Oh boy, get ready to relive the ’90s all over again… whether you want to or not 🙄. Melissa Auf Der Maur, the iconic bassist of HOLE and THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, is releasing a new book called “My ’90s Rock Photographs” on September 8 via DelMonico Books and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Because, you know, the world was just missing a book about the ’90s rock scene 🤷♀️.
As the bass player for two of the most iconic alternative rock bands of the 1990s, Melissa toured the world, documenting life backstage, onstage, and in the crowd. She even took selfies before selfies were a thing, because who needs a smartphone when you have a 35mm camera and a cable release? 📸 She has an extensive archive of over 10,000 photographs that go behind the scenes of rock-and-roll stardom, featuring everyone from Courtney Love’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, to Drew Barrymore. Because, you know, the ’90s were all about hanging out with celebrities and taking photos of yourself looking cool 😎.
The ’90s: A Time of Grit and Grunge
Auf Der Maur’s photographs celebrate the independent spirit of the ’90s and offer an insider’s view of the decade before smartphones and digital recording software. Because, let’s be real, the ’90s were a time of true artistic expression, when people actually had to use film cameras and recording studios to create music 📻. Her memories create a moving self-portrait of a young artist living through the ’90s alternative music scene, and a time capsule for Generation X. So, if you’re feeling nostalgic for the good old days of flannel shirts and Doc Martens, this book is for you 😆.
But wait, there’s more! Auf Der Maur’s indie band TINKER had just opened for THE SMASHING PUMPKINS when Billy Corgan recommended her to Courtney Love as the new bassist for HOLE’s grief-marked “Live Through This” world tour. Because, you know, the ’90s were all about finding new and creative ways to cope with grief and trauma 🤕. She played on the group’s Grammy-nominated album “Celebrity Skin”, which is still a banger to this day 🎸.
What’s Next for Melissa Auf Der Maur?
After leaving HOLE, Auf Der Maur joined THE SMASHING PUMPKINS as the bassist for their farewell tour from 1999 to 2000. Because, you know, the ’90s were all about saying goodbye to the good old days and hello to the new millennium 🎉. Following the release of a few solo albums, she moved to Hudson, New York, became a mother, and co-founded the multi-disciplinary art center Basilica Hudson. Because, you know, what’s more rock-and-roll than becoming a mom and starting an art center in upstate New York? 🤷♀️
In conclusion, if you’re feeling nostalgic for the ’90s and want to relive the good old days of grunge and alternative rock, then Melissa Auf Der Maur’s new book “My ’90s Rock Photographs” is for you 🎉. With its extensive collection of photographs and behind-the-scenes stories, this book is a must-have for any fan of the ’90s music scene. So, go ahead and grab a copy, and get ready to take a trip down memory lane 🚗. 🎸
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