Today is the birthday of Kim Shattuck, who sings and plays guitar with the

Los Angeles pop-punk outfit the Muffs. With three major-label albums

and songs gracing the silver screen in flicks such as Clueless and National Lampoon's Senior Trip, the Muffs have

begun to solidify a place in the culture of the moment.

The group formed in 1991 when Shattuck and pal Ronnie Barnett joined forces, inspired by bands such as the Kinks and the Ramones. They hired an early drummer and began gigging around Los Angeles. It wasn't long before their peppy sound caught the attention of executives at Reprise. At the label's behest, the Muffs released their self-titled debut in 1993.

They'd recorded some singles and 7" records already, including "New Love"

and "Guilty," as well as donating tunes for compilations, including Freedom of Choice. Their debut earned them more than a few comparisons to Green

Day, a band who supported the Muffs in their early days. Eventually the Muffs found a drummer

they could live with -- Roy McDonald -- and released their second album,

Blonder and Blonder, in 1996. A third album, Happy Birthday To Me, was recently released.

Other birthdays: Phoebe Snow, Spencer Davis, Regina Belle, the late actor James Cagney, Donald Sutherland and David Hasselhoff.