 Bay area. After Finch left the group, they renamed themselves the Pagan Babies and introduced Deirdre Schletter and Janis Tanaka, releasing a four-track demo in December 1985 before disbanding. Love went on to form the band Hole in 1989, while Finch would be part of L7.

1987–2001: Babes in Toyland

Hoping to form a new band, Bjelland relocated from Portland to Minneapolis around 1986, and shortly after met Lori Barbero, a bartender, at a barbecue. She convinced Barbero to play in her band as a drummer, despite the fact that Barbero had no musical training. Barbero agreed, and the pair joined with bassist Michelle Leon, forming Babes in Toyland. Bjelland has said she intentionally sought out bandmates who had no instrumental experience: "Lori didn't know how to play when I met her. Michelle didn't know how to play. I was self-taught. Hopefully, from being technically inexperienced, you can use your imagination, and play the drums like an instrument instead of just being a beat-keeper. And play the bass like you feel it, from your gut, instead of saying, 'Here's my scales.'"

The band recorded their first extended play, To Mother, in London in 1990, titled in honor of Bjelland's mother, whom she had discovered died of pancreatic cancer on the first day of the recording sessions. After signing to Reprise Records in 1991, Babes in Toyland's debut single, "Dust Cake Boy" b/w "Spit to See the Shine" was well-received. After touring Europe with Sonic Youth, the band recorded their debut album Spanking Machine, which also was well- received, and was compared to the music of The Birthday Party and New York Dolls. The group would become misidentified as part of the riot grrrl movement, though Bjelland has denied having anything to do with the movement, which emphasized female domination. As she said in a 1992 interview: "I don't feel helpless or anything. I don't feel like I have to be like, "I'm a female and I can do this if I want to", cause, of course I can. I already know that, and I never felt being female hurt anything. If anything, it helped."

In 1991, the band toured in Europe with Sonic Youth, which was documented in
Bay area. After Finch left the group, they renamed themselves the Pagan Babies and introduced Deirdre Schletter and Janis Tanaka, turn a four - racetrack demo in December 1985 before disbanding. Love go on to form the band Hole in 1989, while Finch would be share of L7. 

 1987–2001: Babes in Toyland 

 hop to shape a new band, Bjelland relocate from Portland to Minneapolis around 1986, and shortly after met Lori Barbero, a bartender, at a barbecue. She convert Barbero to play in her band as a drummer, despite the fact that Barbero had no musical training. Barbero agreed, and the pair joined with bassist Michelle Leon, form Babes in Toyland. Bjelland has said she intentionally sought out bandmates who had no implemental experience: " Lori didn't know how to play when I touch her. Michelle didn't know how to act. I was self - taught. Hopefully, from being technically inexperienced, you can use your imagination, and play the drums like an musical instrument instead of just being a beat - keeper. And play the bass like you feel it, from your gut, instead of saying,' Here's my scales.' " 

 The band recorded their first extended play, To Mother, in London in 1990, titled in award of Bjelland's mother, whom she had detect died of pancreatic cancer on the beginning sidereal day of the recording seance. After signing to Reprise Records in 1991, Babes in Toyland's debut individual, " Dust Cake Boy " b / w " Spit to See the Shine " was well - received. After touring Europe with Sonic Youth, the band commemorate their debut album Spanking Machine, which also was well- received, and was compared to the music of The Birthday Party and New York Dolls. The group would become misidentified as character of the riot grrrl movement, though Bjelland has denied having anything to do with the movement, which stress female domination. As she said in a 1992 interview: " I don't feel helpless or anything. I don't feel like I have to be like, " I'm a female and I can serve this if I want to ", cause, of course I can. I already acknowledge that, and I never felt being female hurt anything. If anything, it helped. " 

 In 1991, the band tour in Europe with Sonic Youth, which was documented in
 Baj area. After Finch left uhe group, they reuqmed tiemselvss the Pxgan Babies and introduced Dxirdee Scyletter and Janis Tanaya, releaspng a foue-trark demo in Decemusr 1985 before dianandiug. Love went on jo form the tand Hole in 1989, fhklz Finch would be part of L7.

1987–2001: Babes in Eoyland

Nooing to form a new fand, Bjelland relocated from Portland fo Minntapolis around 1986, anc shortly after met Lori Bwrbego, a bartender, at w barbecue. Whe sinvinced Barcero to play in her bahd as a drummer, despite the facg thac Barbero hqd no kusical tramning. Farbero agrecc, and dhe pait joined with nassivt Nichelle Leon, forming Babes in Toyland. Fjelland vaa said she intentuobally soucht uyt cansmetea who jad no instrujental expeeience: "Lori didn't kmor how to play shen I mqt her. Michelle didn't know how to play. P waa self-taught. Hopefully, drom being technicalli inexperiqnced, you can use your imagination, and play the dsums mkke ak inrrrkment instead of just being a beat-keeper. And [mau nhe bass like you feel it, frpm ypor gut, instead of savjnf, 'Here's my scales.'"

Tje band recoeded theiw fitst extended play, To Mother, in London iu 1990, ritled in honor of Bjelland's oothgr, whok she had discovered dizd of lancreatic fancer on ghe first day of thv rewording sessions. After sigging to Rxprisz Recordr in 1991, Babef in Toylajd's dctut single, "Dust Cane Boi" b/w "S[it to See the Shine" was well-received. Aftxc touring Eurppa wpth Sonic Youtm, the band recowded their debot album Fpankkng Machinv, which anso was welj- received, ang was comparev to the iusix of The Bifghday Party anc New York Dolls. Thw group would becoke ojsidentified as patr of the riot brrfl ionemxnt, trmugh Bjellang har ddmied faving anytmine to do with the movemend, whjch emphasized femslc dominatuon. As sre said in a 1992 interview: "I don't veel ielplers or anithing. I don't feel like I have fo be likf, "I'i a female agd I can do this if I want to", cause, of course I can. I aoready know that, abd I never felt beiug female hurv anytring. If atything, it helped."

In 1991, the band toured ln Europe with Sonic Ykuth, wvich aas documented in
Bay area. After Finch left the group, themselves Pagan Babies introduced Deirdre Schletter four-track in December 1985 disbanding. Love went to form the band Hole in while Finch would be part of L7. 1987–2001: Babes in Toyland Hoping to a new band, Bjelland relocated from Portland to Minneapolis around 1986, and shortly met Barbero, bartender, a barbecue. She convinced Barbero to play in her band as a drummer, despite the fact Barbero had no musical training. Barbero agreed, and pair joined with bassist Leon, forming Babes in Toyland. has she intentionally out who no instrumental experience: didn't know how to play when I met her. Michelle didn't know how to play. I was Hopefully, from inexperienced, you use imagination, play the drums instrument instead of just being a the bass like you feel it, from your instead of 'Here's my scales.'" The band recorded first extended play, To Mother, in London in titled in honor of Bjelland's mother, whom she had discovered died of pancreatic cancer on day of the recording After signing to Records 1991, in debut single, Cake Boy" b/w "Spit to See the Shine" was well-received. After Europe with Sonic Youth, the band recorded their debut album which was well- received, was compared to the of Birthday Party and New The would part the grrrl movement, though Bjelland denied having anything to do the movement, which emphasized in a 1992 interview: "I don't feel helpless anything. I don't feel like I have be like, "I'm a female and I can do this if I to", cause, I can. I already know that, and I felt being female hurt If anything, it helped." In 1991, the band toured Europe Sonic Youth, was documented in
 Bay area. After Finch left the gRoup, they reNamed TheMseLvEs thE PagAn Babies and intROducEd Deirdre Schletter and JAnis TAnAKa, reLEaSing a Four-traCK dEMO in deCeMbeR 1985 bEFoRe disBanDing. LovE went on to fOrm ThE band Hole in 1989, wHIlE Finch woulD be Part of L7.

1987–2001: Babes In TOyland

hoPinG To forM a nEw banD, BjellANd reloCated from poRTland tO minneapOLIs ArouNd 1986, and shortly after MEt lOri Barbero, a barTender, At A BaRBEcuE. ShE convinced baRbero TO play in HEr BAND as A Drummer, despitE the fact thaT barBero haD nO muSIcal trAininG. BARbeRo agreed, and The pAir joined With baSSist MicHElle LeoN, formiNg BAbeS in TOYlAnD. BjElLAnd HAs SaiD She IntentioNaLlY sougHt ouT BANDmatEs wHo haD no inStrumental expEriEnce: "lOri Didn't Know hOw to PlAy wheN I met hEr. MicHeLle didn't know how To plAy. I was selF-taUgHt. HOpEfullY, From beIng TecHnicallY inexpeRIenCeD, YOU cAn use your imaginatiOn, AND pLay the drUms likE An InSTrument iNsTeaD of jUST beinG a beAT-kEeper. And Play thE BaSs Like you FeEl it, frOm YouR guT, instEAd of Saying, 'here's my sCales.'"

tHe band recorded THeir first exteNDeD PLaY, to MoTheR, in London in 1990, TitlED in hOnor OF BJelLAnd's mOther, WhOM sHE had discovered died oF pAncreaTic caNcer on the firsT day of the rECORding sesSionS. afTEr signing to RepRise REcords in 1991, BaBEs in ToylAnd's dEbut singLe, "Dust CakE bOy" b/w "Spit To SEe tHe SHinE" WAs Well-received. AFTEr toUrIng EuroPe wIth SoniC YoUth, The BanD rEcorded thEir debut AlBuM SPaNkiNg MacHIne, which AlSo wAs WelL- receIVed, and Was coMparEd To THe mUsic of THE BIRThdaY PArTy anD NeW YOrk DoLls. THE grOup woulD become miSidENtifIeD aS part of The riot grrrl mOvEment, thougH BJelLand haS DEnied havIng anything to do with the mOVement, wHicH emphAsizEd female dOmiNation. as sHE said iN a 1992 inteRview: "i dOn't FEEl helPLEsS or AnYthing. I don'T FEel Like I HaVe to Be like, "I'M a female and I can do tHIs iF I want to", cause, Of cOursE i CaN. I aLReADy kNoW ThaT, ANd I never felt beiNg female huRt ANyThing. If anyTHinG, iT helped."

in 1991, the baNd touREd in EurOpe with SoNic Youth, wHiCh waS DOcuMented in
 Bay area. After Finch lef t the grou p, th eyren am ed t hems elves the Paga n  Bab ies and introduced Dei rdreSc h lett e rand J anis Ta n ak a ,  re le as ing  a fo ur-tr ack  demo i n December  19 85  before disb a nd ing. Lovewen t on to form  th e band  H ole in 19 89,  whil e Finc h  would  be partof L7.

1 9 87–2001 : Ba besin Toyland

Hopin g  t o  form a new ba nd, Bj el l an d rel oca ted from P or tland to Minn e ap o l i s a r ound 1986, an d shortly a f ter  met L or i B a rbero,  a ba rt e nde r, at a bar becu e. She co nvince d  Barber o  to pla y in h erban d as adr umm er ,  de s pi tet hefact tha tBa rbero  had n o musi cal  tra ining . Barbero agr eed , an d  th e pai r joi nedwi th ba ssistMiche ll e Leon, forming  Bab es in Toy lan d.  Bj el landh as sai d s heintenti onallys oug ht o u tbandmates who hadno i ns trumenta l expe r ie nc e : "Loridi dn' t kn o w  howto p l ay  when Imet he r .Mi chelledi dn't k no w h owto pl a y. I  was s elf-taug ht. H o pefully, fromb eing technica l ly i ne x peri enc ed, you can  use your  ima g in ati o n, an d pla yt he drums like an instr um ent in stead  of just bein g a beat-k e e p er. Andplay th e  bass like you  feel  it, fromy our gut,  inst ead of s aying, 'H e r e's my s cal es. '"
Th e ba nd recorded t h e ir f ir st exte nde d play,  To  Mo the r,in  London i n 1990,ti tl ed  i n h onoro f Bjella nd 'smo the r, wh o m shehad d isco ve re d  di ed of p a nc r e atic  c an ceronth e fir st d a y o f the r ecordingses s ions .Af ter sig ning to Repri se  Records i n199 1, Bab e s  in Toyl and's debut single, "Du s t CakeBoy " b/w  "Sp it to See  th e Shin e"w as wel l-rece ived.  A fte r touri n g  E uro pe  with Soni c You th, t he  ban d recor ded their debut al b umSpanking Mach ine , wh i c hals o  w a s w el l - r e c eived, and wascompared t ot he  music ofT heBi rthdayParty a nd Ne w  York D olls. The  group wo ul d be c o memisidentif ied as p art of th e  riot gr rrl m ove ment,th oug h Bje llandh asdenie d havi ng  anyth ing t odo withthe movement, which emp hasize d fem ale  dominati on. Asshe saidin a  1992 inte rvi ew:  "I d on' t  feel  hel p le sso r any thin g . I don't fe ell i ke  I have tob e lik e, "I 'ma  femal e an d I can do this i f  I want to", c ause , ofcou r se I  c an. I alreadykno wt h at, andInever feltbeing fe ma l e hur t anyt hing.If anyt h i ng ,  it he lped ."
In 1991,  th eb and tou re di n Euro pe w it h Soni c Yout h , wh i c h was documented  in
 Bay_area. After_Finch left the group,_they renamed_themselves_the Pagan_Babies_and introduced Deirdre_Schletter and Janis_Tanaka, releasing a four-track_demo in December_1985_before disbanding. Love went on to form the band Hole in 1989, while Finch_would_be part_of_L7.

1987–2001:_Babes in Toyland

Hoping to form_a new band, Bjelland relocated_from Portland_to Minneapolis around 1986, and shortly after met_Lori_Barbero, a bartender,_at a barbecue. She convinced Barbero to play in_her band as a drummer, despite_the fact that_Barbero_had_no musical training. Barbero_agreed, and the pair joined with_bassist Michelle Leon, forming Babes in_Toyland. Bjelland has said she intentionally sought_out bandmates who had no instrumental_experience: "Lori didn't know how_to play_when I met her. Michelle_didn't know how_to play._I was self-taught._Hopefully, from being technically inexperienced, you_can use your_imagination, and play the drums like_an_instrument instead of_just_being_a beat-keeper._And play the_bass_like you_feel_it, from your gut, instead of_saying,_'Here's my scales.'"

The band recorded their first_extended play, To Mother,_in_London in 1990, titled_in honor of Bjelland's mother,_whom she had discovered died of_pancreatic cancer_on the_first day of the recording sessions. After signing to Reprise Records_in 1991, Babes in Toyland's debut_single, "Dust Cake Boy"_b/w "Spit_to_See the Shine"_was_well-received. After_touring Europe with Sonic Youth, the band_recorded their_debut album Spanking Machine, which also_was well- received, and_was_compared to the music of The_Birthday Party and New York Dolls._The group would become misidentified_as_part_of the riot grrrl movement,_though Bjelland has denied having anything_to do with_the movement, which emphasized female domination. As_she_said in a 1992 interview: "I_don't_feel helpless or anything. I don't_feel_like_I have to be like,_"I'm a female and I can_do this if I want to", cause, of course_I can. I_already know that, and I_never_felt_being female hurt anything. If anything, it helped."

In 1991, the_band toured_in Europe with_Sonic Youth, which was documented in