Patty Schemel: Full Life Interview

In this oral history, Patty Schemel discusses growing up in Marysville WA, her early introduction to playing the drums, her family’s supportive nature, and being a closeted queer person. Schemel discusses how playing the drums helped boost her self esteem and how the Seattle punk scene developed. Schemel talks about how she joined Hole, her experience working with a major label, and the LA punk scene. She talks openly about addiction, mental health, and the recovery process, as well as how the culture of punk shaped her addiction. Schemel shares her experience of homelessness and eventual recovery. She also delves into what it means to her to be a mother, the values she hopes to pass on to her daughter. Schemel talks about her current life, job, and work with young girls to empower them through music. The interview concludes with her thoughts on her contribution to rock history and the visibility of women in rock.

Patty Schemel is a drummer and author best known for her work with Hole. Schemel has been a queer public figure since 1995 and has empowered other queer women to feel comfortable in the punk rock scene and the world. Her memoir Hit So Hard: A Memoir details her experience of fame, addiction, and recovery. Schemel currently lives with her daughter and partner and works with a rock camp for girls to empower them through playing music.

Learn more at: WomenofRock.org
Interviewed by Tanya Pearson for the Women of Rock Oral History Project

The Women of Rock Oral History Project is a collection of digital interviews and written transcripts, housed at the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College—one of the oldest women’s history archives in the United States. Started by Tanya Pearson in December, 2014, WOROHP documents the lives and careers of women in rock whose work and careers have been underrepresented or omitted from rock journalism and historical scholarship. With a collection of publicized and accessible primary source documents, the Women of Rock Oral History Project seeks to facilitate a more comprehensive, inclusive, and accurate cultural history.

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