The Pandoras

1980s All-Female Garage Rock Band

The Pandoras were an all-female rock band from Los Angeles, California from 1982 to 1991. They began as part of the 1960s revival garage rock scene, and later adopted a hard rock sound. Former members Melanie Vammen and Kim Shattuck formed The Muffs. The band leader and singer/songwriter, Paula Pierce, died on August 10, 1991, of an aneurysm at the age of 31. Following the recording of their first LP in 1984, Pierce fell out with the other members of the band, who broke away and formed their own band. Led by keyboardist Gwynne Kahn, the new group also called themselves The Pandoras (5), although they were often referred to as "Gwynne's Pandoras" or "The Gwynnedoras". That group released a song called "Worm Boy" on a compilation but dissolved after their record label demanded they change their name, which legally belonged to Pierce. Pierce continued on with the Pandoras' name and various members until her death. In 2013, one-time drummer Sheri Kaplan Weinstein recruited former members Melanie Vammen, Karen Basset, and Susan Hyatt for a reunion at a private party. Following that performance, Hyatt joined up with the members of Gwynne's Pandoras to form the 21st Century Pandoras, who released two digital singles of new music in 2014. Vammen, Kaplan Weinstein, Basset, and former bassist Kim Shattuck (now filling Pierce's spot as singer/guitarist while Basset, one of the band's former drummers, took over Shattuck's role as bassist) united to continue performing Paula Pierce's songs as The Pandoras. Kaplan Weinstein left the band in 2015 and was replaced by drummer Hillary Burton. The band released a new EP (consisting primarily of Pierce compositions) in 2018. Shattuck passed away on October 2, 2019 from complications related to ALS.