The Muffs with Ronnie Barnett

<p>The Muffs with Ronnie Barnett in conversation with David Eastaugh</p> <p>The band started as a collaboration between guitarists <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Shattuck'>Kim Shattuck</a> and Melanie Vammen, both former members of the 1980s all-female <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_rock'>hard rock</a> group, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pandoras'>The Pandoras</a>. The Muffs started performing and recording after the addition of bassist Ronnie Barnett and drummer Criss Crass. The Muffs released their initial 7" EPs and singles – "New Love" and "Guilty" (1991), and "I Need You" (1992) – on the West Coast independent labels <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub_Pop'>Sub Pop</a> and <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathy_for_the_Record_Industry'>Sympathy for the Record Industry</a>.<a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muffs#cite_note-Deming-3'>[3]</a> Based on the public and critical response to these early releases, the band was signed to <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records'>Warner Bros. Records</a>.<a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muffs#cite_note-Deming-3'>[3]</a> They established a reputation for "straightforward <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_punk'>pop punk</a>". In the words of musician and critic <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Miller_(pop_musician)'>Scott Miller</a>, the Muffs had "an uncommon flair for simple, catchy melodies" which, he noted approvingly, were always delivered in "Kim Shattuck's almost comically sneering adolescent rasp".</p>