Elda Gentile, AKA Elda Stiletto was a vocalist, songwriter, and artist (born November 7, 1947, died August 6, 2018) and an integral member of the New York City music scene in the early-mid 1970's.
Elda’s foray into the art world began when she attended the School of Visual Arts. Her teacher took her class to Warhol’s factory for a film viewing of Lonesome Cowboys. She was a regular at Max’s Kansas City. She started a band called Holly Woodlawn’s Pure Garbage which then led her to creating the famed punk rock band The Stilettos. Her brother Fast Eddie Gentile played guitar in Pure Garbage. She had a small part in a small play of the Theater of the Ridiculous with Jayne County and Patti Smith.
The Stiletto’s were the band that Elda would make her biggest musical mark with. She formed the band in 1972 with the idea of melding the idea of a Supreme’s like girl group with a pop art sexual rock edge. They were considered a punk band before the word became the official moniker. The original line-up was: Chris Stein (guitars), Fred Smith (bass), Billy O’Connor (drums), Deborah Harry, Rosie Ross, and Elda Stiletto, all on lead vocals. The band rehearsed at the same studio as the Ramones. The group broke up in 1974. Elda continued with a solo career before reforming the band with an all-new line-up in late 1976. Members of this particular incarnation of the group included Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys), Walter Lure (Johnny Thunder’s Heartbreakers), Billy Rath (Johnny Thunder’s Heartbreakers) and Scheebo Pampillonia. The Stilettos appear in the private eye mystery thriller “Punk Rock” and on the live compilation Max’s Kansas City 1976 and Beyond. The played in Central Park for Rock Against Racism. They eventually broke up a second and final time in the late ’70’s.
After the breakup of the Stilettos, Elda formed the first all kids punk rock band The Bratles with her son Branch on drums. Chris Stein (now of Blondie fame) produced and released a 7″ single from the band. They opened for the Clash twice at the famed Bonds shows. Elda mentored the kids and brought in other musicians like the Ramones, NY Dolls and the Dead Boys to teach them. Elda dressed them for the stage and eventually the band was offered a deal with CBS Records. With all this going on unfortunately at such a young age, the band could not sustain due to parental disagreement.
