Formed in 1987

Babes in Toyland formed in 1987 after frontwoman Kat Bjelland met drummer Lori Barbero at a friend’s barbecue. Originally from Woodburn, Oregon and a former resident of San Francisco , Bjelland had moved to Minneapolis to form a band. Bjelland was a self-taught guitarist, and at the time Barbero had no experience playing any instruments. Bjelland commented: “Hopefully, from being technically inexperienced, you can use your imagination, and play the drums like an instrument instead of just being a beat-keeper. And play the bass like you feel it, from your gut, instead of saying, ‘Here’s my scales. ‘ ” The band name refers to the eponymous 1903 operetta and alludes to its all-female lineup. In its initial formation in 1987, in addition to Bjelland and Barbero, the band included Kris Holetz on bass and singer Cindy Russell.