There's no local date in the works yet, but whenever the reunion run by Minneapolis' widely celebrated 1990s roar-rock trio Babes in Toyland does come home, we have a trio of wealthy ex-Google employees out in California to thank for it.
That latter point was revealed in Rolling Stone's interview with the Babes, posted this week following the news that the band — singer/guitarist Kat Bjelland, drummer Lori Barbero and late-era bassist Maureen Herman — will play its first show in 18 years Feb. 12 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, Calif.
Plans for more dates were mentioned in the article, which recounts how Herman used to work with a guy who was Google's 14th employee. He and his partners committed to funding the band's return.
"This wouldn't be happening without them," Barbero said by phone Thursday. Her call came amid a hectic few weeks of moving back to Minneapolis, plus two days of rampant texting and e-mailing over the reunion news. "It's unbelievable how many people are coming out of the woodwork. But it's nice to have the excitement."
Herman and Bjelland reunited as friends last year after struggling through addictions and other calamities since Babes disbanded in 2001. That led to talks with Barbero. Since August, the trio has been rehearsing once a month in L.A., where Herman now resides. (Bjelland still lives in Minneapolis.)
Barbero said the rehearsals have been "hard physically but really great musically," and the personal reconnection has also gone well. "I didn't see Maureen for 16 years and Kat for about 12, and we all changed a lot," she said. "I know I'm personally in a better place."
Choosing the Roxy could be a ploy to play the Coachella Music Festival, since L.A. promoter Goldenvoice is behind both venues. As for future dates, Barbero said the band just hired a booking agent to map out plans — which will probably include a Twin Cities date, but not a full-scale tour.
"Maureen and Kat both have kids, and none of us wants to get in a van for six weeks like we used to," she said. "But we're all really excited, too."
