2000, Lorre moved back to Los Angeles, where she painted and appeared in group shows around the city. She made a cameo appearance in the 2001 indie film Down and Out with the Dolls, a raunchy, wry and in-your-face tale of the fast rise and fall of an all-girl, four-piece Portland rock band. She performed a cover of Black Flag
's "Slip It In" with Henry Rollins
on the 2002 album Rise Above
.
On July 17, 2004, Lorre played an acoustic show at Hollywood's The Knitting Factory
, performing Nymphs songs, new songs and covers. In 2006, a version of The Nymphs popped up in a few places. There were plans to have a reunion with all original members, but with the death of original drummer Alex Kirst, it seems unlikely.
The Nymphs
The Nymphs were an alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s with lead singer Inger Lorre. The band was signed to Geffen Records, and released their only album in 1991. The Nymphs were known for their wild stage shows and their rebellious attitude towards record companies...
and Motel Shootout.
The Nymphs
The Nymphs spent the mid-to-late 80's honing their craft in New Jersey, but soon decided to try to make it big in California. They hadn't been there more than a few months before only Inger and guitarist Jet (Geoff Siegel) were left, and replaced the other two with guitarist Sam Merrick, drummer Alex Kirst and bassist Cliff D. (Cliff Jones)The band's distinctive sound, a mixture of punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and goth
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, glam and grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
, and image began to attract the attention of major record labels. At the time, the band simply wanted to sign to an Indie label, as most grunge and punk bands did before the 1991 success of Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
's Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
, but by 1989 the Nymphs were signed to Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
with a nearly million-dollar recording contract. The band even made a brief appearance in the film Bad Influence
Bad Influence (film)
Bad Influence is a 1990 American film starring Rob Lowe and James Spader. In this noirish film, Spader plays a yuppie who meets a mysterious stranger who encourages him to explore his darker side. Bad Influence was the first original screenplay for which David Koepp received a sole screenplay credit...
performing "The Highway", a song Lorre wrote about the a young girl infatuated by serial killer Richard Ramirez
Richard Ramirez
Ricardo "Richard" Muñoz Ramírez is a convicted serial killer awaiting execution on California's death row at San Quentin State Prison...
.
It was at about this time that the Nymphs began to have problems with their label. Almost 2 years had passed since the Nymphs had completed their album. Lorre was losing her battle with heroin and in an alcohol induced fit she urinated on the desk of A&R man Tom Zutaut. "Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
quipped, 'Talk about being pissed at your record label.'" The band fired Lorre when she refused to go on stage in Miami opening for Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
. An EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
called The Practical Guide to Astral Projection was released the same year but it failed to chart.
Solo work
Lorre returned to New Jersey for several years. A few spots here and there over time, where Lorre popped up in various places, never evolved into a Nymphs reunion or second album. In 1995, she teamed up with Motel Shootout and released the single Burn, on old friend Long Gone JohnLong Gone John
Long Gone John is an American entrepreneur who is best known for his record label Sympathy for the Record Industry and his vinyl toy company Necessaries Toy Foundation. He lived in Long Beach, California for 30 years, but relocated to Olympia, Washington in 2007.-History:Long Gone John was born...
's label, Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
. She entered rehab and worked toward permanent recovery.
She befriended singer Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
and they began collaborating on music. Lorre's vocals are featured on "Angel Mine" while Jeff played guitar, sitar, and mouth sax on the track. Jeff and Lorre dueted again on the track "Thief Without The Take" contained on Lorre's album Transcendental Medication. Buckley also covered "Yard of Blonde Girls
Yard of Blonde Girls
"Yard of Blonde Girls" is a song written by sisters Audrey Clark of the Boston band the 360s and Lori Kramer of the Paper Squares, who were performing together in the late nineties as Pendulum Floors. Inger Lorre contributed additional lyrics on the second verse, which were written about...
" co-written by Lorre, which appeared on Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk
Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk
Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk is a collection of polished studio tracks and four-track demos recorded by Jeff Buckley. Being dissatisfied with material recorded in the summer of 1996 and early in 1997, Buckley worked on many demos to reach the sound he was hoping to achieve...
. Sadly, at the height of his popularity, Buckley drowned during an evening swim on May 29, 1997, before the album's release. Lorre reemerged from New Jersey with her solo album, Transcendental Medication released on Triple X Records
Triple X Records
Triple X Records is a Los Angeles based record company. They are the label for bands such as Bo Diddley, The Vandals, Jane's Addiction, Social Distortion, Human Drama, Of Cabbages And Kings, Angry Samoans, Bad Manners, Stephen Pearcy, Dr...
in 1999.
In 2000, Lorre moved back to Los Angeles, where she painted and appeared in group shows around the city. She made a cameo appearance in the 2001 indie film Down and Out with the Dolls, a raunchy, wry and in-your-face tale of the fast rise and fall of an all-girl, four-piece Portland rock band. She performed a cover of Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
's "Slip It In" with Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
on the 2002 album Rise Above
Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three
-Band:*Marcus Blake – bass guitar ; backing vocals *Jason Mackenroth – drums ; backing vocals *Jim Wilson – guitar ; backing vocals -Vocalists:...
.
On July 17, 2004, Lorre played an acoustic show at Hollywood's The Knitting Factory
Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
, performing Nymphs songs, new songs and covers. In 2006, a version of The Nymphs popped up in a few places. There were plans to have a reunion with all original members, but with the death of original drummer Alex Kirst, it seems unlikely.
The Nymphs
- The NymphsThe Nymphs (album)The Nymphs is the only full-length studio album recorded by the American glam punk band the Nymphs. It was produced by Bill Price, and released in 1991 on Geffen Records...
LP - 1991 GeffenGeffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
36,000 - A Practical Guide To Astral Projection EP - 1992 Geffen 5,000
Inger Lorre & the Motel Shootout
- Burn Single - 1994 Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
Guest appearances
- Jeff Buckley, Sketches for My Sweetheart the DrunkSketches for My Sweetheart the DrunkSketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk is a collection of polished studio tracks and four-track demos recorded by Jeff Buckley. Being dissatisfied with material recorded in the summer of 1996 and early in 1997, Buckley worked on many demos to reach the sound he was hoping to achieve...
-1998 - Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis ThreeRise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three-Band:*Marcus Blake – bass guitar ; backing vocals *Jason Mackenroth – drums ; backing vocals *Jim Wilson – guitar ; backing vocals -Vocalists:...
- 2002
Filmography
- Bad InfluenceBad Influence (film)Bad Influence is a 1990 American film starring Rob Lowe and James Spader. In this noirish film, Spader plays a yuppie who meets a mysterious stranger who encourages him to explore his darker side. Bad Influence was the first original screenplay for which David Koepp received a sole screenplay credit...
(1990) - Down and Out with the Dolls (2003)