no longer “former” as musician status does not go away if she stops performing← Previous revisionRevision as of 14:27, 3 November 2026 Line 19: Line 19: }} }} '''Katherine Lynne Bjelland''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|j|ɛ|l|ə|n|d}}; born December 9, 1963) is an American former musician. She rose to prominence as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the [[alternative rock]] band [[Babes in Toyland (band)|Babes in Toyland]], which she formed in 1987. She has been noted for her unusual vocal style alternately consisting of shrill screams, whispering, and [[speaking in tongues]], as well as for her guitar playing style, which incorporates "jagged" tones with "psychotic [[rockabilly]] rhythms".{{sfn|Karlen|1994|p=11}} '''Katherine Lynne Bjelland''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|j|ɛ|l|ə|n|d}}; born December 9, 1963) is an American musician. She rose to prominence as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the [[alternative rock]] band [[Babes in Toyland (band)|Babes in Toyland]], which she formed in 1987. She has been noted for her unusual vocal style alternately consisting of shrill screams, whispering, and [[speaking in tongues]], as well as for her guitar playing style, which incorporates "jagged" tones with "psychotic [[rockabilly]] rhythms".{{sfn|Karlen|1994|p=11}} Born in [[Salem, Oregon]], Bjelland was raised in nearby [[Woodburn, Oregon|Woodburn]], and learned to play guitar as a teenager from her uncle, in whose band she performed shortly after graduating high school. Upon dropping out of the [[University of Oregon]] at age nineteen, Bjelland relocated to [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], where she became involved in the city's punk rock scene. There, she became friends with [[Courtney Love]], and formed the band [[Pagan Babies (band)|Pagan Babies]]. Born in [[Salem, Oregon]], Bjelland was raised in nearby [[Woodburn, Oregon|Woodburn]], and learned to play guitar as a teenager from her uncle, in whose band she performed shortly after graduating high school. Upon dropping out of the [[University of Oregon]] at age nineteen, Bjelland relocated to [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], where she became involved in the city's punk rock scene. There, she became friends with [[Courtney Love]], and formed the band [[Pagan Babies (band)|Pagan Babies]].