The Black Belles

Last updated
The Black Belles
TheBlackBelles DevilsNight.png
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee
Genres
Years active2009–2012 (hiatus)
Labels Third Man Records
Members
Past members
  • Christina Norwood
  • Lil' Boo
  • Erin Belle

The Black Belles is an American all-female "garage goth" rock band formed in Nashville in 2009. The band consist of Olivia Jean (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Ruby Rogers (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Shelby Lynne (drums, backing vocals). Former musicians include Tina NoGood (keyboard), Lil' Boo (keyboard), and Erin Belle.

Contents

History

The Black Belles were formed in 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. Original members consisted of musicians Olivia Jean (vocals, guitar), Ruby Rogers (bass guitar), and Shelby Lynn (drums, percussion). In 2009 Jack White, musician and founder of Third Man Records, discovered and signed The Black Belles to his label.

Prior to the bands formation White received a demo of solo recordings by Jean. In 2009, Jean was invited by White to record her songs in Nashville at Third Man Records. Because Jean did not have a band, White introduced her to musicians Shelby Lynne and Ruby Rogers. The group went into the studio and recorded a handful of Jean's original songs. Regarding their start with Third Man Records, Jean said in an interview, "I did it for myself, but I didn't play anything live, because I didn't have a band. But once we all met, we kind of collaborated together and shared ideas, threw all those ideas together and we had a lot of material to work with." [1]

After their success in the studio, the group decided to become a band. The band name was inspired by the legend of Bell Witch Cave located in Adams, Tennessee. The band's musical style and aesthetic is heavily based on their mutual interest in garage rock, goth rock, and goth culture. They are known for wearing their signature wide brimmed hats that resemble witches hats. The band's gothic look and sound later led to a collaboration with television host and scream queen icon Elvira.

The Black Belles and Stephen Colbert performing "Charlene II (I'm Over You)" Black Belles Colbert Live.jpg
The Black Belles and Stephen Colbert performing "Charlene II (I'm Over You)"

In 2010 Jack White produced the band's first single consisting of "What Can I Do?" (a song from Jean's demo) and a cover of The Knickerbockers "Lies".

The bands debut album The Black Belles, also produced by Jack White, was released on October 8, 2011.

The band gained attention re-releasing "What Can I Do?" with Elvira, who used the song as the theme for her television show Elvira's Movie Macabre. In 2011, the band recorded a single with comedian and talk show host Stephen Colbert. The single was based on Colbert's comedic love song "Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)". The Black Belles performed the b-side of the single "Charlene II (I'm Right Behind You)" live on The Colbert Report . [2]

The band saw moderate success with touring; however, in 2012 the band was put on hiatus. Olivia Jean went on to pursue her career as a solo artist. In 2014, Jean released her solo album, Bathtub Love Killings, also with Third Man Records. [3]

Discography

Albums

YearTitle
2011 The Black Belles
  • Released: 8 November 2011
  • Format: CD, LP and Digital Download

Singles

YearTitle
2010"What Can I Do?" / "Lies"
2010Elvira's Movie Macabre Theme / "What Can I Do?"
2011"Charlene II (I'm Over You)" / "Charlene II (I'm Right Behind You)" (Stephen Colbert featuring The Black Belles)
2011"Honky Tonk Horror"
2012"Wishing Well" / "Ms. Black Boots"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Apples in Stereo</span> American pop/rock band

The Apples in Stereo are an American indie rock band associated with Elephant 6 Collective, a group of bands also including Neutral Milk Hotel, The Olivia Tremor Control, Elf Power, of Montreal, and Circulatory System. The band is largely a product of lead vocalist/guitarist/producer Robert Schneider, who writes the majority of the band's music and lyrics. Currently, The Apples in Stereo also includes longstanding members John Hill and Eric Allen (bass), as well as more recent members John Dufilho (drums), John Ferguson (keyboards), and Ben Phelan (keyboards/guitar/trumpet).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack White</span> American musician (born 1975)

John Anthony White is an American musician who served as the guitarist and lead singer of the rock duo the White Stripes. A key artist of the 2000s garage rock revival, he is known for his distinctive musical techniques and eccentricity. He has won 12 Grammy Awards among other accolades. Rolling Stone included him on their 2010 and 2023 lists of the greatest guitarists of all time. The New York Times called White "the coolest, weirdest and savviest rockstar of our time" in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelby Lynne</span> American singer-songwriter

Shelby Lynne is an American singer and songwriter and the older sister of singer-songwriter Allison Moorer. The success of her pop rock album I Am Shelby Lynne (1999) led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, despite it being her sixth studio album. She released a Dusty Springfield tribute album called Just a Little Lovin' in 2008. Since then she has started her own independent record label, called Everso Records, and released six albums: Tears, Lies and Alibis; Merry Christmas; Revelation Road; Thanks; I Can't Imagine; and Shelby Lynne. Lynne is also known for her distinctive contralto voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dillards</span> American bluegrass band

The Dillards are an American bluegrass and country rock band from Salem, Missouri. The band is best known for introducing bluegrass music into the popular mainstream with their appearance as "The Darlings" on The Andy Griffith Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Rogers and the First Edition</span> American country rock band

Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, until 1970 billed as the First Edition, were an American rock band. The band's style was difficult to singularly classify, as it incorporated elements of country, rock and psychedelic pop. Its stalwart members were Kenny Rogers, Mickey Jones and Terry Williams. The band formed in 1967, with folk musician Mike Settle and the operatically trained Thelma Camacho completing the lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stokley Williams</span> American musician

Stokley Williams, also known simply as Stokley, is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and studio drummer of the R&B band Mint Condition.

"Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is a song by the British-American supergroup Traveling Wilburys that first appeared on the 1988 album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1.

<i>Just a Little Lovin</i> 2008 studio album by Shelby Lynne

Just a Little Lovin' is the tenth studio album by Shelby Lynne, released in the United States and Canada on January 29, 2008. The album is a tribute to British singer Dusty Springfield, and features covers of nine songs popularized by her, in addition to "Pretend", an original song written by Lynne. In contrast to the more fully instrumented original versions Dusty Springfield recorded, Lynne's remakes featured sparse arrangements, favoring acoustic guitars and pianos rather than a string or horn section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frazier River</span> US musical group

Frazier River was an American country music group formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1991 and disbanded in 1996. The group consisted of lead singer Danny Frazier and five musicians, Chuck Adair, Greg Amburgy, Brian "Gigs" Baverman, Jim Morris and Bob Wilson. Frazier River recorded one album for Decca Records Nashville and released three singles, two of which charted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.

<i>Be Yourself</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1989 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Be Yourself is the ninth solo album by American singer-songwriter Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on June 26, 1989 in the United States. Her second album with the company following her 1986 platinum album Winner in You, it features the single, "If You Asked Me To" which was also featured on the soundtrack to the James Bond movie, Licence to Kill (1989), and the R&B top ten Prince-written hit "Yo Mister." The album marked LaBelle's foray into new jack swing music with the tracks "I Got It Like That", produced by Full Force, and "Love 89", another Prince contribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Cut Like a Buffalo</span> 2009 single by The Dead Weather

"I Cut Like a Buffalo" is the third track from the album Horehound, by the alternative rock group The Dead Weather in 2009. It was also released as the third single from the album. Jack White is the sole writer of this song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Amanfu</span> American singer-songwriter

Ruby Amanfu is an American recording artist based in Nashville. Amanfu has released seven studio albums and multiple singles. She is known for being one half of the duo Sam & Ruby, whose album was named Associated Press Album of the Year in 2009. Amanfu is also known for her collaborations with Jack White in his all-female band, The Peacocks, and has widely appeared on his critically acclaimed solo albums, Blunderbuss and Lazaretto. In 2020 and 2022, Amanfu was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for co-writing "Hard Place" by H.E.R. and "A Beautiful Noise" by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile, and was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award.

<i>I Never Made a Record I Didnt Like</i> Ray Stevens 1988 album with hit singles

I Never Made a Record I Didn't Like is Ray Stevens' twenty-fifth studio album and his fifth for MCA Records, released in 1988. Two singles were lifted from the album: "Surfin' U.S.S.R." and "The Day I Tried to Teach Charlene Mackenzie How to Drive." The "Surfin' U.S.S.R." single was accompanied by a music video. The song blends the sound of the Beach Boys with the real world events of the Soviet Union. The second single tells the story of how Stevens attempts to teach a deaf woman how to drive. The character would play an important role several years later when Stevens filmed his direct-to-home video movie, Get Serious!. Connie Freeman portrayed Charlene Mackenzie in the movie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Interruption</span> 2012 single by Jack White

"Love Interruption" is a song by American musician Jack White. It was released by XL Recordings, Columbia Records, and Third Man Records as the lead single from his debut solo studio album, Blunderbuss (2012). The song was made available for digital download on January 31, 2012 and as a 7-inch vinyl single on February 7. Written and produced by White, the track is an Americana song and a blues ballad with lyrics that explore love using violent imagery. It features vocals from White and Ruby Amanfu, and its instrumentation includes the bass clarinet, the Wurlitzer electric piano, and the acoustic guitar. The song received positive reviews from critics, who contrasted it with musical elements prominent in White's earlier musical projects, especially the White Stripes. "Love Interruption" was the first single White released after the White Stripes dissolved, and it reached record charts in multiple countries.

<i>Wanda Live! at Third Man Records</i> 2011 live album by Wanda Jackson

Wanda Live! at Third Man Records is a live album by American singer Wanda Jackson.

<i>The Black Belles</i> (album) 2011 studio album by the Black Belles

The Black Belles is the debut studio album by American rock band the Black Belles, released on Third Man Records in 2011. The album spawned two singles, "Honky Tonk Horror" and "Wishing Well" (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Maher</span> American songwriter and record producer

Brent Maher is a producer, engineer, and songwriter currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. He has produced and engineered six Grammy-winning records and received awards from the CMA, ACM, CCMA, ASCAP, SOCAN and NSAI. Maher engineered classic recordings like Ike and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and The 5th Dimension's "Age of Aquarius". He discovered The Judds and produced all ten of their albums, writing many of their hit songs. Maher has also served two terms on the board of directors of the Academy of Country Music.

<i>Release</i> (Damon Johnson album) 2010 studio album by Damon Johnson

Release is the second solo album by guitarist and singer-songwriter Damon Johnson, who has been a member of Brother Cane, Slave to the System, Whiskey Falls, Alice Cooper's band, Black Star Riders, and Thin Lizzy. Mostly acoustic, this album was recorded while Johnson was with Alice Cooper, who features on one track, a cover of "Generation Landslide" from Cooper's 1973 album Billion Dollar Babies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Jean</span> American musician (born 1990)

Olivia Jean Markel White is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She is known as the lead singer and guitarist of the all-female garage-goth rock band the Black Belles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Rhodes (musician)</span> American bass player (1953–2023)

Michael Rhodes was an American bass player, known for his session work and touring in support of other artists, and his collaborations in bands and ensembles.

References

  1. "The Black Belles Ring True - Interview Magazine". 15 June 2012.
  2. "Stephen Colbert and the Black Belles Debut 'Charlene II (I'm Over You)'". Rolling Stone. 24 Jun 2011.
  3. "Olivia Jean: Lana Del Rey's worst nightmare". WBEZ91.5. 4 Nov 2014.