Angelfish (band)

Last updated

Angelfish
Shirleymansonversion2.0.jpg
Vocalist Shirley Manson in the late 1990s, shortly after her tenure in Angelfish
Background information
Origin Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres
Years active1993–1995 [3]
Labels
Past members

Angelfish was a short-lived early-1990s Scottish alternative rock group originating from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed as a side-project to Scottish group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, after keyboardist and backing vocalist Shirley Manson was signed as a solo artist to circumvent the Mackenzies' existing record contract. [4]

Contents

Career

Angelfish (1994–1995)

Angelfish released a single self-titled studio album, Angelfish , and two singles of which the first was an EP for minor college radio hit "Suffocate Me". [5] The Angelfish album was born out of necessity when Goodbye Mr Mackenzie's record distributor MCA expressed interest in recording an album with Manson on lead vocals rather than furthering its commitment to the Mackenzies. The Mackenzies' record label boss Gary Kurfirst signed Manson as a solo artist, with the remaining Mackenzies performing as her backing band to circumvent the band's existing deal with MCA. [6] Angelfish received a positive response from contemporary music critics and journalists. Barry Egan of Creem wrote: "Their self-titled debut displays the kind of out-of-kilter charm and intensity that most artists can only lie about possessing... this is indeed a record that owes much to Scotland's Cocteau Twins as it does to Lou Reed's feel-good dark angels, The Velvet Underground." [7] In the Gavin Report trade publication, their alternative reviewer wrote "An interesting sound... one that recalls elements of early Blondie and Patti Smith".

Two releases promoted the album; the first an EP, Suffocate Me was released mid-1993, while the second, "Heartbreak to Hate", was released to radio at the time of the album's release. [8] The music video for "Suffocate Me" famously aired once by MTV during 120 Minutes , where it was seen by Garbage co-founder Steve Marker. [9] Manson was asked to join Garbage, and accepted. [10] The Angelfish side-project was dissolved, while Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie continued on for another two years without Manson. [11]

"Suffocate Me" and 120 Minutes (1995)

The music video for "Suffocate Me" was aired once by MTV during 120 Minutes , where it was seen by Garbage co-founder Steve Marker. [12] Manson was asked to join Garbage and accepted. [13] [1] The Angelfish side-project was dissolved, while Goodbye Mr Mackenzie continued for another two years without Manson. [14]

Discography

Albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsSales
US
[15]
Angelfish 196

Singles and EPs

YearReleaseLabel
1993 Suffocate Me EPWasteland/Caroline Records
1994"Heartbreak to Hate"Radioactive Records/MCA

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garbage (band)</span> American rock band

Garbage is a Scottish–American rock band formed in 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin. The band's line-up—consisting of Scottish singer Shirley Manson (vocals) and American musicians Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig —has remained unchanged since its inception. All four members are involved in the songwriting and production process. Garbage has sold over 17 million albums worldwide.

<i>Garbage</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Garbage

Garbage is the debut studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on August 15, 1995, by Almo Sounds. The album was met with critical acclaim upon its release, being viewed by some as an innovative recording for its time. It reached number 20 on the US Billboard 200 and number six on the UK Albums Chart, while charting inside the top 20 and receiving multi-platinum certifications in several territories. The album's success was helped by the band promoting it on a year-long tour, including playing on the European festival circuit and supporting the Smashing Pumpkins throughout 1996, as well as by a run of increasingly successful singles culminating with "Stupid Girl", which received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirley Manson</span> Scottish musician

Shirley Ann MansonFRSA is a Scottish musician and actress. She is the lead singer of the American alternative rock band Garbage, and host of The Jump with Shirley Manson (2019–2021). Manson gained media attention for her forthright style, rebellious attitude, and distinctive deep voice. For the majority of her career, Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh and the U.S. to record with Garbage, which originally formed in Madison, Wisconsin; she now lives and works primarily in Los Angeles, while maintaining a second home in Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Mr Mackenzie</span> Scottish rock band

Goodbye Mr Mackenzie is a Scottish rock band formed in Bathgate near Edinburgh. At the band's commercial peak, the line-up consisted of Martin Metcalfe on vocals, John Duncan on guitar, Fin Wilson on bass guitar, Shirley Manson and Rona Scobie on keyboards and backing vocals, and Derek Kelly on drums. Joe Cowan was a vocalist with the band before leaving due to a breakdown which was kept from the other members. Cowan would go on to front various projects, including, Justice, who signed to Chrysalis Records. He has since recorded under different names as a solo artist. Cowan has also written several books under a different name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Marker</span> American musician

Steve Marker is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the co–founder and guitarist of the alternative rock band Garbage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The World Is Not Enough (song)</span> Theme of the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough

"The World Is Not Enough" is the theme song for the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, performed by American rock band Garbage. The song was written by composer David Arnold and lyricist Don Black, previously responsible for four other Bond songs, and was produced by Garbage and Arnold. "The World Is Not Enough" was composed in the style of the series' title songs, in contrast with the post-modern production and genre-hopping of Garbage's first two albums. The group recorded most of "The World Is Not Enough" while touring Europe in support of their album Version 2.0, telephoning Arnold as he recorded the orchestral backing in London before travelling to England. Garbage later finished recording and mixing the song at Armoury Studios in Canada. The lyrics reflect the film's plot, with themes of world domination and seduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radioactive Records</span> Defunct American record label

Radioactive Records was an American record label. It was formed as a joint venture between talent manager Gary Kurfirst and MCA Records, and it is now out of business. Its catalogue is now owned by Geffen Records and licensed through Universal Music Enterprises.

<i>Angelfish</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Angelfish

Angelfish is the 1994 debut and only studio album released by Scottish alternative rock group Angelfish, fronted by Shirley Manson. The Angelfish album was born out of necessity when Goodbye Mr Mackenzie's record distributor MCA expressed interest in recording an album with Manson on lead vocals rather than furthering its commitment to the Mackenzies. The Mackenzies' record label boss Gary Kurfirst signed Manson as a solo artist, with the remaining Mackenzies performing as her backing band to circumvent the band's existing deal with MCA.

<i>Suffocate Me</i> 1993 EP by Angelfish

Suffocate Me is an extended play released in 1993 by Scottish band Angelfish. While not charting on any mainstream Billboard charts, "Suffocate Me" was received well on college radio, and was followed up in 1994 by the release of Angelfish's self-titled debut album.

<i>Fish Heads and Tails</i> 1989 compilation album by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

Fish Heads and Tails is a 1989 compilation album from the Scottish group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie collecting together a selection of live tracks, out-takes and cover versions.

<i>Hammer and Tongs</i> 1991 studio album by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

Hammer and Tongs is the second album from the Scottish rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. It was recorded in Germany in 1989, at Berlin's Hansa Ton Studios just as the Fall of the Berlin Wall occurred. The album sat on the shelf for almost 18 months, in which time the band were transferred across EMI record labels, from Capitol to Parlophone, who released two singles from the album in 1990. Parlophone sold the band's record deal to Radioactive Records and MCA, who released Hammer and Tongs in the United Kingdom in early 1991 and encouraged the band to record a new song "Now We Are Married" to promote the release.

<i>Five</i> (Goodbye Mr Mackenzie album) 1994 studio album by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

Five is the third album from the Scottish group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie and was self-released in 1994 by the band on their own label Blokshok Records. It has a rougher edge to it than their two previous major label albums, partly due to Martin Metcalfe being inspired by grunge music and The Pixies. The album was supported by the extended play release of "Hard" as a single. Five failed to revive interest outside of the band’s existing fanbase. Metcalfe later explained: "We turned to a harder sound and radio wasn’t prepared to play it".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie (song)</span> 1988 single by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie is a 1988 single by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. It was their debut major label single, recorded for EMI's Capitol Records, following a string of well-received independent releases. Supported by the band performing the single live on national music show The Tube, "Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie" was the band's first single to reach the Top 75 of the UK Singles chart, when it peaked at #62 on its third week of release. The music video was directed by John Scarlett-Davis and produced by Nick Verden for Radar Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rattler</span>

"The Rattler" is a 1986 song by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie and has become their most enduring track, often referred to as a "lost classic" of the Scottish music scene. The song was often described as "Springsteen-esque", even though the song had not been inspired or written in that way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirley Manson discography</span>

This is a list of the discography of Scottish recording artist Shirley Manson, who has performed as the lead singer of American rock band Garbage since 1993. Prior to joining Garbage, she was a backing vocalist and keyboard player for Goodbye Mr Mackenzie from 1981–1992. The band had one UK Top 40 single, "The Rattler", and a string of UK Top 100 singles – "Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie", "Love Child", "Blacker Than Black" and "Now We Are Married".

<i>Goodwill City</i>

"Goodwill City" is a 1989 single by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. It was their final single release for EMI's Capitol Records, and released as a double A-side with a cover version of Iggy & The Stooges' "I'm Sick of You". "Goodwill City" was written by Martin Metcalfe and Derek Kelley, in response to their hometown of Edinburgh's reaction to the 1980s AIDS epidemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blacker Than Black</span> 1990 single by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

"Blacker Than Black" is a 1990 single by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. "Blacker Than Black" was the band's second and final single release under the Parlophone label, and preceded its parent album Hammer and Tongs by almost a year. In 1991, after Goodbye Mr Mackenzie had signed to Radioactive Records, "Blacker Than Black" was remixed and released as an international single and featured on their debut international album release, also titled Goodbye Mr Mackenzie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now We Are Married</span> 1991 rock single by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

"Now We Are Married" is a 1991 single by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. It was their first single release for Gary Kurfirst's Radioactive Records label after their record deal was bought from Parlophone, and followed the previous year's singles "Love Child" and "Blacker Than Black". The "Now We Are Married" single immediately preceded the release of the band's second studio album Hammer and Tongs.

<i>The Way I Walk</i> 1994 EP by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

The Way I Walk is a 1994 extended play single by Scottish alternative rock group Goodbye Mr Mackenzie.

<i>Jacobs Ladder</i> (the Filthy Tongues album) 2016 studio album by The Filthy Tongues

Jacob's Ladder is the first album from the Scottish group the Filthy Tongues and was self-released in 2016 by the band on their own label Blokshok Records, in association with Neon Tetra. The album follows Addiction and Dark Passenger, two records recorded by an earlier incarnation of the band known as Isa & the Filthy Tongues, as well as following the albums released by the members earlier major label bands Goodbye Mr Mackenzie and Angelfish.

References

  1. 1 2 "Angelfish Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. "Shirley Manson and Butch Vig Answer 20 Questions for the 20th Anniversary of 'Garbage'". Spin. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  3. "The return of Scotland's lost rock stars, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie". www.heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  4. "Goodbye Mr Mackenzie – Biog". Blokshok Productions. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  5. Garbage. Record Collector Magazine. 1 February 1997.
  6. "Goodbye Mr Mackenzie - Biog". Blokshok Productions. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  7. Egan, Barry (1 April 1993). Shirley Manson of Angelfish. CREEM.
  8. Garbage. Record Collector Magazine. 1 February 1997.
  9. "Garbage: Behind The Music". Behind The Music. 31 March 2002.
  10. name="Radioactive vs Shirley Manson">153 F.Supp.2d 462 RADIOACTIVE, J.V., Plaintiff, v. Shirley MANSON, Defendant. No. 01 Civ.1948(SAS). United States District Court, S.D. New York. (29 July 2001)
  11. Garbage. Record Collector Magazine. 1 February 1997.
  12. "Garbage: Behind The Music". Behind The Music. 31 March 2002.
  13. name="Radioactive vs Shirley Manson">153 F.Supp.2d 462 RADIOACTIVE, J.V., Plaintiff, v. Shirley MANSON, Defendant. No. 01 Civ.1948(SAS). United States District Court, S.D. New York. (29 July 2001)
  14. ""Garbage"". Record Collector . 1 February 1997.
  15. "Charts". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  16. "Garbage sues Universal Music". Canoe -- JAM! Music. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)