The Waitresses

The Waitresses were a marvelously quirky, irreverent and innovative early 80's New Wave experimental rock band from Akron, Ohio. The group first got together in the early 80's and made their professional stage debut playing at Little Club 57 in New York City on New Year's Eve in 1980. The principal band members were: Patty Donahue (vocals), Chris Butler (guitar), Mars Williams (saxophone), Dan Klayman (keyboards), Billy Ficca (drums), and Tracy Wormworth (bass). The Waitresses were distinguished by their deliciously sardonic punk sensibility, Williams' groovy saxophone playing, and, most of all, Donahue's highly distinctive dry'n'deadpan monotone voice. The band scored an instant cult hit in 1982 with the hilariously saucy "I Know What Boys Like;" the song was a Top 10 hit in Australia, but only reached #62 on the US Billboard pop charts. "I Know What Boys Like" was not only featured on the soundtrack to the uproariously raunchy teen sex comedy classic "The Last American Virgin," but also used on episodes of the TV shows "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," and "Nip/Tuck." The Waitresses went on to do the infectiously bouncy and catchy theme song for the TV sitcom "Square Pegs." The group had previously produced another winner in 1981 with the delightfully bubbly and witty yuletide novelty tune "Christmas Wrapping." They released two albums: "Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?" in 1982 and "Bruiseology" in 1983. The Waitresses broke up in 1983. "I Know What Boys Like" has been covered by both Vitamin C and the British girl band Shampoo while "Christmas Wrapping" has been covered by such artists as the Donnas, the Spice Girls, Save Ferris, and Kate Nash. Patty Donahue died at the tragically young age of 40 from lung cancer on December 9, 1996.