Tribe 8 was a LGBTQ punk rock band from San Francisco, considered one of the first

queercore Queercore (or homocore) is a cultural/social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of the punk subculture and a music genre that comes from punk rock. It is distinguished by its discontent with society in general, and specifical ...

groups. The band took their name from the practice of

tribadism Tribadism ( ) or tribbing, commonly known by its scissoring position, is a lesbian sexual practice in which a woman rubs her vulva against her partner's body for sexual stimulation, especially for stimulation of the clitoris. This may involve vulv ...

, with "tribe eight" being a play on the word ''tribade'', a sexual practice sometimes also known as "scissoring."

Band members

The makeup of the group changed over time, but

Lynn Breedlove Lynn Breedlove (also known as Lynnee Breedlove) is an American musician, writer, and performer who was born in Oakland, California, United States. Early life Lynn Breedlove was born in and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during early child ...

and Leslie Mah (formerly of

Anti-Scrunti Faction Anti-Scrunti Faction were an American queercore punk trio from Boulder, Colorado, United States. The band made their first appearance in 1984 on the Restless Records compilation LP entitled '' FlipSide Vinyl Fanzine Volume 1'', assembled by t ...

) were consistent members. Other members included Flipper (

Silas Howard Silas Howard is an American director, writer, and actor. His first feature film was ''By Hook or by Crook'' in 2001 with Harry Dodge, and he earned an MFA in directing at UCLA. He began directing episodes during the second season of ''Transparen ...

), Slade Bellum, Jen Schwartz, Mama T, Kat Buell, and Tantrum.

Concerts

In concert, lead singer Breedlove frequently performed shirtless, wearing a

strap-on dildo A strap-on dildo (also strap-on) is a dildo designed to be worn, usually with a harness, during sexual activity. Harnesses and dildos are made in a wide variety of styles, with variations in how the harness fits the wearer, how the dildo attach ...

, and encouraged audience members to interact with it. Their songs often deal with subjects such as S/M, nudity,

fellatio Fellatio (also known as fellation, and in slang as blowjob, BJ, giving head, or sucking off) is an oral sex act involving a person stimulating the penis of another person by using the mouth, throat, or both. Oral stimulation of the scrotum may ...

, and

transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through tr ...

issues, and the band was the subject of controversy because of this. An article from the Chicago Tribune praised their Fireside Bowl show in 1998 stating "If the members of Tribe 8 play punk rock like they own it, it's only because they do." Tribe 8 toured throughout the United States, playing at venues such as DUMBA and

924 Gilman Street The Alternative Music Foundation located at 924 Gilman Street, often referred to by its fans simply as "Gilman", is a non-profit, all-ages, collectively organized music club. It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California, about ...

; they also played in Europe and Canada, and released a number of recordings on

independent record labels An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

. In 1996, the band made its screen debut in ''A Gun For Jennifer'', directed by

Todd Morris BrickHouse Security is a New York City-based security company that sells security systems, including video cameras and hidden cameras, and GPS trackers to law enforcement agencies, businesses and individuals. The company is the parent company o ...

. The band performs live in the documentary film ''

She's Real, Worse Than Queer Lucy Thane (born 1967) is a British documentary filmmaker, event producer and performer, living in Folkestone. Her films include ''It Changed My Life: Bikini Kill in the UK'' (1993) and ''She's Real (Worse than Queer)'' (1997). Life and work Thane ...

'' by

Lucy Thane Lucy Thane (born 1967) is a British documentary filmmaker, event producer and performer, living in Folkestone. Her films include ''It Changed My Life: Bikini Kill in the UK'' (1993) and ''She's Real (Worse than Queer)'' (1997). Life and work Thane ...

, released in 1997. Members of the band are also interviewed, speaking about a range of topics including the development of the queercore music scene. In 2003 the film '' Rise Above: A Tribe 8 Documentary'', by director

Tracy Flannigan Tracy Flannigan is an independent filmmaker residing in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles who began making movies when she was seventeen years old. She has created numerous short films and music videos. Her work has been screened at many film fes ...

, was released, documenting not only performances by the band but the motivations and reasons behind the band and the part it plays in their lives. The movie has won many awards at film festivals throughout the U.S.

Other work

Outside of the band, Lynn Breedlove is also the author of a novel, '' Godspeed'', published in 2002, now translated into German as ''Goetterspeed'', and a memoir ''Lynnee Breedlove's One Freak Show'' published in 2009, winner of the 2010 Lambda Award for Transgender Writing. Leslie Mah has appeared in various films including ''

The Yo-Yo Gang G. B. Jones (born 1965) is a Canadian artist, filmmaker, musician, and publisher of zines born in Bowmanville, Canada. She is known for producing J.D.s with her acclaimed''Tom Girls'' drawings before going on to create more musically, cinematic ...

'' by

G. B. Jones G. B. Jones (born 1965) is a Canadian artist, filmmaker, musician, and publisher of zines born in Bowmanville, Canada. She is known for producing J.D.s with her acclaimed''Tom Girls'' drawings before going on to create more musically, cinematica ...

; ''Shut Up White Boy'', co-directed by Vu T. and Thu Ha; and produced her own film, ''Estrofemme'', in 1998. Breedlove wrote, co-directed, co-produced, and starred in a short film, '' Godspeed'', based on his novel. It debuted in festivals in 2007. It features

Jillian Lauren Jillian Lauren (born August 16, 1973) is an American writer, performer, adoption advocate, and former call girl for Jefri Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei; about whom she wrote her first memoir, ''Some Girls: My Life in a Harem''. Writing Jillian Laur ...

Adam Horowitz Adam Horowitz (born December 4, 1971) is an American screenwriter and producer. He is known for co-creating the ABC fairy tale drama series '' Once Upon a Time'' with his writing partner Edward Kitsis. Days after the show ended its seven-year ...

, Leslie Mah, and Bucky Sinister, with cameos by Meliza Banales and

Jewelle Gomez Jewelle Gomez (born September 11, 1948) is an American author, poet, critic and playwright. She lived in New York City for 22 years, working in public television, theater, as well as philanthropy, before relocating to the West Coast. Her writing� ...

. His comedy solo show on trans bodies, community and feminism, " Lynnee Breedlove's One Freak Show", toured worldwide from 2004-2009. He now runs Homobiles, a queer ride service. Outside of Tribe 8, Jen Schwartz is a solo singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who released her debut album ''Candy from a Stranger'' in 2000. She also owns Rampage Productions, a service business for musicians in Los Angeles. In 2010, she formed the band Me of a Kind. Me of a Kind's debut album is slated for release in the fall of 2010 on the Rampage Productions label.

Discography

Albums and EPs

*''Allen's Mom'' EP 1994,

Outpunk Records Outpunk enjoys the distinction of being the first record label entirely devoted to queer punk bands. The label was run out of San Francisco and began as an extension of Matt Wobensmith's fanzine, ''Outpunk''. ''Outpunk'' ran for seven issues, from ...

*''By the Time We Get to Colorado'' EP, 1995, Outpunk Records *''Roadkill Cafe'' EP, 1995,

Alternative Tentacles Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 in San Francisco, California. It was used by Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single " California Über Alles". After realizing the potential for an independent label, t ...

*''

Fist City "Fist City" is a country music song written and performed by Loretta Lynn, released in 1968. Inspired by her husband's dalliances with other women who pursued him while she was busy touring, Lynn wrote the song as a warning for other women to stay ...

'' 1995 Alternative Tentacles *''Snarkism'' 1996, Alternative Tentacles *''Role Models for Amerika'' 1998 Alternative Tentacles *''Thanx For the Mammaries'' 2005 Self

Singles

*''Pig Bitch'' EP 7", 1991, Harp Records *''Bitches and Brews'' split 7" single with Blatz 1992

Lookout! Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operation ...

Compilation appearances

*''There's a Dyke in the Pit'' 7" EP, 1991

Outpunk Outpunk enjoys the distinction of being the first record label entirely devoted to queer punk bands. The label was run out of San Francisco and began as an extension of Matt Wobensmith's fanzine, ''Outpunk''. ''Outpunk'' ran for seven issues, from ...

- "Manipulate" *''

Stars Kill Rock ''Stars Kill Rock'' is a 1993 compilation album released on the Kill Rock Stars label. Track listing # Tiger Trap - "Supreme Nothing" # godheadSilo - "Nutritious Treat" # Frumpies - "Fuck Kitty" # Jack Acid - "Cheap Tragedies" # Tribe 8 - "Spee ...

'', 1993

Kill Rock Stars Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally known ...

- "Speed Fortress" *''

Outpunk Dance Party Outpunk enjoys the distinction of being the first record label entirely devoted to queer punk bands. The label was run out of San Francisco and began as an extension of Matt Wobensmith's fanzine, ''Outpunk''. ''Outpunk'' ran for seven issues, fr ...

'', 1996

- "Oversized Ego" *'' New Women's Music Sampler-Class of 1999'', 1999, Mr Lady - "What The Papers Didn't Say"

References

External links

*
The "Rise Above: A Tribe 8 Documentary" official websiteLynn Breedlove's MySpace pageLynn Breedlove official website
{{Authority control All-female punk bands LGBT-themed musical groups Punk rock groups from California Musical groups from San Francisco Queercore groups Riot grrrl bands Alternative Tentacles artists 1991 establishments in California