The line up of the group for their first album was Kaia Wilson, vocals and guitar; Jody Bleyle, guitar, bass, and vocals; Donna Dresch, bass and guitar; and Marcéo Martinez on drums. All were veterans of other musical outfits; Donna Dresch had previously played and recorded with such bands as Dinosaur Jr., Dangermouse, Screaming Trees, Rastro!, Fifth Column, Some Velvet Sidewalk, Lois, Mary Lou Lord and The Go Team; Jody Bleyle was simultaneously in the bands Hazel and Lovebutt while playing in Team Dresch; Kaia Wilson had been in the band Adickdid and Marcéo Martinez in Calamity Jane. Scott Plouf, then of The Spinanes, now of Built to Spill was the drummer on the first 7".
Donna Dresch, founder of the band, had been involved in the queercore scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s as creator of her own fanzine Chainsaw and, in addition to contributing to other zines such as Outpunk and J.D.s, she contributed to and was featured on the cover of issue five of Homocore and appeared in the girl-gang film The Yo-Yo Gang by G.B. Jones.
Their first single, Hand Grenade, appeared on Kill Rock Stars in 1994. Personal Best, the album which followed it, appeared in 1995 as a co-release on the independent labels Chainsaw Records, run by Dresch and Candy Ass Records, run by Bleyle. Candy-ass then released the compilation Free To Fight, a double LP of all-women bands addressing issues such as harassment and rape and dedicated to self-defense. The band toured with self-defense instructor Alice Stagg, who spoke and gave demonstrations to the audience prior to the bands' performance. The members were committed to a DIY ethic, running their own record labels and booking their own tours. In 1996, the influential German band Tocotronic payed homage to Team Dresch with their song Die Sache mit der Team Dresch-Platte (The thing about the Team Dresch record), eventually contributing to the popularity of Team Dresch in Germany.
On their second recording Melissa York, previously of the hardcore punk bands Vitapup and Born Against replaced Marcéo Martinez. This LP, Captain My Captain, also featured a guest appearance by Phranc, well known lesbian musician. As well, the song Uncle Phranc, written as a tribute to her, appears on this album.
After this LP Kaia Wilson and Melissa York left the band to form The Butchies, while Dresch and Bleyle continued recording with the addition of new member Amanda Kelly and Marcéo Martinez once again on drums. The band stopped playing in 1998, with Dresch increasingly involved in running her record label which was releasing many recordings by newer bands, including The Need, Longstocking, Sleater Kinney and many more. In 2002 Jody debuted a new band, Family Outing, which includes her brother, Allen, and in 2004, Donna returned to the stage with a new band, Davies vs. Dresch. They appeared as part of "Queercore Blitz", a group of queer bands touring the U.S together.
In the summer of 2004, Jody, Donna, Kaia, Marcéo and Melissa came together to headline the homocore festival Homo-a-Go-Go in Olympia, Washington.
In the summer of 2006, the same members are reforming to play shows in the Northwest and in New York City.
The band performs and is interviewed in the documentary film She's Real, Worse Than Queer by Lucy Thane.
http://www.teamdresch.com/
#1 Chance Pirate TV
Team Dresch Lyrics
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one chance pirate TV the creatures of the forest reject network TV as a thing out
of control we're building bombs looking for our chance this shit's for me it's time to
choose it's time to see who will be loyal and who will betray the forces that be if
green you're mine if you're wearing green i'm yours dry it off try it on it's one
day's ransom pay if that's a relief now i'm convinced and another thing are you
bound by every thought that ever crossed your mind sometimes it feels alright
and that's a relief sometimes it feels alright like when you rip a picture of the pope
The lyrics to Team Dresch's song #1 Chance Pirate TV are an interesting commentary on rebellion and resistance against the mainstream media. The song references Sinead O'Connor, who famously caused controversy in the late 1990s when she ripped up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live. In the song, O'Connor is depicted as locked up in a hollow tree, starting a cable station called #1 Chance Pirate TV. The creatures of the forest reject network TV as a thing out of control, and they are building bombs, looking for their chance to rebel.
The song then takes a more personal turn, as the singer talks about choosing between loyalty and betrayal. They call out the colors blue, red, and green, using them as symbolic markers of allegiance or disloyalty. If you're wearing green, "you're mine", suggesting a sense of belonging and community with the forces of resistance. The song then asks if the listener is "bound by every thought that ever crossed your mind", suggesting a need to challenge our own beliefs and assumptions in order to break free from the constraints of the mainstream.
Overall, #1 Chance Pirate TV is a call to arms for those who refuse to accept the status quo. It's a powerful reminder that rebellion and resistance can come from unexpected places, and that the most powerful forms of resistance are often those that come from the margins.
Line by Line Meaning
sinead o'conner locked up in a hollow tree starts a cable station called number
Sinead O'Connor, a famous musician, is trapped in a place where she begins to create a TV channel called Number One Chance Pirate TV.
the creatures of the forest reject network TV as a thing out of control
The forest residents refuse to watch regular TV channels since they believe it's out of control.
we're building bombs looking for our chance
We are preparing explosives while looking for an opportunity to use them.
this shit's for me
I am doing this for myself.
it's time to choose it's time to see who will be loyal
The time has come to pick sides and determine who are the ones willing to stay true.
and who will betray the forces that be
It's also the time to identify those that will side with the opposing force.
if you're wearing blue stand up if you're wearing red sit down
If you are wearing blue, then please stand up while if you are wearing red, kindly take your seat.
if you're wearing green you're mine if you're wearing green i'm yours
If you have green on you, then you are mine as I belong to you.
dry it off try it on it's one day's ransom pay if that's a relief
Try on this garment and if it brings you comfort, then pay me the equivalent of one day's ransom.
now i'm convinced
I am now certain about a decision I made.
and another thing are you bound by every thought that ever crossed your mind
Moreover, are you limited by every idea you have ever entertained?
sometimes it feels alright and that's a relief
Occasionally, everything seems to fit perfectly, and it brings comfort.
sometimes it feels alright like when you rip a picture of the pope
It feels satisfying at times, such as when you tear a picture of the pope.
Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.