The Femmes released their sophomore album, Hallowed Ground, in 1984. Considered a departure from their first album, it reflected Gano’s upbringing as the son of a Baptist minister, which fans felt was risky and a little bit too different from the Femmes they knew and loved. However, the Femmes’ 1986 album, The Blind Leading The Naked, reintegrated the familiar level of energy the Femmes had become known for with their evolving sound.

After releasing The Blind Leading The Naked, the band took a break in pursuit of solo careers. Two years later, the Femmes reunited and made a successful transition from the '80s to the '90s with the 1988 release of 3 and the 1991 release of Why Do Birds Sing? However, DeLorenzo wanted to continue his pursuit of a solo career and left the Femmes after the release of the band’s first compilation CD, Add It Up (1981-1993), in 1993.

Ritchie and Gano, determined to continue making music, invited drummer Guy Hoffman, a former member of the Oil Tasters and the BoDeans, to round out the trio. Hoffman toured and recorded with the band for nine years, during which the Femmes released New Times in 1994 and Rock!!!!! in 1995. The Femmes paid homage to their home state with 1999’s Viva Wisconsin, a compilation of songs recorded while touring Wisconsin. Freak Magnet, released in 2000, is the Femmes’ most recent album containing new material.

In 2002, DeLorenzo rejoined the Femmes and has been touring with the band ever since. According to the Femmes’ website, they are currently “bringing the rock to every nook and cranny of the globe.” Their latest world tour has taken them across the world, performing for fans in Australia, Africa and Europe.

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Violent Femmes, although hailing from Wisconsin, have generated worldwide fans and have toured in Australia, Africa and Europe.

The ongoing success of the Femmes is strongly attributed to their unique ability to engage and unite fans from all generations. Dino Armiros, a 55-year-old attorney, said, “I like the innocence, its ragged unpretentiousness, the clever lyrics and the story of the band.” Kopplin also cited, above musical talent, the band’s down-to-earth attitude as one of the main reasons that fans of all generations connect to the Femmes’ music.

“If someone in a band isn’t the best singer, they either suck or they’re playing from the heart," Kopplin said. "Gordon’s not the best singer, but he sings from the heart. It’s more genuine.”

The unique experience of being a Femmes fan is due in large part to what the band represents. Referring to themselves on their website as the “spokesmen for misfits,” the Femmes represent and give hope to fans who feel as though they don’t fit in with the world around them. Armiros said the Femmes’ success showed the world that “it was OK to be unique and follow your own vision—you didn’t have to try to imitate whatever was ‘hot’ at the moment ... That sort of rebellion, refusal to follow the hoard while at the same time connecting with your audience at a gut level, lies at the essence of great rock.”

Kopplin, who first became a fan of the Femmes at age 13, said, “The high school problems and problems with girls is universal. Everyone can relate to that. Songs like ‘Gimme the Car’ nails high school angst.”

Although both Dietz and Armiros became fans of the Femmes in the '80s, Kopplin said that he and fans of younger generations are introduced to the Femmes’ music in a different way.

“You can’t necessarily find out about a band like the Violent Femmes from the media," Kopplin explained. "It’s something like loaning a friend their CD.”

Kopplin said that he sees a difference between the fans that are only familiar with radio friendly hits like “Blister in the Sun” and fans that appreciate the Femmes’ full repertoire of music.