Founded by teenage step-sisters Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly in Rhode Island in 1981, Throwing Muses took their unpredictable mix of new wave, punk and college rock worldwide when legendary London label 4AD issued their debut LP in 1986. The Muses drew influence from both the raw post-punk of Siouxsie and The Banshees and the sweet jangle of R.E.M., releasing four critically beloved albums before Donelly left to join The Breeders in 1992. Hersh pressed on, and the band released a run of great records through the ‘90s. After going on hiatus in 1997, they returned louder than ever in 2003.