The Sisters of Mercy
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The Sisters of Mercy are a rock band that emerged out of the British post punk scene in 1980-1981. After achieving early underground and Goth fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output as a strike against their record company. Currently, the band is kept alive as a touring outfit only.
The group have recorded three original studio albums, of which the last was released in 1990. Each album was recorded by a different line-up, the only constant member was singer and songwriter Andrew Eldritch.
The group ceased recording activity in 1994, when they went on strike against their record company TimeWarner, which it accused of withholding royalties and incompetence. Although TimeWarner eventually let the band go in 1997, they have not signed to another label, and have chosen not to go the "independent label" route, despite showcasing numerous new songs in their live set.
Since 1985, when other original members left, The Sisters of Mercy became the artistic vehicle of Andrew Eldritch. Some ex-members of the group established bands Ghost Dance and UK band The Mission.
The band cited Leonard Cohen and Motörhead, as well as the The Stooges and Suicide among their influences. The latter two bands are respectively considered to be proto-punk and punk, and as such the band shares influences with other bands in the first wave of what is termed "goth" music. Whilst the band enjoys a considerable fan base with overlapping interests in so-called dark culture, The Sisters of Mercy consider themselves first and foremost a rock band. They have actively discouraged their association with "goth" via regular public statements in the press, not to mention stipulations in their standard contract riders. Nevertheless, this has not stopped them from regularly appearing at festivals where this music is featured, such as M'era Luna. For further discussion on this point, see the article on Andrew Eldritch.
The Sisters of Mercy were highly influential to the second wave of Gothic rock bands.
History
Foundation (1980)
The band was formed in Leeds, England in 1980 by F-club regulars Gary Marx and Andrew Eldritch to satisfy their intent to hear themselves on the radio; somewhere in the process band t-shirts were made and a single, "Damage Done/Watch/Home of the Hit-men", was recorded and released.The name was influenced by Robert Altman's film McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), which featured the Leonard Cohen song of the same name ("because The Captains of Industry weren't as funny").
On the single (claimed by the band to have been played twice by John Peel) Gary Marx played guitar through a practice amplifier and Andrew Eldritch was on drums. The partners each wrote and sang on a song.
Early years (1981-1983)
The band regrouped with Craig Adams on bass, while Eldritch's drumming was replaced by a drum machine, leaving him to concentrate on vocals. The drum machine was christened Doktor Avalanche, and all of its numerous successors kept this name. Andrew Eldritch took over lyrics-writing, Doktor-programming, and record-producing duties, while sharing the music-writing with Marx and (occasionally) Adams.
This became what is generally recognised as the first real Sisters line-up. It began with a vintage piece of murky mythology: according to legend, the Doktor/Eldritch/Marx/Adams incarnation of the band played a gig in Leeds, England in early 1981. However, no-one is quite sure where this took place. For historic purposes, the band and fans have often celebrated the anniversary of the February 16, 1981 concert, in Vanbrugh College, York, England - the band's second ever gig in the form. In 2001, it was the scene of the band's 20th anniversary concert, complete with iced cupcakes for the audience.
Later in 1981, Ben Gunn established himself as the second guitarist after several others came and went. Eldritch's melancholic baritone, Craig Adams's pulsating bass, Doktor Avalanche's beat and Gary Marx's flowing guitar led the band to early underground success. Gunn did his best not to spoil the picture.
The band's singles were regularly featured in UK independent charts; some became single of the week in various UK indie magazines. John Ashton of Psychedelic Furs produced the early classic "Alice". "The Reptile House EP" is another example of early Sisters work and marks the maturing songwriter Eldritch (who wrote, produced and (reportedly) played all instruments on it). It is rumoured that Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs, a friend of Eldritch, encouraged him to release the very first Sisters single, "The Damage Done". He also supposedly provided the financing for Eldritch to press the singles.
The live performances featured many cover versions: among those, a medley consisting of Sister Ray (by Velvet Underground), Ghostrider (by Suicide) and Louie Louie (by Richard Berry) became a live staple. Only three of them, The Stooges's "1969", The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and Hot Chocolate's "Emma" were eventually recorded and released on Sisters records (all as b-sides).
In late 1983, following the highly successful "Temple of Love" single, the band signed a contract with major record label WEA.
At the same time Ben Gunn left in an atmosphere of unanimous bitterness. Gunn stated that he did not agree with the direction Andrew Eldritch was taking the band - which, according to Gunn, started out as a joke on serious rock'n'roll outfits, but eventually became one. Gunn also mentioned personality conflicts with Andrew Eldritch as a reason for his departure.
First and Last and Always era (1984-1985)
Ben Gunn was replaced by Wayne Hussey, who concentrated on 12 string electric and acoustic guitars while also contributing as a songwriter. His studio-experience with Dead or Alive also proved to be invaluable as the band set out to record their first full-length album.
The Black October UK tour (October-November 1984) confirmed the underground cult status of the band.
However, the growing alienation between Eldritch and the rest of the group was getting out of hand during the recording of the debut First and Last and Always album. Eldritch's deteriorating health and psychological problems worsened the situation. Most songs on the album were written and rehearsed by Marx, Hussey, and Adams, with Eldritch stepping in at the latest stage to write lyrics and add vocals.
Following the release of First and Last and Always, produced by Dave Allen (March 11, 1985 - 1985 in music), Gary Marx split from the band in the middle of a supporting tour, citing inability to continue working with Andrew Eldritch. The group completed the tour as a three-piece act, and said farewell to the fans with the final gig in London's Royal Albert Hall on June 18, 1985. Video recordings of this show were later released as "Wake" in which the band's perfect performance is faithfully caputured.
A music video of the song Black Planet was also released in which the Monkeemobile was featured. Promotional videos were also made for the singles Body And Soul, Walk Away, and No Time To Cry, but as of yet none of these videos, including Black Planet, have been officially released by the band.
The split (1985-1986)
Shortly after the last gig Eldritch relocated to Hamburg, while Hussey and Adams announced their decision to split off to form their own group, citing artistic and personal differences with Eldritch.
During the highly publicised soap opera dubbed the Corporate Wars that followed, the new band started playing concerts under name of The Sisterhood, playing Hussey's songs originally written for the Sisters but vetoed by Eldritch. These include the songs Dance on Glass and Garden of Delight, which had originally been recorded (but not released) by the Sisters with Eldritch on vocals, but which Hussey went on to record with his band.
Meanwhile, Eldritch protested their usage of Sisterhood name as too similar to The Sisters of Mercy and a name that had been applied to the fan community of The Sisters of Mercy, and in an attempt to stop the practice released the single Giving Ground by his own band, The Sisterhood. The single was later followed by the album Gift. The other band eventually christened themselves The Mission amidst suspicions that the whole affair had been a PR stunt to jumpstart The Mission's career.
According to some sources, with these releases Andrew Eldritch allegedly won over Hussey and Adams a race for £25,000 (a sum opening the song Jihad on the Gift album) advance offered by the publishers to the first member of The Sisters of Mercy to release any output. This would tie Eldritch to WEA and release Hussey and Adams from their contract with the same record company. According to Tony Perrin (Mission manager) the case never went to court and Hussey's new band was able to release their material through an independent outlet.
However, Eldritch stated elsewhere that the "2" "5" "0" "0" "0" which opens "Jihad" on the Sisterhood LP represents the sum of money he won from the Mission in the civil courts. He states in an interview, recorded in Boston, that the English courts did not recognize either his or the other members' of the band's legal right to the name "The Sisterhood." He said the courts required a release for anybody to claim ownership of the band name, which was the motivation for the initial Sisterhood single. After that single had been released, Eldritch officially owned the name, and could sue, which he did. He won 25,000 pounds in his lawsuit, and opened the Sisterhood album with that number in order to show his gratitude to Wayne Hussey and The Mission for their generous financial contribution, and to indicate that the matter was closed with no hard feelings.
Floodland era (1987-1989)
Left to his own devices, Eldritch recorded the Floodland album (November 13, 1987 – 1987 in music), marking a shift away from guitar-based rock towards keyboard-oriented explorations pioneered in Gift. The album was produced by Eldritch and Larry Alexander, with contributions from Jim Steinman on two songs.
American singer and bass-player Patricia Morrison was recruited from The Gun Club, a band which had toured with the Sisters during their previous incarnation. Eldritch stated in an interview, which also featured Morrison, that Morrison's role was as a sounding board to help him define the direction of his music. Morrison confirmed this during the recorded interview. However, Eldritch later stated that Morrison had been brought on to maintain the illusion of a group during promotional appearances, a claim which Morrison contested. She left the group in the early 90s, amid rumors that money was not paid as due from Eldritch. The band did not play live during this period.
Vision Thing era (1990-1993)
The next incarnation of The Sisters of Mercy featured an unknown German guitarist, Andreas Bruhn, whom Eldritch apparently discovered playing in a Hamburg pub; controversial bassist Tony James (ex-Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Generation X guitarist); and last-minute recruit Tim Bricheno, formerly of All About Eve, on guitars.
The new line-up kicked off with Vision Thing album, released October 22, 1990 (1990 in music), produced by Eldritch (one song was a co-production with Jim Steinman). The album also featured guitarist John Perry with backing vocals by Maggie Reilly. Designed as an assault on USA policies, marked another change of direction, this time towards guitar-oriented rock.
The band launched 1990-1991 world tour to promote the album. In 1991 they organized a controversial North American tour in double-act with Public Enemy. Fearing a clash between white fans of Sisters with the black following of Public Enemy, several towns banned the performances, and the tour was cancelled halfway through. In late 1991, Tony James left the group for his solo career; bass duties were transferred to Doktor Avalanche.
The USA tour fiasco did not help the already strained relationship between Eldritch and the Sisters' new record company EastWest, a WEA subsidiary (the band was assigned to it 1989 following an internal shuffle in WEA).
Conflicts with WEA led to termination of band's USA record distribution deal circa 1991-1992, so the last records of the group are only available in USA as imports.
Under the insistence of the record company the band rerecorded their early single Temple of Love (with Ofra Haza on additional vocals) to promote the collection of their early independently released singles, entitled Some Girls Wander By Mistake (1992). At the end of the year, Tim Bricheno left the band and was replaced in 1993 by Adam Pearson.
Adam Pearson was the only guitarist on the Under the Gun single, which also featured Terri Nunn on backing vocals. The single was recorded to promote the Greatest Hits compilation A Slight Case Of Overbombing (1993). The single and the record releases turned out to be the last from the band until this day.
Andreas Bruhn was reportedly out of the band in spirit by this time, but continued to tour with it in 1993.
Following the last concerts in December 1993, The Sisters of Mercy went into what Andrew Eldritch called a "strike against EastWest".
Late years (1996-)
The band was revived in 1996 for several gigs supporting the Sex Pistols. Andreas Bruhn's place was taken alternatively by Chris Sheehan and Mike Varjak.
The contract with EastWest was terminated in 1997 after the company agreed to accept material recorded under the SSV name instead of two albums for which the Sisters of Mercy had contractual obligations. The company agreed to accept the material (techno-like droning featuring mumbling vocals by Andrew Eldritch, without drums) without listening to it first. The recordings were never officially released and circulated only through pirate MP3s.
The band failed to secure a new contract and refused to release new material independently. According to rumours, Eldritch's starting negotiating position is $3 million USD for 3 albums.
The band was revived for short tours every year since 1996, except 2004. The live performances do not resemble a nostalgia act, to the disappointment of some audiences - the band plays an increasing catalogue of new unreleased songs, obscure B-sides, and reworked old classics. In 2005 Adam Pearson played his last trek of concerts with the Sisters together with new guitarist Chris "Robochrist" May. Pearson has since moved on to play for the MC5, replaced by Ben Christodolou, formerly of UK punk/metal band AKO.
The new album is reportedly being recorded in no hurry, and, according to Eldritch, can be completed in a few months if such need arises.
Their 2006 tour began February 16 and includes dates in the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Finland, England and Scotland.
Notes of Interest
A highlight on most of the Sister's 7" and 12" vinyl releases was their use of run-out groove inscriptions (the blank area surrounding a record's center just before the grooves begin). Some of these include "amphetamine gonzoid filth is dead", "this one's for spiggy" ,"bilbo tape one", "rise and reverberate", "for spiggy-flash that ash", "spiggy rides again" etc. Spiggy was the name of Eldritch's cat during the time he lived above the club the Sisters used to first play at.Members
Current members.
- Andrew Eldritch, vocals, keyboards, guitars, Doktor Avalanche (1980-)
- Chris May, guitars, backing vocals (2005-)
- Ben Christo, guitars, backing vocals (2006-)
- Gary Marx, guitars, vocals on one early track (1980-1985)
- Craig Adams, bass (1981-1985)
- Ben Gunn, guitars (1981-1983)
- Wayne Hussey, guitars, backing vocals (1984-1985)
- Patricia Morrison, allegedly "pretending" to play bass (1985-1989)
- Andreas Bruhn, guitars (1989-1993)
- Tony James, bass (1989-1991)
- Tim Bricheno, guitars (1990-1992)
- Adam Pearson, guitars, backing vocals, bass (1993-2005)
- Chris Sheehan, guitars, backing vocals (1996; 2000-2003)
- Mike Varjak, guitars (1997-1999)
- Dan Donovan, keyboards (1990-1991)
Discography
Albums
- First and Last and Always (1985)
- Floodland (1987)
- Vision Thing (1990)
- Some Girls Wander By Mistake (1992) Collection of singles on the (independent) Merciful Release label.
- A Slight Case of Overbombing (1993) Best Of, includes the last two singles.
Singles
| Year | Title | Formats | Album |
| 1980 | "The Damage Done" | 7" | compiled on Some Girls Wander By Mistake |
| 1982 | "Body Electric" | 7" | compiled on Some Girls Wander By Mistake |
| 1982 | "Alice" | 7" | compiled on Some Girls Wander By Mistake |
| 1983 | "Anaconda" | 7" | compiled on Some Girls Wander By Mistake |
| 1983 | "Alice" | 12" | compiled on Some Girls Wander By Mistake |
| 1983 | "The Reptile House EP" | 12" | compiled on Some Girls Wander By Mistake |
| 1983 | "Temple of Love" | 7", 12" | compiled on Some Girls Wander By Mistake |
| 1984 | "Body and Soul" | 7", 12" | compiled on A Slight Case of Overbombing: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 |
| 1984 | "Walk Away" | 7", 12" (initial copies w/ flexi-disc) | First and Last and Always |
| 1985 | "No Time to Cry" | 7", 12" | First and Last and Always |
| 1987 | "This Corrosion" | 7", 12", Cassette, CD | Floodland |
| 1988 | "Dominion" | 7", 12", Cassette, CD | Floodland |
| 1988 | "Lucretia My Reflection" | 7", 12", Cassette, CD | Floodland |
| 1990 | "More" | 7", 12", Cassette, CD, Ltd. CD | Vision Thing |
| 1990 | "Doctor Jeep" | 7", 12", Ltd. 12", Cassette, CD | Vision Thing |
| 1991 | "When You Don't See Me" | 7", 12", CD (Germany only) | Vision Thing |
| 1992 | "Temple of Love (1992)" | 7", 12", CD, Ltd. CD | compiled on A Slight Case of Overbombing: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 |
| 1993 | "Under the Gun" | 7", 12", CD, Ltd. CD | A Slight Case of Overbombing: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 |
External links
- [The Sisters of Mercy official homepage]
- [Unofficial The Sisters Of Mercy discussion pages]
- [The Sisters Wiki] (Unofficial fan wiki)
- [1959 And All That] (commentary about band's lyrics)
- [The Sisters of Mercy history]
- [Assorted The Sisters of Mercy fan pages]
- [The Sisters of Mercy Tours page]
- [Rock Video "Black Planet" with Monkeemobile page]
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