Photo : Melissa Auf Der Maur
In Conversation with Melissa Auf der Maur and Sophie Hackett
An intimate conversation with Melissa Auf der Maur, bassist for the iconic bands Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins, who will revisit her journey through her memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A '90s Rock Memoir (Atlantic Books), and share photographs from Melissa Auf der Maur: My '90s Rock Photographs .
La Gaîté Lyrique (Paris 3rd)
About
On this occasion, Melissa Auf der Maur will engage in a dialogue with Sophie Hackett, curator of photography at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), to revisit her experience at the heart of the 1990s alternative rock scene, the memories that shaped her journey, and the stories behind her photographs.
With Melissa Auf der Maur
Born in Montreal, Melissa Auf der Maur studied photography at Concordia University before becoming the bassist for the alternative rock bands Hole in the 90s, and later The Smashing Pumpkins. While on the road, she continued to take photos, requesting a roll of 35mm film at every concert venue in her technical rider. This practice resulted in an archive of over 10,000 images documenting life onstage and away from the crowds. Her autobiography, Even The Good Girls Will Cry, was published in spring 2026 by Da Capo and Grand Central Publishing.
A major exhibition dedicated to her photographs, My '90s Rock Photographs, has been on view at the Art Gallery of Ontario since September 2, 2026. It is accompanied by a hardcover photobook, co-published by the AGO and DelMonico Books, which collects over 200 images from the musician's archives. Melissa Auf der Maur's photographs have been published in National Geographic and Spin, among others.
In 2010, she co-founded Basilica Hudson, an independent non-profit center dedicated to multidisciplinary art and performance, located in upstate New York, where she lives with her family and magic cats.
Before becoming the bassist for '90s alternative rock bands Hole and, later, the Smashing Pumpkins, Montreal-born Melissa Auf der Maur studied photography at Concordia University. She maintained her daily practice while on the road, requesting a roll of 35mm film at every venue as part of her rider and resulting in over 10,000 images documenting life onstage and away from the crowds.
Her memoir, Even The Good Girls Will Cry, was released by Da Capo and Grand Central Publishing in spring 2026. My '90s Rock Photographs, a major exhibition of Auf der Maur's photos is on view at the Art Gallery of Ontario from September 2, 2026, and is accompanied by a hardback photobook that includes over 200 images from the musician's archive, co-published by the AGO and DelMonico Books.
Auf der Maur's photographs have been featured in publications including National Geographic and Spin, among others. In 2010 she cofounded the nonprofit multi-disciplinary art and performance center Basilica Hudson, located in upstate New York where she lives with her family and magic cats.
Our take on this event
Step behind the curtain of the nineties alternative rock explosion through the lens of a musician who never traveled without her camera. This intimate conversation reveals the untold stories hidden within thousands of raw, authentic snapshots captured from the road and far from the mainstream noise.
Join the conversation with musician Melissa Auf der Maur and AGO curator Sophie Hackett at La Gaîté Lyrique on Saturday, November 14, 2026. From 15:00 to 16:30, this exclusive session dives into the archival work of the former Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist, focusing on her documentation of the 1990s alternative rock scene. With over 10,000 images captured during her touring years, she offers a unique perspective on life both on and off stage. Tickets are available for 15 euros, and advance booking is required for this deep dive into music history and personal photography.
La Gaîté Lyrique hosts a special dialogue on Saturday, November 14, 2026, featuring Melissa Auf der Maur and Sophie Hackett, a photography curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario. This session explores the dual creative life of the Montreal-born artist, who balanced her career as a bassist for bands like Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins with a dedicated daily photography practice.
The conversation covers her unique routine of requesting 35mm film at every concert venue, a process that yielded an archive of over 10,000 photographs. Participants will get an inside look at the stories behind these images, including those featured in her 2026 memoir, Even The Good Girls Will Cry, and the recent exhibition, My '90s Rock Photographs, which highlights over 200 select works from her collection.
This event takes place from 15:00 to 16:30 in the 3rd arrondissement. Admission is 15 euros. It serves as a rare opportunity to hear about her evolution from touring musician to the co-founder of the Basilica Hudson non-profit center, all while reflecting on the raw, authentic moments captured in her work for publications like National Geographic and Spin.
9°C
Weather forecast
Clear sky
max +09 °Cmin +02 °C
