There are two artists known as Hole: 1) the American alternative rock band fronted by Courtney Love, and 2) a British experimental project active in the late 1980s. 1) Hole is an American alternative rock band that initially formed in Los Angeles, California in 1989 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Courtney Love and guitarist Eric Erlandson. The band went through various lineups through the subsequent decades before its dissolution in 2002, but is now currently fronted by Courtney Love, with lead guitarist Micko Larkin (formally of Larrikin Love), Shawn Dailey (of Rock Kills Kid) on bass, and Stuart Fisher (formally of Ozric Tentacles) on drums. Hole's abrasive, self-consciously obnoxious style of alternative rock was initially influenced heavily by punk rock and noise rock and had a brief period as a three-guitar lineup, first with Eric Erlandson and Mike Geisbriecht, then briefly with the musician Errol Stewart. ...show more

There are two artists known as Hole: 1) the American alternative rock band fronted by Courtney Love, and 2) a British experimental project active in the late 1980s. 1) Hole is an American alternative rock band that initially formed in Los Angeles, California in 1989 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Courtney Love and guitarist Eric Erlandson. The band went through various lineups through the subsequent decades before its dissolution in 2002, but is now currently fronted by Courtney Love, with lead guitarist Micko Larkin (formally of Larrikin Love), Shawn Dailey (of Rock Kills Kid) on bass, and Stuart Fisher (formally of Ozric Tentacles) on drums. Hole's abrasive, self-consciously obnoxious style of alternative rock was initially influenced heavily by punk rock and noise rock and had a brief period as a three-guitar lineup, first with Eric Erlandson and Mike Geisbriecht, then briefly with the musician Errol Stewart.

The band released two singles, firstly "Retard Girl" in 1990 and then "Dicknail" in 1991, both on independent record labels. The lineup that recorded the band's first album "Pretty on the Inside" (1991) was Love, lead guitarist Eric Erlandson, bassist Jill Emery and drummer Caroline Rue. The album, which was produced by Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, was critically praised by rock journalists despite its limited popularity in the United States; overseas, however, the album was a hit within the UK rock scene, and its lead single, "Teenage Whore" entered the UK indie rock chart at number one. After touring an extensive tour of Europe and the United States, Rue was fired from the band in 1992 and Emery left soon after, to be replaced by Leslie Hardy and Patty Schemel, respectively.

Hardy left without contributing to the band, and was subsequently replaced by Kristen Pfaff of Janitor Joe in 1993. This lineup then recorded and released the hugely successful album "Live Through This" (1994) which found the band following a more commercial grunge sound. The album was released in April 1994, and in poor timing, just 4 days after Courtney Love's husband Kurt Cobain committed suicide. Nonetheless, "Live Through This" was massively acclaimed by critics and earned #1 slots in "Best Album of the Year" lists and sold extremely well. ...show less