Julia Cafritz | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1965-05-05)May 5, 1965 (age 59) |
| Origin | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Genres | Noise Music Alternative rock Punk rock |
| Years active | 1985–present |
Julia Cafritz (born May 5, 1965) is an American musician and guitarist[1] who was a member ofPussy Galore andFree Kitten. She is regarded as acult figure from the New York Citynoise music scene of the 1990s.[2][3]
Cafritz was born inWashington, DC, the daughter of Jennifer (née Stats) and Conrad Cafritz, a real estate developer with a personal fortune of over $100 million.[4][5][6][7] She has a younger sister named Daisy von Furth, and two brothers, Eric and Matthew Cafritz.[7][8] Her grandfather was the multimillionaire real estate developer and philanthropistMorris Cafritz.[4]
Cafritz has a B.A. and M.A. fromNew York University,[9] having dropped out ofBrown University after formingPussy Galore.[4]
In 1985, guitarist Julia Cafritz and fellowBrown University classmate,Jon Spencer on vocals and guitar, and John Hammill on drums, formed the punknoise band Pussy Galore. In May 1986 they moved toNew York City.
In 1989, Cafritz left Pussy Galore and formed the short-lived all-girl group STP. STP released one single and toured withNirvana andSonic Youth. Cafritz joined fellow CBGBs Record Canteen clerk Ned Hayden's group, theAction Swingers.
In 1992, she formedFree Kitten, a musical collaboration with Sonic Youth'sKim Gordon, drummerYoshimi from theBoredoms andPavement bassist,Mark Ibold.[10] They released records and toured on and off through 1997.[11]
In 2008, Cafritz, Gordon and Yoshimi recorded and releasedInherit onEcstatic Peace Records after a ten-year hiatus.
Albums:
EPs
Singles
In 2012, Cafritz released a track called "dash dash dash" on aThick Syrup Records Comp Called '78 LTD.
Cafritz is married to Bob Lawton[13][14] of Labor Board and Twin Towers Touring,[15] who was a booking agent to bands likeSonic Youth,Yo La Tengo andSuperchunk, among others.[16] In 2000, Cafritz and Lawton relocated toFlorence, Massachusetts, where they ran a furniture store called Artifacts 20th Century.[17] They have two children, daughter Alice and son Ollie.[17][18][19]
While still playing music, Cafritz has taught English atHolyoke Community College.[18][20][21]
Kitten is the side project of the Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon and the guitarist Julia Cafritz from the band Pussy Galore.
four stepchildren, Julia Cafritz and Daisy von Furth, both of Northampton, Mass., Eric Cafritz of Paris and Matthew Cafritz of the District
The Labor Pool . . . include Superchunk/Yo La Tengo booking agent Bob Lawton as a member.
