Louise Post
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Louise Lightner Post (born December 7, 1966) is an American musician. She is best known for being a vocalist and guitarist of the
alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
band
Veruca Salt Veruca Salt is an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1992 by vocalist-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post, drummer Jim Shapiro and bassist Steve Lack. They are best known for their first single, " Seether", th ...
, which she co-founded with
Nina Gordon Nina Rachel Gordon Shapiro (born November 14, 1967), known as Nina Gordon, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She co-founded the alternative rock band Veruca Salt and played on their first two studio albums, ''American Thighs'' ( ...
in 1993.


Early life

Post was born in
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...
. Her parents divorced when she was nine years old. She began playing the piano at the age of seven and participated in several musicals while in high school. At 16, Post founded an R&B band with her brother Eric. She later joined a funk cover band which played at proms, college dances, and bars. Post, inspired by
Vanity 6 Vanity 6 was a short lived American female vocal trio that gained popularity in the early 1980s. They were protégés of musician Prince (musician), Prince. Led by singer Vanity (singer), Vanity, they are known for their song "Nasty Girl (Vanity ...
, wrote her first song at age 16. For a talent show, she performed another of her songs which she reviewed as "really, really bad, and I don't think I wrote another song until I was in college". Of her inspiration she has said "I was desperate to express myself creatively and poetry filled that need, but songwriting was more satisfying, more gratifying, and more fun." After graduating from Clayton High School, Post moved to
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
to attend
Barnard College Barnard College of Columbia University is a private women's liberal arts college in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a group of women led by young student activist Annie Nathan Meyer, who petitioned Columbia ...
. At Barnard she joined an
a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
singing group and began playing guitar in her sophomore year. After graduating with a degree in
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
, she moved back to St. Louis. She then moved to
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
, Illinois and was unsure of what career to pursue. While in Chicago she joined a theatre company and decided to become either an actress or a musician.


Career

Shortly after meeting
Nina Gordon Nina Rachel Gordon Shapiro (born November 14, 1967), known as Nina Gordon, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She co-founded the alternative rock band Veruca Salt and played on their first two studio albums, ''American Thighs'' ( ...
, the two founded the alternative rock band
Veruca Salt Veruca Salt is an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1992 by vocalist-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post, drummer Jim Shapiro and bassist Steve Lack. They are best known for their first single, " Seether", th ...
in 1993 with bassist Steve Lack and drummer Jim Shapiro, Gordon's brother. Post and Gordon were the band's vocalists, guitarists, and songwriters. Veruca Salt released a self-funded demo tape and shopped it to labels while playing a handful of small club shows. After a few live concerts, the band was signed to
Minty Fresh Records Minty Fresh is a Chicago-based record label, founded in 1993 by Jim Powers with Anthony Musiala. The label is known for launching the careers of Veruca Salt. They also gave the Swedish band The Cardigans their first US release and released the d ...
and began recording with producer
Brad Wood Brad Wood is an American record producer located in Los Angeles. He has produced many albums, including Liz Phair's '' Exile in Guyville'' and Placebo's debut. Career Wood is from Rockford, Illinois, United States. In 1988, Wood, along wi ...
, at the time known for having produced
Liz Phair Elizabeth Clark Phair (born April 17, 1967) is an American singer-songwriter. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1990, she attempted to start a musical career ...
's critically acclaimed album ''
Exile in Guyville ''Exile in Guyville'' is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair, released on June 22, 1993, by Matador Records. It was recorded at Idful Music Corporation in Chicago between 1992 and 1993 and produced by Phair and Brad Woo ...
'' (1993). The band released a 7-inch single for the song " Seether". Their first full-length album, ''
American Thighs ''American Thighs'' is the 1994 debut studio album by American alternative rock band Veruca Salt. The album features the hit single " Seether" and received positive critical reviews. Background and release Singer-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louis ...
'', was released on September 27, 1994, and re-released on November 8, 1994, by
Geffen Records Geffen Records is an American record label established by David Geffen and owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M Records imprint. Founded in 1980, Geffen Records has been a part of Interscope Geffen A&M since 1999 and h ...
. The album peaked on the ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' chart at number 69, and was eventually certified Gold. Other singles on the album included "All Hail Me" and "
Number One Blind "Number One Blind" is a song by Veruca Salt. It was released previously on the album '' American Thighs.'' It was written by Nina Gordon. The song references the window blind manufacturer Levolor in the chorus. The music video for the song was ...
". To support the album, the band toured as the opening act for bands such as
Hole A hole is an opening in or through a particular medium, usually a solid body. Holes occur through natural and artificial processes, and may be useful for various purposes, or may represent a problem needing to be addressed in many fields of en ...
,
Live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music *Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of albums ...
, and
PJ Harvey Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments. Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined loca ...
. In 1996, Veruca Salt released an EP, ''
Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt ''Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt'' is an EP by Veruca Salt released in 1996. It followed the band's hit album ''American Thighs'' (1994). The EP contains four songs, two by Nina Gordon and two by Louise Post. The album art shows the band ...
'', produced by
Steve Albini Steve Albini (pronounced ; born July 22, 1962) is an American musician, record producer, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman and Flour, and is a member of Shellac. He is the founder, owner and principal en ...
. The group entered the studio with producer
Bob Rock Robert Jens Rock (born April 19, 1954) is a Canadian record producer, sound engineer and musician, best known for producing rock bands and music artists such as Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, The Tragically Hip, the Cult, 31 ...
in 1996. Their second album, ''
Eight Arms to Hold You ''Eight Arms to Hold You'' is the second studio album by alternative rock band Veruca Salt. It was released on February 11, 1997, through Outpost/Geffen Records. Release The album was produced by Bob Rock. The title is a reference to the workin ...
'', was released on February 11, 1997, and included the hit "
Volcano Girls "Volcano Girls" is a single by the American alternative rock band Veruca Salt, released in 1997 on their album ''Eight Arms to Hold You''. It was written by Nina Gordon who also sang lead vocals, with Louise Post performing backup vocals. This s ...
", which was the opening theme for dark comedy film '' Jawbreaker''. Another single, "Shutterbug", was performed by the band on ''
Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...
''. In 1998, Gordon left the band, and Post recruited new members. They then released another album, '' Resolver'' (2000). The band's new line-up toured in summer 2001 and promoted the album in the United Kingdom. ''Resolver'' was released in Australia in 2003 and promoted with both a tour and the release of a tour EP, '' Officially Dead'', in 2003. In 2005, the band toured Australia and released another EP, '' Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things'', followed by a full-length album, '' IV'' (2006). In 2007, the group covered
Neil Young Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Furay ...
's song "Burned" for a breast cancer benefit album and then went dormant. In 2012, the band's hiatus was announced on their official website. In 2013, Veruca Salt announced the reunion of its original line-up on their
Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
page; on September 29, 2013, it was announced that they were working on new material, set to be released in 2014. On April 19, 2014, for Record Store Day, the band released a 10-inch vinyl disc, '' MMXIV'', containing two new songs, "It's Holy" and "The Museum of Broken Relationships". In 2014, the band played several dates in the United States and Australia. The first post-reunion Veruca Salt album, ''
Ghost Notes In music, a ghost note is a musical note with a rhythmic value, but no discernible pitch when played. In musical notation, this is represented by an "X" for a note head instead of an oval, or parentheses around the note head. It should not be ...
'', was released on July 10, 2015, to favorable reviews.


Personal life

Post and bandmate Nina Gordon were very close friends for much of Veruca Salt's early years. By the late 1990s, the personal disagreements between the two increased, resulting in the departure of Gordon from the band. Veruca Salt's 2000 album, ''Resolver'', the first one released without Gordon, contains lyrics that have been interpreted as "hostile" towards her; however, the two never explained the reasons behind their falling out publicly. In 2003, Post stated that the two had reconciled and were friends, but "not at the same intensity". In October 2006, Post complimented Gordon's solo career. In 2013, it was announced that Gordon had returned to Veruca Salt, with Post referring to her as " erbest friend". In the late 1990s, Post was in a relationship with
Foo Fighters Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Foo Fighters was initially formed as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. Following the success of the eponymous debut album, Grohl (lead vocals, guitar) re ...
' leader and former
Nirvana ( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...
drummer
Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He is the founder of the rock band Foo Fighters, in which he is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter. Prior to forming Foo Fighters, he was the drummer of gru ...
. Grohl has said that the Foo Fighters song "
Everlong "Everlong" is a song by American rock group Foo Fighters. It was released in August 1997 as the second single from their second studio album, ''The Colour and the Shape'' (1997). The song reached number three on the US ''Billboard'' Alternativ ...
" (on which Post sang backing vocals, recorded over a telephone line from Chicago to Los Angeles) is about Post. Following their break-up, Post, during an inebriated performance in Melbourne in 1997, stated that Grohl had cheated on her with
Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz (born October 29, 1971), professionally known as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Originally playing quirky roles, she rose to prominence for her more diverse performances in various genres in the 1990s. She has recei ...
; this was later believed to be referenced in Veruca Salt's song "Disconnected", which contains the lyrics: "It's kind of scary when your lover leaves you for a movie star". In 2006, Post stated: "It was a private relationship, but it got so much publicity. I didn't mean for it to happen. I'm friends with him now." Post began dating The Brontosaur's frontman, musician Tony Parks, in 2001. The couple were married on March 30, 2008, in Las Vegas and have one child, Charlie (born April 27, 2010). In October 2017, Post was one of 38 women who publicly accused film director
James Toback James Toback (; born November 23, 1944) is an American film director and screenwriter. His screenplay for '' Bugsy'' won the 1991 Los Angeles Film Critics Association award for best screenplay of the year and was nominated for both the Academy Aw ...
of
sexual harassment Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit sexual overtones, including the unwelcome and inappropriate promises of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. Sexual harassment includes a range of actions fro ...
. That number later grew to nearly 400.


Discography


With Veruca Salt

* ''
American Thighs ''American Thighs'' is the 1994 debut studio album by American alternative rock band Veruca Salt. The album features the hit single " Seether" and received positive critical reviews. Background and release Singer-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louis ...
'' (1994) * ''
Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt ''Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt'' is an EP by Veruca Salt released in 1996. It followed the band's hit album ''American Thighs'' (1994). The EP contains four songs, two by Nina Gordon and two by Louise Post. The album art shows the band ...
'' EP (1996) * ''
Eight Arms to Hold You ''Eight Arms to Hold You'' is the second studio album by alternative rock band Veruca Salt. It was released on February 11, 1997, through Outpost/Geffen Records. Release The album was produced by Bob Rock. The title is a reference to the workin ...
'' (1997) * '' Resolver'' (2000) * '' Officially Dead'' EP (2003) * '' Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things'' EP (2005) * '' IV'' (2006) * The track "Burned" on ''
Cinnamon Girl "Cinnamon Girl" is a song by Neil Young. It debuted on the 1969 album ''Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'', which was also Young's first album with backing band Crazy Horse. Songwriting Music Like two other songs from ''Everybody Knows This ...
: Women Artists Cover
Neil Young Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Furay ...
for Charity'' (2008) * '' MMXIV'' EP (2014) * ''
Ghost Notes In music, a ghost note is a musical note with a rhythmic value, but no discernible pitch when played. In musical notation, this is represented by an "X" for a note head instead of an oval, or parentheses around the note head. It should not be ...
'' (2015)


As Louise Post


Studio Albums

* TBA (2023)


EPs

* ''But I Love You Without Mascara (Demos '97-'98)'' (2022)


Appearances

*
Loud Lucy Loud Lucy was an American alternative rock band, part of the Chicago indie-rock scene of the early-to-mid-1990s. Described by the Chicago-Tribune as "scrappy, unpretentious pop rock," Loud Lucy's single, ''Ticking'', reached number 38 on Billboar ...
– "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" from ''You Got Lucky – A Tribute to Tom Petty'' (1994) *
Loud Lucy Loud Lucy was an American alternative rock band, part of the Chicago indie-rock scene of the early-to-mid-1990s. Described by the Chicago-Tribune as "scrappy, unpretentious pop rock," Loud Lucy's single, ''Ticking'', reached number 38 on Billboar ...
– ''Breathe'' on the song "Over Me" * ''Touch'' (OST) the songs "
Touch In physiology, the somatosensory system is the network of neural structures in the brain and body that produce the perception of touch (haptic perception), as well as temperature (thermoception), body position (proprioception), and pain. It is ...
" and "Saints In Love" with
Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He is the founder of the rock band Foo Fighters, in which he is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter. Prior to forming Foo Fighters, he was the drummer of gru ...
(1997) * The Avengers (1998) (OST) "Solve My Problems" with Ashtar Command * Frogpond – ''Safe Ride Home'' (1999) * Firetrucs – ''Hovercraft'' LP (2002) "Breathe" and "Telephone" * The Still Life (2006 film) (OST) Piano version of "Spiderman '79" (2006) * ''Cinnamon Girl – Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity -'' "Sugar Mountain" (2008) * Ashtar Command – ''American Sunshine, Vol. 1'' (2011) * Skating Polly – ''New Trick'' (2017) – EP Collaboration between Skating Polly, Louise Post and
Nina Gordon Nina Rachel Gordon Shapiro (born November 14, 1967), known as Nina Gordon, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She co-founded the alternative rock band Veruca Salt and played on their first two studio albums, ''American Thighs'' ( ...


References


External links

*
Veruca Salt Returns
''Illinois Entertainer'' (2005-12-30). {{DEFAULTSORT:Post, Louise 1966 births Living people 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American women guitarists 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American women guitarists 21st-century American guitarists American women singer-songwriters American women rock singers American rock songwriters American rock guitarists Singer-songwriters from Missouri Guitarists from Missouri Musicians from St. Louis Slide guitarists Veruca Salt members Barnard College alumni 20th-century American singers