The Donnas

By Laura Robida

Everyone compares California rockers The Donnas to bands like The Ramones and more recently to Joan Jett. We don't care who you compare them to, all we know is that quartet from Palo Alto, Calif. know a thing or two about rock and roll. Here's a segment we call getting to know The Donnas member by member.

Name: Brett Elizabeth Anderson
Birthday: May 30, 1979
Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana
Sign: Gemini
Height: 5'10"
Band nickname: The Scavenger, DJ Bernard Party, Sax, Saxabone, Billy Joel
Band role: Vocalist
Weapons of choice: Shure KSM9 wireless mic, Shure PSM700 wireless in-ear monitoring
Fun facts:
First cassingle was either Bobby Brown "Don't be Cruel" or Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation."  
Carves patterns into fruits and vegetables with a personalized pocketknife.
Favorite podcast is National Public Radio's "Science Friday."
Most embarrassing onstage moment: "I hit myself in the face with my microphone by stepping on the base like when they step on a rake in looney tunes and chipped my tooth."
Favorite tv shows: Project Runway, Chapelle Show, Colbert Report, Top Model, No Reservations, Mr. Show, Lucky Louie, Big Love, Six Feet Under, That's My Baby, Inside The Actor's Studio

Favorite cocktails: Lemon Drop, Mojito, Sangria, and Club Drinks, the one's that come in cans, esp Brass Monkey and Censored on the Beach
Favorite Ragady Anne song?
Tammy, no one will ever get how many levels of sarcasm and irony the true meaning is buried under, even me.

Favorite Electrocutes song?
Jamean cause it was based on real life mixed with an episode of Sailor Moon, and Doombuggy because in it I threaten to torture my brother by touching tin foil to his cavities for getting to go to Disneyland when I had to stay home because I had a bad temper.


Name: Allison Rae Robertson
Birthday: August 26, 1979
Hometown: North Hollywood, California
Band role: Guitarist
Sign: Virgo
Height: 5'5"
Weapons of choice: Gibson guitars (current onstage guitar is a Gibson Explorer Pro in ebony finish, backup guitar has alternated between a black Gibson Les Paul Studio, a black Gibson Les Paul Standard, and her tobacco burst Gibson Les Paul Standard.), Marshall JCM2000 DSL1000 amplifier head, Marshall 1960AV 4x12 speaker cabinet, BOSS TU-2 tuner, Line6 Echo Park, BOSS GE-7 EQ.
Fun facts:
Wanted to be David Lee Roth
Played guitar for LoudLion whose song "The Hills Have Eyes" was featured on the soundtrack for The Hills Have Eyes 2
Is a DJ for Women Rock Radio (www.womenrockradio.com) and has her own show called "Fun in the Dungeon."
First guitar was a Mexican-made Fender Telecaster
Her father is musician Baxter Robertson who wrote the track "Feel The Night" on the Karate Kid Soundtrack.
Is a self-proclaimed video game addict.
 

Name: Torrance Heather Castellano
Birthday: January 8, 1979
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5'3"
Band nickname: Snory, Beeper
Band role: Drummer
Weapons of choice: Pearl Reference series drums in granite sparkle (24x18 bass drum, 13x10 tom, 16x16 floor tom, 14x6.5 Sensitone brass snare drum), Vic Firth, American Custom SD2 sticks,  Zildjian 13" A Custom Mastersound hihats, 16" K Custom Dark Crash, 17" K Dark Crash Medium Thin, 21" Sweet Ride

Fun facts:
Favorite candies: Peppermint Patties or the blackberry/raspberry gummies.
Has her own dialect which includes "words" like bolokashneeky, unknown, wild.
Admits to obsessively watching the movie "Labyrinth"
Favorite all time film: Do the Right Thing
Dream role as an actor: " I've been thinking lately that it would be great to be able to play Stevie Nicks. I love her voice, and her life is very interesting. I think it would be a challenge!"
Speaks fluent Japanese
What's the most embarassing thing that you've ever done on stage?
Besides messing up? I guess I'd have to say the time in Germany, when I had bronchitis and I had to blow my nose on stage! Not cool!
Favorite pastime:
Hanging out, playing solitaire

Favorite TV shows:
UFC: The Comeback, Project Runway, ANTM, Twin Peaks

Favorite cocktails:
"The Cuke" & wine spritzers
Favorite Ragady Anne song?
I'd say Nim!

Favorite Electrocutes song?
Maybe Kitchen Floor, or Pink Piggies


Name: Maya Ford
Birthday: January 8, 1979
Hometown: Oakland, California
Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5'6"
Band nickname: Tromboner
Band role: Bassist
Weapons of choice: Gibson Thunderbirds (notably the Nikki Sixx model) and a vintage Epiphone Embassy bass, Ampeg SVT810AV bass cabinet, and Countryman DI

Fun facts:
Favorite Spice Girl?
Sporty Spice

Melrose Place, 90210 or Models Inc.?
90210
What's the most embarassing thing that you've ever done on stage?
Falling over backwards or forgetting how to play Let's Go Mano the easiest song in the world, cuz I was wasted.
Favorite pastime:
Sleeping late with my cat and boyfriend

Favorite TV shows:
Alf, Twin Peaks

Favorite cocktail:
Gin and Tonic
Favorite Ragady Anne song?
Inspector Gadget