Inspired by proto-punk and New Wave bands like The Modern Lovers and Talking Heads, Violent Femmes formed in 1980 in Milwaukee. Though they didn't hit it big when they debuted in ‘83, their lo-fi feel eventually found a prominent place in alt-rock history. During the ‘80s, the band released a series of edgy, folk-inspired albums. By 1991, alternative had gone mainstream, and Violent Femmes had finally gone platinum. Ultimately, the off-kilter outsiders became an alt-rock mainstay.