The Obituaries were one of the most popular and groundbreaking
bands in the Northwest USA from 1986-1990. Fronted by singer/wordsmith Monica Nelson who was known for her powerful stage presence and stunning vocals. She was an influence to many other later female rockers with roots in the area, and has been cited as such by Kathleen Hanna

Kathleen Hanna

Kathleen Hanna is an American musician, feminist activist, and punk zine writer. In the early- to mid-1990s she was the lead singer and songwriter of Bikini Kill, before fronting Le Tigre in the late 1990s and early 2000s...

 (Bikini Kill

Bikini Kill

Bikini Kill was an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington in October 1990. The group consisted of vocalist and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band is widely considered to be the pioneer of the riot grrrl movement,...

, Le Tigre) and others. Guitar player Rob Landoll was the other constant for "The Obits" as they were called by their fans.

The Obituaries did a national tour, and released a six song (12") EP in 1988
(as well as a 45, cassette release and compilation appearances.

The band has reformed in 2007 with Nelson, Landoll, LaRocca and Mahone.

Other Bands

The Obituaries shared bills with both Green River

Green River (band)

Green River was an American rock band from Seattle, Washington that was active from 1984 to 1988. Although the band had little commercial impact outside of its native Seattle, Green River proved to have significant influence on the genre later known as grunge, both with its own music and with the...

 and Mother Love Bone

Mother Love Bone

Mother Love Bone was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1988. The band was active from 1988 to 1990. Frontman Andrew Wood's personality and compositions helped to catapult the group to the top of the burgeoning late 1980s/early 1990s Seattle music scene...

,
Sonic Youth, Nick Cave

Nick Cave

Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...

, Alex Chilton (Big Star, The Box Tops), The Gits, Babes In Toyland

Babes in Toyland (band)

Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...

, The Descendents, Dead Moon, as well as a couple of bands
that had opened for them in their early years that went onto substantial success: Soundgarden

Soundgarden

Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...

 and Nirvana

Nirvana (band)

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...

.

Membership

The rhythm section changed several times over the years and included Laura O'Donnell,
Aaron MacMahon, Dan Cunneen

Dan Cunneen

Dan Cunneen is a drummer, lyricist, songwriter, disc jockey and graphic designer originally from Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.. Cunneen is best known for his drum work with the 1980s Portland, Oregon band Final Warning and the 1990s Seattle, Washington based bands Zipgun and Nightcaps...

 (also of Final Warning

Final Warning

Final Warning was an obscure yet influential Portland, Oregon-based hardcore punk band active from 1982 to 1986.-History:The band first formed in 1982 as Broken Trust by childhood friends, guitarist Jeff "Simon" Simoncini, drummer Dan Cunneen and vocalist Tim Paul...

, Zipgun

Zipgun

Zipgun was a punk rock band from Seattle Washington active from 1991 to 1994.The original founding members were: guitarist Neil Rogers , singer Robb Clarke , bassist Mark Wooten and drummer Dan Cunneen .- History :Zipgun was formed and led by Neil Rogers, who had...

 and Nightcaps

Nightcaps (band)

Nightcaps were an American Lounge music band from Seattle, Washington active from 1994 until 2002.Nightcaps were an integral part if the mid 1990s Lounge music resurgence that included bands such as Combustible Edison,...

),
John Blender, John Naylor, Regina LaRocca (also of Oily Bloodmen,
Caustic Soda and continued on with Landoll in a band named M99),
Dave Triebwasser (also of Pond), Rudy Apodaca, and James Mahone (also of M99)