The Donnas

The Donnas are an all-women punk rock band that go by stage names. Donna C. (Torry Castellano), Donna F. (Maya Ford), Donna A. (Brett Anderson), and Donna R. (Allison Robertson) make up the band. They formed in 8th grade (1993)to play for their school's "Day on the Green." They were all best friends and high school outcasts, which is what brought them together. They endured hell being the only girl band in their town, Palo Alto. They had absolutly no friends or fans until they were out of high school. There was even an anti Donnas club in the brief time that they attended college. They are all self taught musicians and pratcited in Torry's garage nearly everyday durring high school.

They went under the names Screen, Raggedy Anne, and The Electrocutes before becoming the Donnas. These other bands were not simply the Donnas with different names, they were different bands with different members. In fact the appeared on a college radio station as both Raggedy Anne and The Donnas in the same night! Not only this, but Raggady Anne and the Donnas insulted eachother. (No one but them and the DJ even knew that they were the same people).

They worked with producer Darin Raffaelli for their first three albums. They took a week off of their senior year of high school to tour Japan and even experimented with riot grrrl under The Electrocutes (this was more musical that political though). They initially signed with Lookout!!! Records. However, the band became too big for the independent Lookout!!! to handle and they were urged to sign with a major label compamny. In 2002 they signed with Atlantic Redords.

The band has been together for 11 years. Some of their influences include KISS, L7, Bikini Kill, Shonen Knife, The Muffs, R.E.M., The Ramones, and Bratmobile. A new release is expected October 2004

discography: 1996 Ragady Anne - Self Titled 7" (Radio Trash Records) 1998 The Electrocutes - Steal Yer Lunch Money (Sympathy for the Record Industry) 1998 The Donnas - Self Titled (Lookout!!! Records) 1998 The Donnas - American Teenage Rock 'n Roll Machine (Lookout!!! Records) 1999 The Donnas - Get Skintight (Lookout!!! Records) 2001 The Donnas - Turn 21 (Lookout!!! Records) 2002 The Donnas - Spend the Night (Atlantic Records)