Formed in the winter of 1984 in Wren Harper’s garage, the band—Vera Feralle, Wren Harper, and Roxy Pittman—were united by their distaste for social order, institutional blandness, and square pizza. Bonded by braces, loud music, and outsider instincts, they wrote most of their debut album “Rebels of Lunch” during high school lunch periods between 1983 and 1987. Their lyrics became symphonies of mutiny—raging against cafeteria injustice, cheerleader cruelty, and the tyranny of the tray.

The group expanded to include Mae Dae (Tiffany Renee Lane), a classically trained pianist from a political family, whose synthesizer stylings added unexpected soul and shimmer to their grit. Though Mae never had braces (unlike the others), her presence bridged the feral and the refined. She helped record Rebels of Lunch in 1989, then left the band after their 1992 sophomore album R-U-In? to raise her daughter—Sierra Lane, who would later cover her mother’s band’s songs, becoming a cult artist herself.

The Band

Vera Feralle (Veronica Rae Ferrari), born January 24, 1969, is the band’s fierce and fearless lead vocalist and guitarist. A street-smart Italian-American transplant from New York, Vera moved to LA in 1982 and met Wren the same year. She borrowed her brother’s electric guitar, learned it by ear, and never looked back. Influenced by Patti Smith, Poly Styrene, Debbie Harry, and Laurie Anderson, Vera layered brainy lyrics with razor wit. Known for “stirring the pot and licking the spoon,” she led the band with electric flair—and kept a pack of alley cats as muses. After the band’s split in 1997, Vera launched a solo career in 1999.

Wren Harper (Lauren Jean Harlow), born June 21, 1969, is the drummer, main songwriter, and “heart” of the band. Raised in California, she started drumming under her brother’s guidance and met Vera in 7th grade. Inspired by Moe Tucker, Budgie, and Karen Carpenter, Wren brought depth and punch to every beat. She also inspired future artist Cherry Ember, whom she briefly mentored during high school. After stepping back from performing, Wren wrote for other artists and authored the cult-favorite nature-punk book “Punk Birds,” often retreating to Debs Park to birdwatch in peace.

Roxy Pittman (Roxanna Marie Smith), born October 13, 1968, played bass and brought the brawn. Raised in LA with four brothers, she brought grit, loyalty, and bulldog tenacity to the group. She met Vera and Wren in 9th-grade music class, bonding over shared idols like Joan Jett, Kim Shattuck, and Lemmy Kilmister. On stage, she was the enforcer—off stage, she was a dog-loving softie with a bark and a bite. She now runs an underground club in Downtown LA, spinning punk vinyl and booking misfit bands.

Mae Dae (Tiffany Renee Lane), born May 1, 1969, joined the band just before Rebels of Lunch was recorded. The daughter of a congressman and a classically trained pianist, she initially clashed with the band’s raw style. But her melodic instincts and background in composers like Debussy, Bach, and Bernstein gave their songs unexpected harmonic punch. Though she felt like a “poser” at times, her contributions shaped the band’s legacy in unforgettable ways.