Lois Maffeo


Lois Maffeo is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. She has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 1990s-era Olympia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. music scenes.

Career

Maffeo was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated in 1981 from Xavier College Preparatory, an all-female private Catholic high school. She moved to Olympia, Washington to attend The Evergreen State College. In 1989, Maffeo and drummer Pat Maley founded the band Courtney Love, the name of which is coincidentally identical to the musician of the same name. The duo released their first single in 1990 and broke up the next year. Maffeo began performing as "Lois" in 1992; she was usually joined by drummer Heather Dunn and various backing musicians. Lois released two albums by 1994. The third album, Bet the Sky, came out in 1995. In 1996, Lois released Infinity Plus, promoting it by going on "a grueling world tour" that included the US, Europe, and Japan. Lois ended in 1996, with Maffeo taking a break from music and deciding to pursue journalism. Maffeo wrote for The Stranger, an alternative newspaper in Seattle, in addition to Out, Salon, Out New York">Out (magazine)">Out New York, and CMJ New Music Monthly. She also provided vocals on records by Bis, Red Stars Theory, and the Evil Tambourines. In 2000, Maffeo released the album The Union Themes, a collaboration with Brendan Canty of Fugazi that was two years in the making.

Discography

As Lois Maffeo

Source:
;albums
;compilations and other collaborations/appearances
  • , Dangerous Business International cassette, 1985, K Records
  • "My Head Hurts", Archer Come Sparrow cassette, 1988/1989, K Records
  • "Cup to the Wall", Life Abroad 7-inch single, 1996, K Records
  • "Thick with the Paint Swaying", But Sleep Came Slowly, 1997, Rx. Remedy
  • "Cat Fight", 2 Days in the Valley OST, 1997, Edel
  • "Switch Shower Go!", Go! Olympia cassette, 1997, Yoyo Recordings
  • "A Sailor's Warning", Life in a Bubble Can Be Beautiful, 1999, Touch & Go Records
  • "Pathways", Library Nation, 1999, Sub Pop
  • "On Mars And Venus", Library Nation, 1999, Sub Pop
  • "Shame The Bells", Projector: Another Studio Compilation, 1999, Yoyo Recordings
  • "Hope", Featuring..., 2000, K Records
  • "The Same As Being in Love", King James Version, 2000, Sire
  • "Spray on the Fixative", Origami And Urbanism, 2003, Tomlab

    With Cradle Robbers (with Rebecca Gates of the Spinanes)

Source:
;compilations
  • "Sotto Voce", Red Hot + Bothered/Indie Rock Guide To Dating, 1995, Kinetic/Reprise

    With Lumihoops

Source:
;compilations
  • "Roman Holiday", Throw: The Yoyo Studio Compilation, 1992, Yoyo Recordings

    With Courtney Love (the band)

Source:
;singles and EPs
;compilations
Source:
;albums
;Cassettes
  • Lowrider cassette, 1994, Slabco
; Compilations
  • Butter Yellow: A Lois Collection, 1996, Rebel Beat Factory
;Singles and EPs
;Appearances, Split singles/EPs, and other collaborations
Source:
;compilations
  • "Go Sonics", Selector Dub Narcotic, 1998, K Records

    With The Tentacles

Source:
;singles and EPs
  • The Touch 7-inch single, 1999, K Records

    With Owl & The Pussycat

;albums