|
Tour Talk: The Donnas on the Road
By Noel Hernandez
 Nearly a decade ago in the suburban land of Palo Alto CA, a blossoming (musically and adolescently) quartet aspiring to play undiluted rock signed a recording contract fresh out of High School - and they never looked back.
Before their trademark nom de plumes were agreed upon, they were first known as Ragady Anne , a junior high cover band playing anything from the Muffs to Shonen Knife and even REM . After releasing a 7-inch EP on a local label in ‘95 and steadily becoming more influenced by the riot grrrl movement, they decided to change their name to the Electrocutes . With lightning quick songs at volume piercing levels and a new jailbait trash image, the Electrocutes continued to sharpen their musical skills by touring the bay area steadily.
Evolving into the Donnas though wasn’t without a little comedic deceit on the press. They created a Ramones -worshipping alter-ego band known as the Donnas to better represent new music they were working on. During Electrocutes interviews they sarcastically mocked The Donnas as if they were some other band. Soon after, the transformation from Electrocutes to the Donnas became official, sparking the curious question to a growing fan base “Are they really all named Donna? Not until their sophomore release “The Donnas Turn 21” was there a more evident departure from punk to rock. With sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll themes running rampantly throughout the majority of their songs, critics were skeptical that such trite subject matters would ensure career longevity.
Subsequently, their Atlantic records debut and third release, “Spend the Night” broke into the top 100 of the pop charts, suppressing such criticisms. The album catapulted the Donnas to a higher level of success with the single “ Take it Off” becoming their biggest radio hit to date, along with main stage gigs on the 2003 Lollapalooza tour. Their latest album, “Gold Medal,” has proven that dropping their intriguing monikers and becoming college students hasn’t compromised their position as credible rock stars. Nor has it diminished their capacity to break pre-conceived notions about women being able to rock just as hard as the next guy’s band.
Formerly known as Donna R, red-hot guitarist Allison Robertson and I had a little “girl talk” in between their hectic tour schedule.
NH(Atlanta Music Guide): Bands that you’ve been fond of like Guns-n-Roses and Metallica have at times taken their established brand of rock to other dimensions. With Gold Medal being your sixth straight up rock-n-roll album, have you ever found yourselves tempted to explore other elements of rock or add additional instruments?
Allison:We're a pretty cut and dry rock band, and I don’t imagine we'll ever use strings/horns/sitar/triangle anytime soon, but we don't like to put a lid on anything. Maybe the next record will be ska/rasta! Just kidding. The interesting thing is that this new album is NOT being received as a straight ahead rock record, although I think it is just as much as the previous albums. People and their opinions are strange.
NH: You guys encountered resistance to being played on the radio in earlier times, regardless of a growing and already loyal fan base. Were there other moments of tough critiquing or discrimination against you guys as girl rockers that were unexpected, surprising, or difficult to deal with?
Allison:Many times when we meet people on photo shoots, they feel the need to tell us all about what’s wrong with our appearances. It never ends and probably never will. When I signed up for this job I definitely did not expect to get sized up so much physically, and it blows.
NH: In the past, certain people (i.e. sound guys, or other bands) might have had the common thought that not many women can get up on stage and really “rock out” like guys or play convincingly enough to win a rock audience. Surely that myth has finally been dispelled for you guys. Did it feel like it took a long time for this to happen?
Allison:That myth is something that we work to dispel everyday of our lives. [With every] new day, [there are] new doubters. New club, new hecklers. No matter how much ground we cover, there are still thousands, perhaps millions of sexist, negative, SURPRISED men...and women!
NH: Did anyone in the band ever take music lessons, or is everyone self-taught?
Allison:We didn’t take lessons growing up. Maya (bass player) attempted some bass lessons with a young college student when she was 13 but she only had two sessions wherein he told her she was perfectly off with the metronome.
NH: Recall and describe a night of rock-n-roll debauchery (devilishly fun or ridiculously embarrassing, if any) that the Donnas have shared.
Allison:Umm, if it were a true night of debauchery, I wouldn't be able to recall it or recount it in any way.
NH: Name an album or artist you love that’s not of the rock-n-roll persuasion.
Allison:I love the Carpenters , and I love STYX . I’ve loved them both since I was a child, and I remember my parents trying to hide my STYX Mr. Roboto tape from me because they thought it was a sad and lame excuse for rock.
NH: With women entertainers displaying such sexual imagery with clothing and marketing, how much control or input are you allowed with various design factors (album covers, photo shoots, videos etc.)?
Allison:The album cover/videos/photo shoots for the label's promo pics we have complete control over. Its magazines/TV shows that you have virtually no control over. Only people like J. Lo get to see their pictures before they go to print. It all depends on how the editor/producer (who you'll probably never even meet face to face) wants you to look.
NH: What musician (dead or alive) would you like to be stranded on an island with whether just for looks, or as an idol?
Allison: Taylor Locke from Rooney
NH: Having been in a band together since the 8th grade and then taking a week off during senior year in high school to tour in Japan, did your schoolmates consider you guys “cool chicks,” or were you viewed otherwise? Did this have any effect on your love life?
Allison:We were viewed as lame weirdos all of high school. If anyone at our high school felt otherwise, they certainly didn’t make it known to us. Luckily, I had a sweet boyfriend all through high school and my best friends (the band) to get me through. We also hung out with older friends on the weekends, so we weren’t too concerned with what the other kids thought of us after a while.
NH: What made the name Donna work over others and who came up w/ it?
Allison:Our friend Darin Raffaelli thought of it by rearranging the letters that spelled 'McDonalds' because he noticed a really cool font on the Flintstones Happy Meal that was slightly caveman style. That ended up being the original Donnas logo.
NH: While touring, is there a totally girlie item or otherwise you can’t live without?
Allison:I carry with me my perfume, Crystal Noir , and my Gameboy with Castlevania usually inside it.
NH: What might Donna R. be doing if you weren’t in a band?
Allison: I would be either an artist, or Spanish language translator!
Visit The Donnas' official website at www.thedonnas.com. Their latest album , Gold Medal , is in stores now. | 
