The Lassassins have returned from the living dead as the all-female band from Minneapolis, Minnesota scare up some of the best garage punk music wrapped in rockabilly you will find.   With musical influences that include the Cramps, Link Wray, Wanda Jackson, Robert Gordon, The Ramones, Del Shannon, the Stray Cats and Del Shannon, you get that these girls are on a different level of rock and not only play great music but deliver the attitude with their style and image on stage.

The band came together almost simultaneously as each of the bad members had been looking to start a band and all of a sudden they just met and it happened.  It brought together Tea Ann Simpson on vocals, Monet Wong on guitar, Ariel Dornbush on bass and Angela Clark on drums.  The combination is a potent formula that brews a tasty combination of raw energy as their music explodes off the charts.  “Suffice it to say that at the time, I, Tea, and Ariel were simultaneous looking to start something, says Wong.  We managed to find each other, unite around similar musical tastes and vision, and then finagled Angela into learning how to play drums and join us.  Angela is a multi-instrumentalist.  She'd dabbled in drums before, but never played them in a band - obviously she's a natural!”
 
One thing is assured.  Plenty of attitudes fill their music and stage presence.  “The fact that we get asked this question so much just goes to reinforce the vibe of the last decade of "rock music" which has been more introspective, non-threatening, non-controversial, and folksy.  Everyone's looking to get their yaya's out - that hasn't changed - Elvis or the Beatles were the early vehicles.   What we are doing would not have stood out as much in the previous decades.  We'd like to be carrying on the tradition of The Monks, The Cramps, The Mummies... Not to say we are there, but it's what we aspire to.  I think we've all seen Alice Cooper's statement about the subject and for the most part, he nailed it - rock'n'roll to us comes from the gut and the groin ha ha!   It all comes down to personal preference. I find it a lot more entertaining to watch a more aggressive show.”

 

Not only do the LÁssassins bring a great sound to the stage but have the look and image that carries their presence to a whole new level of debauchery.  “In addition to the musical influences mentioned which have a certain stylistic component, image wise we're also influenced by offbeat - B movie culture, John Waters, etc., really strike a chord with us. I think I've said something along the same lines before which still holds true -  we also take seriously that people are coming to "watch" as well as hear a band - so why not have some fun with it; and secondly we really just like to dress like we do - we are really dressing for ourselves. There's not effort put into it other than - hey I dig that and it would cool to wear on stage - or as street clothes - whatever the mood strikes.  Regardless of being in the band or not we'd be rocking aspects of the L'Ass look.”

“We can't believe how many of our idols we've been able to share the stage with in our short band tenure so far:  Ronnie Spector, 5678's, Cherie Currie, Gary Burger of The Monks, Nikki Corvette, Detroit Cobras, Andre Williams. It's crazy. A lot of credit should go to a couple of super cool friends of ours, Travis Ramin and Dana Raidt, who for the past two years have pulled together an amazing grassroots event here in Minneapolis, called "Girls Got Rhythm" showcasing female forerunners in rock as well as the new blood - just solely for their absolute love of the origins of girl groups and everything that came after..  You should definitely check it out.”

 

If you love rock and roll and want a taste of some women who know how to deliver the goods, then brace yourself for LÁssassins.  The music will hook you and their videos will hypnotize you.  Get a taste and you will be sure to come around for more!