Molly Neuman

Molly Neuman is an American drummer, writer and publisher, originally from the Washington, D.C. area who has performed in such influential bands as Bratmobile, the Frumpies, and the PeeChees. She was a pioneer of the early-to-mid '90s riot grrrl movement, penning the zine which coined the phrase in its title. She also co-wrote Girl Germs with Bratmobile singer Allison Wolfe while the two were students at the University of Oregon; that title later became the name of a Bratmobile song.

Early life and education

Neuman grew up in Washington, D.C. where her father worked for the Democratic National Committee. During high school, she worked for Arizona Representative Mo Udall. She moved across the country in 1989 to attend the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. In the dorms there she met Allison Wolfe. and had introduced his daughter to leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Together, Neuman and Wolfe took classes in women's studies and music, traveled to Olympia on the weekends, and started collaborating on influential feminist fanzine Girl Germs in 1990.

Career

Bratmobile

Neuman's and Wolfe's friend Calvin Johnson, an indie musician in the Olympia scene in The Go Team and Beat Happening who also co-owned K Records, asked them to play a show in Olympia on Valentine's Day in 1991 with Bikini Kill and Some Velvet Sidewalk. The band, Bratmobile, played its first show as a two-woman act at Olympia's North Shore Surf Club on February 14, 1991, with Neuman and Wolfe sharing duties on guitar, drums, and vocals.
Neuman was introduced to Erin Smith by Johnson at a Nation of Ulysses concert in Washington D.C. on December 26, 1990. When Neuman, along with Wolfe, visited the city again for spring break in 1991 they asked Smith if she wanted to play music with them, initially joined also by Jen Smith and Christina Billotte. Wolfe, Neuman, and Erin Smith continued on as Bratmobile, playing their first show as a trio at Fort Reno Park in July. The band was active until 1994, when they went on hiatus. They reformed in 1999, but split again in 2003 after two more albums.

Other bands

In 1992 she started The Frumpies, a lo-fi punk band, with members of Bikini Kill. They released a handful of 7" singles between 1994 and 2000.
From 1996 to 1998 she was a member of The PeeChees, who released two albums on Kill Rock Stars.

Zines

Whilst students at University of Oregon, Neuman and Wolfe started the feminist zine Girl Germs.
In the summer of 1991 Neuman and Wolfe created the first issue of riot grrrl zine.

Music industry career and other roles

Neuman co-owned the now-defunct Berkeley-based Lookout! Records with her ex-husband and former PeeChees singer Chris Appelgren and Cathy Bauer.
In 2006 she started her own independent record label called Simple Social Graces Discos and has released records by Les Aus, Campamento Ñec Ñec, Grabba Grabba Tape, Two Tears, Delorean and Love or Perish. She also founded Indivision Management, and has worked as a manager for such artists as the Locust, Ted Leo and the Donnas.
In 2006 she started working for eMusic, before moving to Rhapsody in 2013. In 2014 she was appointed Vice President of the American Association of Independent Music. After having been a founding board member of A2IM when it was first started in 2005.
In 2009, after graduating from the Chef's Training Program at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City, Neuman founded a personal chef, catering and health consulting company focusing on natural and whole foods in Brooklyn called Simple Social Kitchen.
In 2016 Neuman was appointed Head of Music for Kickstarter,, in 2017 she was made president of the global publishing administration service Songtrust, and in 2022 as the Chief Marketing Officer for Downtown Music Holdings. In June 2024 she became president of CD Baby.

Bratmobile reunion

In 2023, Wolfe and Neuman reformed Bratmobile again to perform at the Mosswood Meltdown festival in Oakland, California. Further concerts followed in 2024 and 2025.

Discography

With [Bratmobile]

;Studio albums

Year	Title	Label	Formats
1993	Pottymouth	Kill Rock Stars	LP/CD/CS
2000	Ladies, Women and Girls	Lookout! Records	CD/LP
2002	Girls Get Busy	Lookout! Records	CD/LP

;EPs

The Real Janelle LPEP/CDEP

;Live albums

The Peel Session CDEP

;Singles

Kiss & Ride 7-inch

;Split 7-inch

Tiger Trap/ Bratmobile split 7-inch
Heavens to Betsy/ Bratmobile split 7-inch
Brainiac/ Bratmobile split 7-inch
Veronica Lake/ Bratmobile split 7-inch

;Compilation albums

Kill Rock Stars compilation, CD/LP,
A Wonderful Treat compilation cassette
The Embassy Tapes cassette
Throw compilation CD
International Pop Underground live LP/CD/CS
Neapolitan Metropolitan boxed 7-inch set
Teen Beat 100 compilation 7-inch
Julep compilation LP/CD
Wakefield Vol. 2 V/A CD boxed set
Plea For Peace Take Action compilation CD
Boys Lie compilation CD
Yoyo A Go Go 1999 compilation CD
Lookout! Freakout Episode 2 compilation CD
Songs For Cassavetes compilation CD
Lookout! Freakout Episode 3 CD
Turn-On Tune-In Lookout! DVD
With [the Frumpies]

On Kill Rock Stars:

Babies & Bunnies KRS213, released 1993-08.
Eunuch Nights KRS322, released: 1998-09-23.
Frumpie One-Piece KRS335, released: 1998-10-23.
Frumpies Forever KRS366, released: 2000-08-01.
With [the PeeChees]

;Albums

Year	Title	Label	Other information
1996	Do The Math	Kill Rock Stars	First album.
1997	Games People Play	Kill Rock Stars	Final studio album.
1998	Life	Kill Rock Stars	Compilation of singles and compilation tracks. Released post-breakup.

;Singles and EPs

Year	Title	Label	Other information
1994	Cup of Glory	Kill Rock Stars	"Cheap Fun", "Grease" b/w "Fine Watch".
1995	Scented Gum	Lookout! Records	"Genuine Article", "Tea Biscuit to Show" b/w "Olive Oil", "Tom Foolery". Recorded by John Reis and Gar Wood.
1996	Love Moods	Rugger Bugger	"New Moscow Woman" b/w "Quadruple Bypass"
1996	"Antarticists"	Roxy	b/w "Love Is the Law" cover, originally by the Suburbs.
1997	"Sing Like Me "	Damaged Goods	b/w "Other Ice Age". Picture disc
1998	"Dallas"	Sub Pop	b/w "If You Don't Know ". Released as part of the label's limited edition "Single of the Month" series

;Non-album tracks

Year	Album/Source	Label	Song	Other information
1994	Rock Stars Kill	Kill Rock Stars	"Patty Coahuila"	First band release. Compilation of Kill Rock Stars bands that included Rancid, Kathleen Hanna, and Team Dresch.
1995	Slice Of Lemon	Lookout! Records/Kill Rock Stars	"Maintenance Free"	Compilation of Lookout! and Kill Rock Stars bands that included Elliott Smith and the Mr. T Experience.
1998	Taking A Chance On Chances	Troubleman Unlimited Records	"Second Grade"	Compilation of bands that included Monorchid.