The Breakdown: Violent Femmes' 'Blister in the Sun'

In the latest installment of Rolling Stone's series "The Breakdown," Femmes frontman Gordan Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie discuss the making of their 1983 hit - and its long misinterpreted meaning.
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[@atdotcom64]

I hitch hiked to Alaska in spring 87 with a Walkman and one tape: violent femmes 1. I listened to it and shared it all summer in the Yukon where I eventually met my wife. Grandpa now and my grandchildren love listening to it with me when we get pancake happy meals together.

[@datman3416]

That’s so cool, I hope I can have a cool story like that one day

[@MAGirlable]

Well this was the most wonderful thing I read this week. What a beautiful life.

[@AI-Consultant]

was it a sony walkman or a cheapie knock off that is the real question

[@haroldcheeseburger]

Welp, maybe it was an Aiwa.. what percentage of people afforded a Sony Walkman in 1984? Not in context with the song release… but I just wonder. Big Plug Moments.

[@haroldcheeseburger]

@@datman3416do it.

[@mafiajams]

Brian Ritchie is Such an underrated bassist

[@tmlafrance]

You have a gift for understatement. You should see them live (if you haven't).

[@tcw8287]

@@tmlafrance I would absolutley love to see them love so i can study Brian

[@giraffepunx4484]

Dude, the bass line to “Please Don’t Go” is burned into my brain. He’s SO GOOD!

[@AV9000x]

@@giraffepunx4484 Brian Ritchie didn't write the bass line, that was Gordon Gano

[@Drjackdempsey9644]

@@AV9000x So what I bet you Gano can’t play it like Richie

[@michaelbanks2401]

The most underrated group of all time !!!

[@Christopher1889]

One of the bands from my youth that I still rock to and plan to pass to my grandkids!

[@billykowalski4305]

As fan of this band for almost 35 yrs now, i can testify to the absolute joy that myself, and the whole crowd, feels seeing them play live. Home family. PLEASE keep getting Wild

[@trevcore86]

Just saw these guys Saturday in Detroit. What a great time to finally get to see them live

[@kimmerso1]

I was there too, they were awesome..great performance

[@camus81]

1:13 1983: - I wrote the song, initially thinking a women was going to be singing it .. 2021 TrixieMattel: Hold my redbull...

[@cabeb508]

But he’s a guy?

[@leoprg5330]

@@cabeb508 how dare you, Trixie is a 100% natural woman

[@azz_hole7255]

@@leoprg5330 hahahhaha

[@Ok_Boomer_]

@@leoprg5330 lmao

[@worldsendtimes]

Whats the crack with the little girl?

[@labelmethis530]

I got to see you guys back in the early 2000s. One of the best concert experiences. You guy are amazing! Thank you

[@snommelfsc]

I was in high school working in a record store when the album came out and all of us there were amazed with it -- but i bet it took 2 years for the album to get really popular.

[@mattsombrano3786]

It took 10 hrs for the album to catch on

[@gasoline976]

it got popular very quickly

[@mattsombrano3786]

@@snommelfsc ...I was a sr in highschool when I first heard blister in the sun on the Radio...I bought the album and it was my go To for the summer....I told everyone I knew to listen to it...a few of my friends really liked it but the violent femmes never caught on in 1983... BTW...I saw them on their first tour in Los Angeles It was the next generation of kids in the early 90s who really made them popular... My nieces and nephews all thought they were a 90s band... They were shocked to discover the album came out in 1983

[@TheZGALa]

As a woman with big hands, I always thought it was a shout out to how awesome I am.

[@AV9000x]

you're awesome

[@etamommy]

This is weird but I also associate this song with Big Eyes by Cheap Trick and Sandy Allen by Split Enz. Big Eyes....due to the big hands reference in Blister and Sandy Allen because of the reference in the lyrics to the girls' being stronger or at least taller than him..."it still amazes me". If you have not listened to the other two songs they, like Blister are also fantastic songs in their own right. I think there is a Seinfeld episode about a woman with big hands but the storyline there is that it was a negative. I hereby say to you though, more power to ya Big Hands!

[@pokor5791]

All I can think of is the Seinfeld episode with a smoke show of a woman and Jerry freaking out that she had "man hands".

[@glitching6002]

First time I listened to this song, me and my mates went camping, and we walked up to this place called the chanctonbury ring, my mate made a playlist, we got high and he put it on shuffle and blister in the sun came on, and I absolutely fell in love with it

[@sashwap]

one time i was walking in my neighborhood and i heard through a window someone practicing the riff to this song on guitar, so i clapped the drum riff at the right moment

[@AnonymousEnt01]

Nice to see these guys still play & like to play this for this fans after all this time

[@zblofu]

Blister in the Sun is the only song (besides Jingle Bells and the Gilligan's Island theme song) to which I know all the lyrics While traveling abroad I would often sing Blister in the Sun for people when they asked me to sing a song from my homeland.

[@apostleofazathoth7696]

Amazing

[@mbellovin]

Me too! Plus a few other songs off that album.

[@augustuskelley4170]

I just saw you play in Northampton Massachusetts! It was incredible. I grew up in Wisconsin and saw the Femmes at Summerfest in Milwaukee it felt like every summer from 1988-1994. 30 years later we crossed paths again in western mass. It was nice to hear the old familiars, but it was also great to see you add a horn section and some additional supporting musicians and update some of the arrangements. It’s been two weeks and I’m still smiling about it! Thanks, guys!

[@stuffbenlikes]

We listened to this on a kid's boombox on the bus every day in back in 1985 or so.

[@ashbyedwards]

I’m the dude holding the grey shirt at 52 seconds. Epic concert and epic venue.

[@eboethrasher]

Rolling Stone, AWESOME job at 1:48 of, when Brian Ritchie is talking about how Victor DeLorenzo initiated the drum lick spontaneously, showing us a live clip of SECOND DRUMMER Guy Hoffman. Nice job, editors.

[@sugarsore]

lol

[@ndx2k]

i always thought the song was just about being addicted to drugs and ur girlfriend breaking up with you because of it

[@joseestrada992]

Right? I thought it was about heroin.

[@thorgren1316]

So I remember growing up, I was like 14 years old and I was huge into BMX. I found this BMX video and I believe it was Animal: Can I eat. Atleast one of the Animal Videos anyways and there was Steven Hamilton’s part to Gone Out the Window. I fucking fell in love with that song searched every Graywhale my sister would drag me to high and low for that CD. And I found it. I played that CD right up until nobody had or used CD players anymore and that was the connection I started to make with this band. Blister in the Sun was cousins and Is favorite song all the time but we didn’t know what it was, we were to young it’s our parents that played it and giggled or got drunk and sung along. Now looking back I see what you guys did to influence my life for the better. And I’m stoked to see you guys in SLC this year. I’m sorry and grateful you gotta come to SLC though.

[@invisiblekid7374]

My sister introduced me to this group when I was between 7 and 10 years old. I’m actually from their hometown of Milwaukee WI. I’ve seen them a few times at this festival they used to have there back in the 90s called Maritime Days. I’ve seen them there and what used to be the Marcus Amphitheater right by the Summer Fest grounds. I’d definitely see them again if they came through WI!! The 1st album (literally a vinyl album) I had of them was The Blind Leading the Naked. I still probably have not heard all their songs they’ve ever made yet!

[@aisforapple2494]

Incredible people. Incredible band.

[@dave5309]

Since the very first time I heard this song it always filled me with joy and energy and still now I love it e it like the first time!!!!

[@hardtohandle740]

I would recognize the first three seconds of that song 🎶 anywhere anytime and it automatically makes me smile 😃. 😂 It reminds me of this guy I dated in the 90’s. He introduced me to the song. 😂

[@wood8715]

Love you!!!!!!!! 47 and still in love!!!

[@ttbean70]

I love Rock and Roll and this is why!

[@tmlafrance]

FANTASTIC! Thank you RS.

[@reuireuiop0]

Blister is every inch as great as You really got me, Louie Louie, any Lou Reed or Iggy & Stooges tune.

[@JH-yk5se]

No joke. I thought this was from the late 80's. I was blown away finding it's from 1983. They could come out right this second in 2024 and be a hit. 🤯

[@benliss1591]

Met these guys at a show, absolutely awesome dudes

[@kernsfamily1343]

My jam from back in the day. Loved them.

[@astolatpere11]

Nice album, too. Thanks.

[@fruitypeebils]

i couldnt fucking believe it when i found out this song came out in 1983

[@louisgosselin226]

Tellement content de vous redecouvrir

[@garethwinter1501]

Eternally awesome

[@derrikferguson3219]

I love these guys. ❤️

[@branevans3705]

Unique music yet easily absorbed. Awesome band.

[@goodall18]

surprised to see gano and ritchie sitting together after ritchie sued over this song specifically.

[@ScottMGordon]

I love the story guys

[@melomane]

That album changed my life.

[@vmunit2931]

Heard this for the first time in "Grosse Pointe Blank". Liked both the song and movie!

[@cynthiaaiken2424]

i don't know what it is about this song, but absolutely everyone knows all the words, the whole thing!

[@BearfootBob]

I thought it was about shenanigans at a festival, and then going onstage with the Sun in your face, and the bassist has big hands.

[@kevinmills7067]

I learned to play guitar because of these guys.

[@FilipeBrasAlmeida]

Legends.

[@csjpokey]

Hallowed Ground was another great album they put out.

[@Yurinakaaa]

I adore the Violent Femmes

[@Bluebyyou3405]

Just saw you in Eugene !! Fun !! Got soaked!

[@sensequest]

this song is perfect

[@tomdrake1997]

My first T-Shirt that I paid for as a young kid in High School was the Little Girl peeking in the Window ie Album Cover. I got a lot of weird looks until they started to hit the radio.

[@dijjidog]

Everything I rewind the video to see how they play it slowly I have to listen to Gordon Gano say "wet dream"

[@mikasanchez125]

1:16 Alex Chen

[@qotsashfifty4]

:13 looks like the Rolling Stone video editor really wanted the song title to have an “A” in it.

[@fourthwallbreak]

Add it up is one of the greatest albums of all time.

[@freemandiaz5123]

That part where they say what it means

[@Alexweb-s5t]

Shes one of the best singer s

[@userhome3601]

Always love it when the authorities (mainly teachers) don't understand the material. Unless Billy comes back and explains "Romeo and Juliet", I'm still claiming my interpretation is correct.

[@morganghetti]

Crazy how unique they were / are. No ome soulds like them to this day.

[@jasonmorgan1543]

Love Color me once, American Music, gimme the Car and there cover of do you really want to hurt me and so many more. They rule!!!

[@wev7196]

I didn’t think acoustic basses were made that long ago

[@alanr4263]

Wood stock 94 after I seen em I picked up greatest hits C.D amazing.

[@lisar3944]

THANK YOU! I had been listening to this song since it was released and sometime in the 90s a younger dude said "hahahahaha - you like a song about masturbation" (no he was not mature about it ;) and I really didn't buy it. That's not to say I had any idea what it was about exactly, but masturbation seemed like a stretch to me.

[@jackchn23]

I think I saw these guys at Woodstock 94, they played at like 3am.

[@kenweis2291]

Can anyone just say what it means

[@capslockbusted]

It's a great song, but "Kiss Off" is better.

[@alexandrebelair4360]

Of course!

[@JZMe2]

❤️🍀♾🌻🙏DANCE

[@CenTexMex101]

Dope

[@monsterhog1118]

Rock n roll!

[@sherrydixon4852]

loved you in the hovels... love you in your niches..since the Milestone

[@mgreene300]

Back in the day Brian looked like Keef from Righteous Gemstones

[@xtraflo]

Forever I thought these guys were British until I saw this inteview.

[@chemoboy-dannypheleps9234]

I have a hankering for some Wendy’s

[@DJ-FIGO]

1:51 looks like Ted bundy

[@bRad-ns6iy]

I always thought it was a cautionary tale about wearing sun screen.

[@aztecdune]

I'm a dummy. I always thought this song was about sunscreen.

[@AnonymousEnt01]

Too bad them & Victor could not agree to business and stay as the drummer for “ this era “ of their performances .....

[@kevinogracia1615]

Silly song and real fun. Saw 'em at Woodstock... the second cool one. Peace on earth.

[@nomdeplume2213]

Big hands makes sense now lol

[@mitch5856]

I thought he was crushing on a woman characterized by having large hands everything I know was just shattered

[@seanmayoaguirre1316]

L E G E N D S ⚡

[@I_do.not_fearyou]

1:50 ace Ventura be like

[@WorldCupWillie]

I've only ever had 1 wet dream & it happened a few days after detoxing off heroin.

[@kashiark]

It's a good song, but it's not in their top 5 best songs. Add It Up, Kiss Off, Gimme The Car, American Music, Gone Daddy Gone, they have so much spectacular music.

[@68rufus]

blister in the sun..well having a blister in the sun is painful....a bit like life and nothun is going right and why do i have these bodily functions and what it all about..its like a blister in the sun...thnats what i alwazys thought

[@melaniecotterell8263]

The song is about tweaking, and if not it should be.

[@victordemarco01]

I love this band. So angsty

[@daydreamidealist]

I thought it was about sexual feelings for a man.

[@BillDraheim]

Dance motherfuckers dance.

[@AussieDarMok]

i had a copy on cd of their debut album with the lyrics inside the cover...lyrics read "because i know you're the one" lol not big hands i know you're the one. not sure if it were a misprint or gordon just started singing big hands i know you're the one.

[@adeltoral]

I always thought it was about masturbation, too.

[@Jack-xc2ys]

Blister, I thought was about STD.

[@user-vh2pn2ty4d]

Who’s here because of Trixie Mattel

[@ADGreen-es6hm]

First

[@GalacticHQ]

I thought it was about premature ejaculation.

[@joseestrada992]

I thought this song was about heroin?

[@therealrosieodonnell1619]

That dude has a giant head

[@MRIGUY11]

So many better songs then this one

[@worldsendtimes]

What's the crack with the little girl?

[@ClaireGardiner-u3z]

NO THIS SONG IS ABOUT SATAN ASKING THE GOD OF ABRAHAM IF HE COULD JUST CONTINUE TO EXIST In the shadow of CHRIST, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

[@kevinhisee4265]

Hipster junk band

[@tobydammit]

Hipster jug band