Del Marquis

Last updated

Del Marquis
Del Marquis at Amsterdam 2007.JPG
Del Marquis in 2007
Background information
Birth nameDerek Gruen
Born (1977-08-31) August 31, 1977 (age 46)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active2002–present

Del Marquis (born Derek Gruen on August 31, 1977) is an American musician and the lead guitarist for the pop/rock group Scissor Sisters. He is also the creator and producer of the band Slow Knights.

Contents

Career

Scissor Sisters

Born in New York City, he was introduced to the Scissor Sisters in 2001 at the insistence of a friend who, at the time, was dating Jake Shears. He originally dismissed the band when he first saw them perform at The Cock, a New York City gay bar. [1]

Solo

Gruen produced the DVD Kuvaputki released in 2008 by Embryoroom director Edward Quist about Finnish noise artists Pan Sonic. [2]

On Halloween 2008, he began releasing solo material, starting with the song "Hot House", only available with a digital film from his official site. [3] The video was made by Embryoroom, the same director who made Kuvaputki . [3] Further to this, on November 6 it was announced that Del was to digitally release a series of solo EPs, with one released the first Tuesday of every month from December 2008 to April 2009. These contained collaborations with Joan As Police Woman and Basement Jaxx. The first EP, titled Hothouse, was released on December 2. [4] The Runaround EP was released in September 2009,[ needs update ] and includes remixes from Baron von Luxxury and Lifelike. The other EPs were titled Character Assassination, and Litter to Society, each with an accompanying videos by Embryoroom.

Gruen & Boys Choir of Harlem alumnus Xavier - credited as Del x Xavier, who would later join Slow Knights, collaborated on an EP titled Tickle. It was released online as a free download in February 2013. [5]

Del Marquis was included on a list of openly gay entertainers in The Advocate 's "Forty Under 40" issue of June/July 2009. [6]

Slow Knights

After Scissor Sisters announced their hiatus in 2012, Gruen founded a five-person collective that became Slow Knights. They released two albums, Cosmos on March 26, 2013; and Living in a Dark World on April 20, 2015. [7] [8]

Personal life

Gruen is of German, Irish, Polish and Austrian descent, though his great grandfather was born in Riga. [9] He is formally trained as a furniture designer. [10]

Discography

Related Research Articles

Scissor Sisters are an American pop rock band formed in 2000. Their members include Jake Shears and Ana Matronic as vocalists, Babydaddy as multi-instrumentalist, Del Marquis as lead guitar/bassist, and Randy Real as drummer. Scissor Sisters incorporate diverse styles in their music, but tend to sway towards pop rock, glam rock, nu-disco, and electroclash. Forged in the "gay nightlife scene of New York", the band took its name from the female same-sex sexual activity tribadism.

<i>Scissor Sisters</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Scissor Sisters

Scissor Sisters is the debut studio album by American glam rock band Scissor Sisters, first released on February 2, 2004. It was released by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and Universal Motown Records in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ana Matronic</span> American singer

Ana Kirby, known by her stage name Ana Matronic, is an American singer, best known as the female co-lead singer for the pop rock band Scissor Sisters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Shears</span> American singer (born 1978)

Jason Sellards, known professionally by the stage name Jake Shears, is an American musician. He is best known as the co-lead vocalist of New York City pop-rock band Scissor Sisters, who achieved considerable chart success in the 2000s before their indefinite hiatus in 2012. Since 2017, Shears has pursued a solo career; he released his debut solo studio album, Jake Shears, in August 2018 and his second album Last Man Dancing on June 2, 2023. In addition to his solo career, Shears has collaborated with several artists and made his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots in 2018.

<i>Ta-Dah</i> 2006 studio album by Scissor Sisters

Ta-Dah is the second studio album by American alternative band Scissor Sisters, released on September 15, 2006. It was produced by the band and includes collaborations with Elton John, Carlos Alomar, and Paul Williams. The album debuted at number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 42,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, Ta-Dah received positive reviews from most music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filthy/Gorgeous</span> 2005 single by Scissor Sisters

"Filthy/Gorgeous" is a song by American pop-rock band Scissor Sisters. It is the seventh track on their self-titled debut album. Released as the album's fifth and final single in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2005, the song peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's first British top-five single. It also reached number one on the UK Dance Chart and on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. In Australia, it peaked at number 29 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and in Ireland, it reached number 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babydaddy</span> American musical artist (born 1976)

Scott Hoffman, known by his stage name Babydaddy, is an American musician and the Ivor Novello Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, backing vocalist and composer for the U.S. glam rock band Scissor Sisters. He is the brother of comedian and musician Ben Hoffman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrobix</span> 2002 single by Scissor Sisters

"Electrobix" is a song by American band Scissor Sisters and is the first single from the Scissor Sisters' 2003 demo album. Released as a 12-inch vinyl EP in 2002, "Electrobix" is not the best-known track on the EP, with its B-side "Comfortably Numb" gaining much more club and airplay than the A-side.

<i>Hurrah! A Year of Ta-Dah</i> 2007 video by Scissor Sisters

Hurrah! A Year of Ta-Dah is the second DVD by the Scissor Sisters, released on November 12, 2007. It contains a live concert filmed at London's O2 Arena as part of the "Kiss You Off" tour in July 2007, as well as a 40-minute documentary, behind-the-scenes footage from the 2007 tour, a 25-minute acoustic gig at an intimate venue, and all four music videos from Ta-Dah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Quist</span> American artist

Edward Quist is an American director, screenwriter, producer, composer, multidiscipline artist who also works under the name Embryoroom. Themes emerging from Quist's work include electronic and biomorphic imagery, experimental narrative, the unorthodox use of motion graphics and visuals.

The discography of Scissor Sisters, an American pop group, consists of four studio albums, two extended plays, seventeen singles, two video albums and seventeen music videos. The band was formed in New York City in 2001 by Babydaddy, Jake Shears, Ana Matronic, Del Marquis and Paddy Boom, who was later replaced by Randy Real. After signing a contract with independent record label A Touch of Class in 2002, Scissor Sisters released their debut single "Electrobix". The critical success of its B-side, a cover version of Pink Floyd's song "Comfortably Numb", brought the group to the attention of Polydor Records, which signed them in 2003.

<i>Night Work</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Scissor Sisters

Night Work is the third studio album by American band Scissor Sisters. It was released on June 28, 2010, and was preceded by the release of the lead single "Fire with Fire" on June 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shady Love</span> 2012 song by Scissor Sisters vs. Krystal Pepsy featuring Azealia Banks

"Shady Love" is a song by American pop band Scissor Sisters which features front-man Jake Shears' pseudonym Krystal Pepsy and uncredited vocals from Harlem rapper Azealia Banks. The song was set for release in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2012 as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album (2012), but the release was cancelled for unconfirmed reasons. The track was written by frontman Jake Shears, Azealia Banks and was produced by Alex Ridha. "Shady Love" received its first play on January 2 by BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and was met with positive reviews, including NME who described it as "the first big hit of 2012".

<i>Magic Hour</i> (Scissor Sisters album) 2012 studio album by Scissor Sisters

Magic Hour is the fourth and final studio album by American band Scissor Sisters, released on May 25, 2012, by Polydor Records. The first single from the album was initially "Shady Love" but was later replaced by "Only the Horses", co-produced by recording artist and DJ Calvin Harris, which entered and peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only the Horses</span> 2012 single by Scissor Sisters

"Only the Horses" is a song by American band Scissor Sisters. The track is the first single from their fourth studio album, Magic Hour. It premiered on April 6, 2012, on BBC Radio 1, and was released to various iTunes Stores as a single on April 13, 2012, in Europe and was released on May 13, 2012, in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Come Home (Scissor Sisters song)</span> 2012 single by Scissor Sisters

"Baby Come Home" is a song by American band Scissor Sisters. The track is the second single from their fourth studio album Magic Hour. It was released on July 20, 2012 in the United Kingdom. The song was written by John Legend, Jason Sellards, Scott Hoffman, Ana Lynch and produced by Scissor Sisters and Alex Ridha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swerlk</span> 2017 single by MNDR and Scissor Sisters

"Swerlk" is a song by American electronic singer MNDR and American pop band Scissor Sisters. It was released as a single on June 9, 2017, by WonderSound Records. MNDR and Scissor Sisters conceived the song in honor of the one-year remembrance of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. "Swerlk" was released in conjunction with GLAAD and proceeds from the sales benefited the Contigo Fund, a non-profit organization for LGBTQ individuals. The website swerlk.com was developed to funnel donations directly to Contigo.

<i>Jake Shears</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Jake Shears

Jake Shears is the self-titled debut solo album by Jake Shears, released on August 10, 2018. "Creep City" serves as the album's lead single.

References

  1. Scissor Sisters, Ana Matronic, Jake Shears, Del Marquis, BabyDaddy & Paddy Boom (November 27, 2004). We Are Scissor Sisters... And So Are You (DVD). Brighton Dome: Umvd Labels.
  2. IMDB listing for Kuvaputki
  3. 1 2 Video page of Del's official site.
  4. "Scissor Sister Del Marquis to Release Solo EPs"
  5. "Del Marquis and Xavier Are Ready to "Tickle Your Fancy"...FREE DOWNLOAD". February 18, 2013.
  6. "Forty under 40: Entertainment". The Advocate . June 1, 2009.
  7. "Scissor Sisters' del Marquis Talks Slow Knights Solo Project". Billboard .
  8. "Dance, Sex, Funk: Slow Knights Heat Things up with 'Living in a Dark World'". April 20, 2015.
  9. "Interview with Ana Matronic".
  10. "NUNN ON ONE: MUSIC Del Marquis cuts to the chase - Windy City Times News". windycitytimes.com. September 16, 2009.