Eric Erlandson

Eric Erlandson (born January 9, 1963, in Los Angeles, California) is the co-founder, former songwriter and lead guitarist of '90s alternative rock band Hole.^[1] Erlandson grew up in San Pedro, where he was picked on for being lanky and pale. During his college years he worked for the now defunct Licorice Pizza record store chain, alongside many members of various iconic LA punk bands. He has a B.S. in Economics with a Minor in Marketing from Loyola Marymount University, where his father, Theodore Erlandson, served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Before forming Hole, Eric worked for Capitol Records doing Paul McCartney's and Tina Turner's royalties. He was friends with Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, and at one time dated actress Drew Barrymore, who is the godmother of Cobain and Love's daughter Frances Bean. He also had a relationship with former Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff, who is now deceased.

In May of 2002, Eric and Courtney Love announced that they would "no longer record or tour together" and officially disbanded Hole. "I will always treasure the time we played together," Love said. "Eric has been an important part of my family for over 10 years and he'll continue to be a part of my life."

Eric remains good friends with Melissa Auf der Maur, and played guitar on one track (Would If I Could) from her 2004 solo album Auf Der Maur. Over the years, he's worked with Bijou Phillips, John Wolfington, Everett True and Rodney Bingenheimer. In 2007, he formed an improvisational music project, RRIICCEE with his neighbor Vincent Gallo.^[2] Their band toured the U.S and Canada, and played the Fuji Rock festival in Japan. He has since left the group to pursue other endeavors, both musical and otherwise.

Eric has practiced Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism since 1990. Currently, he is working on various writing, music and art projects, while studying Creative Writing, Tai Chi, health cultivation and Raw Food/Vegan cuisine.

In June 2009, Courtney Love announced that Hole would be reuniting, releasing Love's solo album, Nobody's Daughter, as Hole, with the band touring later on in the year. Reports then circulated that Erlandson would be "excited" to work with Hole again, however, when interviewed by SPIN in July 2009, Erlandson announced that seeing as he and Love have a contract that states no reunion can take place without mutual involvement, that it may not be able to happen without him. It is still not known whether Courtney Love will reunite under the name Hole, as she claims she owns the rights to the name.^[3]

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