Palmyra Delran is an American rock and roll musician, songwriter, guitarist and producer who was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and later moved to Philadelphia. She played in seminal 1990s Philadelphia-area rock bands The Friggs and Pink Slip Daddy, as well as several of her own solo releases and recordings.
Little Steven Van Zandt was a reported fan of Delran's previous band, the Friggs, and attended their 2008 NYC reunion show. After striking up a conversation with Palmyra, he learned of her new six-track solo EP She Digs the Ride. He added it to the Little Steven's Underground Garage playlist, picking "Baby Should Have Known Better" as a "Coolest Song in the World This Week", followed by radio listeners voting it "Coolest Song in the World" for 2008, which gained Delran considerable attention for her efforts.
The EP was followed up in 2013 with You Are What You Absorb, Delran's first full-length solo effort. The album included the single "YouâÂÂre My Brian Jones", featuring a music video directed by Daniel Henry, and shot on location in Nashville. Little Steven continued his support of Delran's work, voting "You're My Brian Jones" his No. 1 song of the year. In 2013, the songs "Shy Boy" and "Some Day Soon" ranked among favorites on Steven's and many Underground Garage DJ lists. Steven also voted the full album You Are What You Absorb as the No. 3 best record of 2013.
Delran tours the East Coast, Scandinavia, and the West Coast each year, and released a new single in spring/summer of 2014, "Run Now Baby" b/w "Yeah Yeah Yeah." The single was recorded in LA with Dave Klein & Bubble Gun, and features special guest Kim Shattuck from The Muffs.
Delran was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and later moved to Philadelphia, where she met musician and rock critic Mike Ferguson, formerly of the group Sickidz!. The two began playing together under the name Das Yahoos, with Delran on drums, as well as members Robbie Rip-Rock (Rob Windfelder of the group Live Not On Evil) on guitar, and Clams Casino (Mark Fletcher) on bass. The band would break up in 1988, but Ferguson and Delran quickly formed a new band, called Pink Slip Daddy, adding Barb Dwyer on bass and Ben Vaughn (performing as Sal Mineo's Only Son) on guitar.
Pink Slip Daddy toured for several years, releasing a number of records on Apex East, Get Hip, and Sympathy for the Record Industry to critical praise before going on hiatus in 1993. The band reunited in 2013 for one show, and have indicated potential reunion dates in the future.
In 1991, Delran formed The Friggs, a project featuring Barb Dwyer, as well as guitarist, vocalist, and co-songwriter Jezebel. Playing a blend of sleaze-pop, rock, surf and punk, the band was critically and commercially embraced, touring almost non-stop for 10 years. The band has shared the bill with rock legends the Ramones, Cheap Trick, The Selecter, Dick Dale, The Fleshtones, Southern Culture on the Skids, and many more. Other members have included Petula Wilde, J. Whitey Smythe, Ginga Moon, Janey West, Suki Von Trapp, Kami, Lexi Plumm, Kitten LaChaCha, and Mitzi Dodge.
The Friggsâ music has appeared in a number of films, including Superbad, Jawbreaker, Prey for Rock and Roll, Lipstick and Dynamite, and The Treasures of Long Gone John.
After a number of EP's, 7 inch singles and compilations, the band released the album Rock Candy in 1997, and continued touring through 2001, when the band went on an indefinite break. In 2007, the band released Today is Tomorrow's Yesterday, a compilation of unreleased songs and past singles from the band.
Written in collaboration with fellow songwriter Rachelle Garniez, KinderAngst, an album of punk and rock 'n' roll songs for kids was released in 2012. The album, produced by Delran and Garniez, featured 14 songs dedicated to the stresses and challenges of being a child, and using music to express their feelings. KinderAngst also features an appearance by Debbie Harry of Blondie.
Delran played drums in the Booty Olympics in the early 2000s, who released Boystyle in 2003. The band later changed their name to Santa Marias, and released a self-titled CD in 2007.
In 2019, Palmyra Delran co-founded the female pop-punk supergroup The Coolies alongside her longtime friends Kim Shattuck (frontwoman of The Muffs and bassist for The Pandoras) and Melanie Vammen (also of The Pandoras and formerly of The Muffs). The group released a six-song benefit EP titled Uh Oh! ItâÂÂs⦠The Coolies, which was backed by Little Steven Van ZandtâÂÂs Wicked Cool Records and raised over $15,000 for ALS research in honor of Shattuck, who died later that year. The EP included some of KimâÂÂs final recordings, making it a meaningful and memorable release for fans and collaborators alike.
Palmyra has continued to champion garage rock and punk through her work as a host on Little StevenâÂÂs Underground Garage. Her show, PalmyraâÂÂs Trash-Pop Shindig, airs Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 p.m. to midnight ET and Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon ET. In December 2019, she co-hosted a special live broadcast of Jesse MalinâÂÂs Sunset Kids album release show at New YorkâÂÂs Bowery Ballroom, alongside Outlaw CountryâÂÂs Mojo Nixon. The event, which featured a performance of the album in its entirety and appearances by special guests including Grammy Award-winning artist Lucinda Williams, aired live on SiriusXMâÂÂs Underground Garage and Outlaw Country channels.
You Are What You Absorb â Produced by Palmyra Delran<br />Apex East Recordings â 12 track CD (2013)
She Digs the Ride â Produced by Palmyra Delran<br />Apex East Recordings â 6 Song EP (2008)
Little Steven's Underground Garage Coolest Songs in the World, Vol 8<br />Wicked Cool â 1 song (2009)
Today Is Tomorrow's Yesterday â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br />Apex East Recording â 15 song CD (2007)
Rock Candy â Produced by Dave O'Donnell<br />e-vil records â 10 song CD (1997)
Juiced Up b/w Mama Blew a Hoody â Produced by Dave O'Donnell<br />Feralette Records â 7" single (1995)
America's Only Rock & Roll Magazine Parody 10" EP â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br />Sympathy for the Record Industry â 4 songs (1994)
Shake b/w Wild Love â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br />Sympathy for the Record Industry â 7" single (1992)
Bad Word for a Good Thing b/w Friggs Theme â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br />Telstar Records â 7" single (1992)
Come Now b/w Dance of Love â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br />Apex Recording Service â 7" single (1991)
Music to Read Carbon 14 By vol. 1 compilation<br />C14 Records â 1 song (2005)
How Many Bands Does It Take to Screw Up a Blondie Tribute<br />Sympathy for the Record Industry â 1 song (2004)
Alright, This Time Just the Girls compilation<br />Sympathy for the Record Industry â 1 song (2004)
Their Sympathetic Majesties Request vol. 2 compilation<br />Sympathy for the Record Industry â 1 song (2003)
Jawbreaker Movie soundtrack CD<br />London Records â 1 song (1998)
Their Sympathetic Majesties Request vol. 1 compilation<br />Sympathy for the Record Industry â 1 song (1998)
Today's Top Girl Groups, Vol.1 â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br />Spinout Records â 1 song (1998)
Season's Greetings Philadelphia Christmas compilation<br />Record Cellar Records â 1 song (1997)
Turban Renewal â Sam the Sham tribute LP/CD â Produced by Bruce Bennett<br />Norton Records â 1 song (1994)
Carbon 14 Magazine Give Away EP â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br />C14 Records â 1 song (1994)
Rock Damage and Other Love Songs â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Sympathy for the Record Industry â 13 song LP/CD (1993)
Antidisestablishmentarianism â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Apex Recording Service â 13 song LP /CD (1990)
Pink Slip Daddy â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Apex Recording Service â 10 song LP (1988)
L.S.D. 10" EP â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Apex Recording Service â 4 song 10" EP (1989)
Junkyard b/w Live Sex & Violence â Produced by Ben Vaughn <br>Sympathy for the Record Industry â 7" single (1991)
Rock Old Sputnik to the Moon b/w Shaggy Dog â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Get Hip Records â 7" single (1991)
Run Now Baby b/w Yeah, Yeah, Yeah â Produced by Palmyra Delran & Dave Klein<br>9 Volt Jolt Records â 2 song CD (2014)
Their Sympathetic Majesties Request vol.1 compilation â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Sympathy for the Record Industry â 1 song (1998)
the Singer Not the Song Alex Chilton Tribute CD â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Munster Records â 1 song (1992)
Bonograph Sonny Bono Tribute CD â Produced by Ben Vaughn<br>Bogus Records â 1 song (1991)
Lies For You â Created by John Valentine & eM*L*E <br>Shut Out â Created by John Valentine & eM*L*E<br>YouâÂÂre My Brian Jones â Directed by Daniel Henry, Produced by Price Harrison, Cinematography by Dustin Lane<br>The Making Of YouâÂÂre My Brian Jones â Created by Price Harrison<br>The Turtle â Created by Palmyra Delran
Palmyra: Vocals, Guitar<br />Michael Lynch: Bass, Vocals<br />Bob Wojciechowski: Guitar, Vocals<br />Mark Brotter: Drums
BUBBLE GUN<br />Palmyra: Vocals, Guitar<br />John Carlucci: Bass<br />Laura Carlucci: Keyboards, Vocals<br />Michelle Balderrama: Guitar, Vocals<br />Rikki Styxx: Drums, Vocals
STUPIDITY<br />Palmyra: Vocals, Guitar<br />Erniz: Backing Vocals, Percussion<br />PA: Guitar, Vocals<br />Miss Anna: Bass<br />Tommy Boy: Drums