Not everyone is lucky enough to boast that they live next door to a badass female drummer. But we are. Before Lynn Truell became a long time Wash Park resident, she was an iconic, pioneer in the punk scene of the 80s and 90s. We’re not embarrassed to admit that we all wish we were as cool as Lynn. Not only for her rich history in music, but because she also happens to be a hard working mom of three juggling life like the rest of us.
Lynn can you give us a peek into your punk rock past? Favorite memory from that time in your life?
I started off at age 16 as a very beginner drummer in an all girl punk rock band called The Wrecks in Reno, NV. We had the pleasure of opening for the likes of TSOL, Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, DOA, and 7 Seconds. The Reno punk scene opened my mind, eyes and heart to music of angst and equality and freedom of expression and art and collaboration. However, I soon craved a bigger city and I moved to San Francisco at 18. I eventually tried out for a hardcore band called The Dicks – beating out three dudes – and started touring and writing with that band. We toured and recorded for about 3 years until the punk rock scene changed and became more violent and aggressive and lost the initial experience of openness and freedom. So I started another more earthy, blues, grunge band called Sister Double Happiness with punk icon/artist/author, Gary Floyd. We toured with lots of bands, among them are Mighty Lemon Drops, Soundgarden, Nirvana, L7, Faith No More, 4 non blondes, and Dinosaur Jr. After 7 years and releases on SST, Sub Pop and Warner Brothers, I and a few friends started a pop/punk band called Imperial Teen. We released multiple records and toured with Hole, Lemondrops, Breeders, Cibo Mato, Death Cab For Cutie, White Stripes, and Pink. We still write songs and record and if we are lucky we get a song placed in a movie, TV show or commercial. We still perform occasionally, but not as often as we would like as we live in different parts of the country,
What is Imperial Teen up to today?
Currently Imperial Teen has a stash of songs waiting to be refined and released through MERGE RECORDS.
Tell us about your husband and three kids.
My husband, Jeff, and I met in SF. He is big into music and was my community college math teacher when I was going back for a degree. He was familiar with Imperial Teen and we eventually started dating when he moved to Chicago to go to medical school. We then moved to Venice Beach and lived there for 5 years where we had two of our three children.
Why Wash Park? What led you here after life in California?
We moved here about 8 years ago when Jeff got a job. We like Denver’s bricks and beauty, its growth, its music and art scene. We have three kids that all have great opportunities here. We chose to live in Wash Park because it is so central. We are close to Gaylord Street where if I’m feeling overwhelmed with motherhood, I can get a coffee or a cocktail, buy a new outfit, say hi to people, get lunch or shoes or my hair done – with or without kids! And the park….bikes and walks and water and flowers and snow football…all wonderful.
How do you spend your free time with your family? Favorite places to travel?
I’m a California girl, and I like going back to SF and Venice Beach to see the sights. We also like Chicago, NYC, train rides or road trips anywhere. I like Vail. It was my first mountain town that I visited here.
What are your favorite spots around town?
We like biking south on the Platte and north on Cherry Creek. We like the bike ride between Frisco and Copper Mountain, the Botanical Gardens, art on Santa Fe, rock shows at all the local clubs (everyone tours through Denver), the Main Library, Wonderbound Dance Company, downtown bridges, downtown cranes, murals on Larimer Street, Union Station, the thunderstorms and cloud formations, viewing the layers of Rocky Mountains at sunset.
Thanks for chatting with us Lynn. You break stereotypes and we’re glad to have you as our neighbor.