---PLEASE READ---

TO EVERYONE VISITING THIS SITE    

This site is exclusively managed and maintained by me, Julie Patchouli-Bass Player for The Pandoras.  My ONLY aim in creating 'The Pandoras Official Website',  is simply to inform those that did not have the privilege  to experience The Pandoras an opportunity to know us, and for those who never had a chance to know about Paula Pierce and her exceptional talent in songwriting, singing, playing rhythm and lead guitar.  Paula's family is quite aware of its existence. This website is sincerely dedicated solely to Paula's memory and her legacy which includes (ALL Versions) of The Pandoras. This site is certainly a work in progress.  Check back often for new additions to the site.  I am available via email to answer any questions that you may have, just visit the ' Contact Me Page '.

 Furthermore, please know that I do not profit from this site!!   In fact, I pay for hosting and the domain registration on a students income....and trust me... that ain't much!  The Pandoras were instrumental in the 80's in gaining recognition and paving the way for future ALL-GIRL BANDS. 

Hope you come back to visit us again...                                     

Thank you and enjoy the site...

Julie Patchouli - Web Master

COMING SOON::::  NEW VIDEO PREVIOUSLY UNDISCOVERED FOOTAGE AND PHOTOS HAVE BEEN DONATED TO THE PANDORAS ARCHIVE AND WILL SOON BE SHOWN IN A NEW SECTION ON THIS SITE.

CHECK BACK OFTEN....

ABOUT THE PANDORAS AND PAULA PIERCE

Paula was a magnanimous person.  She seethed of raw talent, whenever she entered a room.  Paula had an uncanny sixth sense in knowing what an audience wanted to hear, whether it be her earlier sixties garage influenced material to her latter rock influenced stuff.  Either way it was garage, it was 'in yer face' and it rocked and still does.  It is timeless, because The Pandoras were ahead of their time.  It was her time, our time to shine... On Aug. 10, 1991, Paula suffered an untimely death due to a sudden stroke in her apartment.  All of us who love her, mourn her absence, but we will never forget her... Paula would never stand for us sitting around moping.... This site is from me to you.. 'Ms. Paula Pierce'.....The Queen of garage. Your memory and the sound of your laugh always warms my heart.

Written by Julie Patchouli - Bass Player for The Pandoras and most importantly Paula's friend.

THE HISTORY

My name is Julie Patchouli, Bass player for The Pandoras, I was in the famed third version of 'The Pandoras'.

Paula began her musical career in a band called "Action Now" for a complete Action Now history click on this link, The history of Action Now, as chronicled on Avebury Records' All Your Dreams...and more is a long one, with unexpected twists and turns and trivia. It stretches ten years, from when a 14-year-old Paula Pierce met Don Williams, to the final dissolution of the band after Paula had left and formed The Pandoras with Gwynne Kahn.

The first line up of The Pandoras can be found at this link. Along the way, lots of names, faces and places you might recognize wander in and out of the story.

The story on these pages is a work in progress. It is the result of interviews with surviving and locatable members of the band. As memories crystallize, and new information and photos become available, these pages will be updated. There's a lot of reading, so the story has been broken up into relatively digestible chunks. You'll see photos you've never seen before, and (eventually) hear songs you've never heard before. Again, it's a work in progress, so be sure to check back from time-to-time, or sign-up for our mailing list   The content above quoted from the Action Now Home page"

THE DESCRIPTION BELOW IS FROM VOXX/BOMP RECORDS:

The Pandoras were the queens of American garage music.  Formed around 1983 by Gwynne Kahn and Paula Pierce (both veterans of various local bands), The Pandoras underwent numerous line-up changes from original members Paula Pierce, Gwynne Kahn - keys, Bambi Conway - bass guitar and Casey Gomez - drums, where Gwynne was kicked out of the band, and retaliated by forming her own Pandoras known then also as (Mad Monster Party) for awhile. The original line-up, the 'Paula Dora's' made an EP for Moxie Records and various demos with Bill Inglot and Chris Ashford, but their high mark was the album for Voxx , produced by Gary Stern at his Silvery Moon studio (where so many garage classics were laid down) with help from Greg Shaw.

After Gwynne, Bambi and Casey left the group, The new second line up went on to make their ultimate single, 'Hot Generation' b/w 'You Don't Satisfy', to promote the single they traveled to New York for a fabulous concert with The Fuzztones  at Irving Plaza you can see the live Irving Plaza footage here, they then moved on to Rhino to record the classic album "Stop Pretending".

 Julie Patchouli played bass on several songs, while Kim Shattuck entered the band during the latter part of the sessions for 'Stop Pretending' and also played bass. " Shortly after the release of 'Stop Pretending', The Pandoras underwent a dramatic change in musical style...

Evolving into a bigger, slicker rock outfit, The Pandoras made subsequent records for Elektra and then Restless, but none of them captured the elemental magic of the mid-'80s material. Melanie Vammen and Kim Shattuck eventually joined the immensely popular Muffs. Paula Pierce died unexpectedly of an aneurysm in 1991." Later, Melanie went on to join ranks with The Leaving Trains.

Exert quoted from  Rhino Handmade/Rhino Records

" This Rhino Handmade release presents Stop Pretending in its entirety, as well as 10 bonus tracks, including the b-side    The Hump,' the pre-LP recording ' I Want My Caveman,' and eight demos. All tracks have been remastered from original sources. Liner notes include an essay by Paul Grant and many rare photos ".                                                                                                                                                             

Karen Blankfeld the drummer, while still playing in The Pandoras, Karen was simultaneously playing bass guitar........

Julie Patchouli, played bass guitar and was the third bass player,  I eventually moved on and into a band called "Out Of the Fire".  Band members included Tom ' Possum' Byars - lead vocals, songwriter and rhythm guitarist and Julie Patchouli on Bass and Harmonica.  ' Out of the Fire ' was produced by the famous Bruce Joyner, lead man and crooner of the late seventies band 'Bruce Joyner and the Unknowns'.  Bruce has now joined forces  with ' Out of the Fire ' to form the The Reconstruction, click on the link to find out more....

The Pandoras in 'Oui' Magazine 1987                                                                              Photo below was taken by Gary Wilde

The Pandoras pictured with Deb O Naire in NY,

doing a telephone interview for Rodney on The Roq, KROQ 106.7, Los Angeles, CA

 photo by Heather Harris

The Pandoras in New York, Irving Plaza