- Blonde Redhead
Infobox musical artist
Name = Blonde Redhead
Img_capt = Left to right: Kazu Makino, Simone N. Pace, Amedeo F. Pace
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin =New York City ,New York ,United States
Genre = Rock,indie rock ,shoegazing ,dream pop
Years_active = 1993–present
Label = 4AD
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.blonde-redhead.com/ www.blonde-redhead.com]
Current_members =Kazu Makino Amedeo Pace Simone Pace
Past_members =Vern Rumsey Maki Takahashi Toko Yasuda Blonde Redhead is an American rock trio comprised of
Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace. The band takes its name from the song with the same title by DNA, ano wave band fromNew York . The band performs in multiple languages including English, Japanese, Italian, and French.History
Amedeo and Simone Pace were born in
Milan , grew up inMontreal (Saint-Léonard), but later moved toBoston to studyjazz . After earningBachelor's degree s, they entered theNew York City underground music scene. The Pace brothers and Japanese art students Kazu Makino and Maki Takahashi formed the band in 1993 after a chance meeting at an Italian restaurant in New York.Blonde Redhead caught the attention of
Sonic Youth drummerSteve Shelley , who went on to produce their self-titled debut album in 1993. Shortly afterward, Takahashi left the band and was replaced by her friendToko Yasuda as bassist. Despite this, Yasuda does not appear on any studio recordings. Yasuda soon left the group as well, explaining that "it wasn’t comfortable for me to write songs so I was kind of frustrated". [cite web|last = Chun|first = Kimberly| title = Enon blends Indie Rock With Electro-pop|publisher =AsianWeek .com|date =2002-08-09 |url = http://www.asianweek.com/2002_08_09/arts_hotnsour.html|accessdate = 2007-10-21] The remaining members of Blonde Redhead continued as a trio. On their third album, "Fake Can Be Just as Good ", they were joined byVern Rumsey ofUnwound , who filled the role of guest bassist. They continued without a bass player for the release of the remainder of their albums. On their fourth album, "In an Expression of the Inexpressible ",Guy Picciotto ofFugazi was hired as producer. Picciotto also contributed in the construction to the song "Futurism vs. Passeism Part 2" as well as lending it his vocals. Picciotto also produced the band's records "Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons " and "Misery Is a Butterfly ".Alan Moulder (Nine Inch Nails ,U2 ,Smashing Pumpkins ) mixed their most recent record, "23", which was released on4AD in April 2007.Blonde Redhead has slowly built a sizable fan base in the underground and
independent music scene. Their early music has been described as emulative of Sonic Youth, while their more recent releases have somewhat digressed and branched out in a unique direction. Makino is noted for her high, eerie voice, which hovers over melodicguitar riffs and clockworkdrum beats.The large span of time between "
Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons " and "Misery Is a Butterfly " is attributed to Makino's recovery time after being trampled by ahorse . [ [http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/april_2004/blonde-redhead.html Blonde Redhead ] ] Much of the visual and lyrical imagery of "Misery Is a Butterfly" is reflective of the accident.The song "Spring and By Summer Fall" from "23" was recently used in the introduction to an October 2007 episode of the
CBS series "Numb3rs ". Their song "Elephant Woman" was also used as the ending theme for theDavid Slade film "Hard Candy".This song was also used on theBillabong Girls website in February 2008.The title track "23" was also recently used in a trailer for the British TV series "Skins" in February 2008, and ad for
Crystal Geyser in May 2008 in Japan. The title track was also featured in an episode ofGrey's Anatomy .According to an article on
Pitchforkmedia.com they will be appearing on the tribute record toThe Cure onManimal Vinyl Records, covering the song "The Drowning Man".Discography
Albums
*1995: "Blonde Redhead"
*1995: "La Mia Vita Violenta "
*1997: "Fake Can Be Just as Good "
*1998: "In an Expression of the Inexpressible "
*2000: "Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons "
*2004: "Misery Is a Butterfly " (ITA #42, US #180)
*2007: "23" (ITA #20, US #63)EPs & Singles
*1993: "Amescream / Big song" – 7" Single, Oxo Records (SLR007)
*1994: "Vague / Jet star" – 7" Single, Smells Like Records (SLR007)
*1995: "10 Feet High / Valentine" – 7" Single, Smells Like Records (SLR014)
*1995: "Flying Douglas / Harmony" – 7" Single, Rough Trade (45rev36)
*1997: "Symphony of Treble / Kasuality" – 7" Single, Touch & Go Records (TG168)
*1998: "Limited conversation / Slogan" – 7" Single, Touch & Go Records (TG188)
*2000: "Melodie Citronique " – 12"/CD EP, Touch & Go Records (TG219)
*2004: "Elephant Woman" – 7" Single, 4AD/Beggars Banquet (BAD2408)
*2004: "Equus" – 7" Single, 4AD/Beggars Banquet (AD2415)
*2005: "The Secret Society of Butterflies " – CD EP, 4AD/Beggars Banquet (BAD 2503)
*2007: "23" – 7" Single, 4AD (AD2714)
*2007: "Silently" – 7" Single, 4AD (AD2720)External links
* [http://www.blonde-redhead.com/ Blonde Redhead] official website
* [http://www.4ad.com/artists/blonderedhead/ Blonde Redhead] on current label4AD Records
* [http://www.smellslikerecords.com/blonderedhead/index.php?artist=Blonde%20Redhead/ Blonde Redhead] on their first labelSmells Like Records
*
*
* [http://www.brh.free.fr/ Brh.free.fr] – fan site with lyrics, concert photos, etc.
* [http://www.southern.com/southern/band/VANPT/interview.html Southern Records interview] with Chris Leo and Toko Yasuda about The Van Pelt and Blonde Redhead
* [http://www.thelanashow.com/episode_two/ Blonde Redhead on The Lana Show]References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.