Violent Femmes formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1981 by bassist Brian Ritchie and percussionist Victor DeLorenzo, soon joined by guitarist and vocalist Gordon Gano. The trio developed an acoustic folk-punk style influenced by punk and folk-rock, playing coffee houses and street corners. They gained exposure on August 23, 1981, busking outside the Oriental Theatre before a Pretenders concert, where guitarist James Honeyman-Scott invited them to perform an acoustic opening set. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1983 by Slash Records, features raw tracks reflecting teenage angst and became a platinum seller in 1991, entering the Billboard charts at that status. The band issued further albums including Hallowed Ground (1984), New Times (1994), and Rock!!!!! (1995), with lineup changes such as DeLorenzo's departure in 1993 and return in 2002. Violent Femmes are known for energetic live performances, often acoustic in their early shows, blending jittery folk-punk with punk sensibilities that built their underground following.