Hole Call It Quits
After eleven years, three albums and much drama, Hole officially
broke up on May 23rd. Founding members Courtney Love and guitarist
Eric Erlandson announced the breakup in a statement. “I will always
treasure the time we played together,” Love said. “Eric has been an
important part of my family for over ten years and he’ll continue
to be a part of my life.”
“We’re incredibly proud of the music we’ve made together, but it
seems like time for both of us to move on,” Erlandson said.
The numerous lawsuits Love is currently involved in precipitated
the decision to end the band. “Since Geffen Records closed during
the promotion of our last record [Celebrity Skin], there
have been a lot of distractions,” Love said. “Universal’s lawsuit
against us made it impossible for us to find a new record company
despite overwhelming interest from other labels. After three years
of waiting, Eric and I have decided to put Hole to rest.”
Two years ago Love announced that she was leaving Geffen and
would release Hole’s music over the Internet. Geffen’s parent
company, Universal Music Group, filed a suit for breach of contract
against Hole for unspecified damages, maintaining that the band
owes the label five more albums. Hole contends that California’s
“Seven Year Statute” applies to the band’s contract, and therefore
Hole is no longer obligated to record for Geffen. The California
labor law has become one of Love’s chief causes in her battle with
major labels and last September she testified, along with Don
Henley and LeAnn Rimes, before a California State Senate Select
Committee.
Love and Erlandson formed Hole in Los Angeles in 1989 along with
bassist Jill Emery and drummer Caroline Rue, but Love and Erlandson
would work with several different bassists and drummers through the
band’s career. With Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon producing, Hole
released Pretty on the Inside in 1991 on indie label
Caroline Records to positive reviews. That following year, Love and
Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain were married. In 1993, Hole reassembled
with bassist Kristen Pfaff and drummer Patty Schemel to record
their major-label debut, Live Through This, which would
spawn the hits “Doll Parts” and “Asking for It.” The album was
released on Geffen in 1994 just days after Kurt Cobain’s suicide.
Two months later, Pfaff was found dead of a heroin overdose in her
Seattle apartment and was replaced by Melissa Auf de Maur. Four
years later, the band regrouped with Billy Corgan in tow to write
and record their follow-up, Celebrity Skin. Schemel left
the band shortly after its release and was replaced by Samantha
Maloney. Following the tour behind the album, Auf de Maur left to
join the Smashing Pumpkins and Maloney toured with Motley Crue.
Love is currently working on a solo album with Schemel and
former 4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry, who has worked with Pink
and Christina Aguilera. It is due for release early next year.