Violent Femmes Owe Their Career to Busking

Brian Ritchie of the Violent Femmes has an affinity for street musicians. "I respect the ambition of people who play out on the street like that," he tells Spinner.

Of course, it makes sense that the bassist would appreciate buskers. After all, his band was discovered while playing outdoors -- except the Femmes had a more clever strategy than most street musicians: As Pretenders fans were lining up to buy tickets for a show, the Femmes decided to perform for them. So they set up alongside the line and started jamming.

"We thought, 'They're captives -- let's play and make some money.," Ritchie says.

Eventually, the members of the Pretenders got wind of the band playing outside and decided to check them out.

"James Honeyman Scott was the first to hear us," Ritchie says, "Then he dragged the rest of the band out, and Chrissie Hynde asked us if we would open the show."

The rest, as they say, is history.