Lynette Christine Knackstedt (April 26, 1970 – December 7, 2007) was an American punk and ska musician, as well as a member of the band Skankin' Pickle.

Lynette Knackstedt
BornApril 26, 1970
Santa Clara, California
DiedDecember 7, 2007 (aged 37)
San Francisco, California
Occupation(s)Singer, record company executive
Known forMember of Skankin' Pickle

Early life

edit

Knackstedt was born in Santa Clara, California. She graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1988. She attended De Anza Junior College and San Francisco City College.[1]

Career

edit

Knackstedt was best known as a core member of Skankin' Pickle, a ska band formed in 1989, with her childhood friend Mike Park, Lars Nylander, Chuck Phelps, Gerry Lundquist and Mike Mattingly.[2] She played guitar and was one of the band's vocalists.[3][4] The band recorded five albums and toured the United States performing in the early 1990s.[5][6] Knackstedt was also involved in running Dill Records, the band's independent record company, launched in 1991.[1] After she and Nylander toured Europe as Skankin' Pickle in 1997, the band officially dissolved, but the pair continued performing as the 78 RPMs. She also performed with Lucifer's Strip Club Band.[7]

The Skankin' Pickle track, "Rotten Banana Legs", which featured her vocals, was included on the 1997 compilation CD Ska Down her Way: Women of Ska, from Shanachie Records.[8]

Personal life and legacy

edit

Knackstedt was out as a lesbian. She died from a drug overdose in 2007, in San Francisco, at the age of 37.[1][9] Her Skankin' Pickle bandmates played a memorial show together in 2008, and raised money for a San Francisco drug rehabilitation program.[7][10]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Lynette Christine Knackstedt". Bay Area Reporter. April 3, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2022 – via GLBT Historical Society, Online Searchable Obituary Database.
  2. ^ Covarrubia, Eydie (1994-10-07). "Skankin' Pickle builds a following with fans of ska music". The Bradenton Herald. p. 60. Retrieved 2022-06-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Chun, Gary C. W. (1992-08-27). "Pickle Madness". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-06-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Berger, John (1992-08-27). "This Pickle relishes its irreverence". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-06-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Harada, Wayne (1993-04-22). "Skankin' Pickle in two shows". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-06-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Pickle to Play at the Phoenix". Oak Leaf. October 17, 1996. pp. 5–6. Retrieved June 12, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  7. ^ a b "Memorial Concert For Skankin' Pickle's Lynette Knackstedt". CelebrityAccess. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  8. ^ Ska Down Her Way: Women Of Ska, Shanachie Records, 2013, retrieved 2022-06-13
  9. ^ Port, Ian S. (December 13, 2007). "All Shook Down: Skankin' Pickle guitarist Lynette Knackstedt dies". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  10. ^ "Memorial for Lynette Knackstedt set for April 19 at Gilman". SF Weekly. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2022-06-12.