Bilinda Butcher
Encyclopedia
Bilinda Jayne Butcher is a vocalist/guitarist for the rock band My Bloody Valentine.
and then Derbyshire
. She went on to study dance at Laban College in London
, but she dropped out after a year due to developing a case of cystitis
. She explained to the Melody Maker
that, "I had to keep going to the loo, and I couldn't get my leotard on and off quick enough. I missed all of the classes." After leaving Laban, she worked briefly as a nanny for a French family in London.
. She first appeared on the band's Strawberry Wine EP.
While Kevin Shields
is MBV's principal guitarist, producer, and songwriter, Butcher's vocals became a trademark of the band's ethereal, yet dissonant sound. The band went on to release the influential albums Isn't Anything
in 1988 and Loveless
in 1991 to international critical acclaim.
Following Loveless, MBV became mostly inactive except for the occasional remix, or song contribution for compilations. The band reunited for selected tour dates in 2008, and they plan to release recordings. Shields mentioned in an interview on Soft Focus UK (www.VBS.tv) with Ian Svenonius
in November 2007 that he and Butcher had recorded songs in the mid-90's, and they plan to use those recordings for a full-length album, as well as record an additional album of new material.
album Cooler in 1996, and she provided backing vocals to a track on the 1997 Dinosaur Jr. album Hand It Over.
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had a relationship. Butcher has three children, a son named Toby (c.1985) from an earlier marriage, and two younger sons, Davy and Billy. In a 2005 interview with Buddyhead.com, Shields said of Butcher, "She has a couple of kids. Her boyfriend is a musician, they make some music together."
In recent years, Butcher has taken up Flamenco
dancing and guitar playing, and she had studied Taekwondo
, working up to a green belt.
Biography
Butcher was raised in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and then Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. She went on to study dance at Laban College in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but she dropped out after a year due to developing a case of cystitis
Cystitis
Cystitis is a term that refers to urinary bladder inflammation that results from any one of a number of distinct syndromes. It is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection in which case it is referred to as a urinary tract infection.-Signs and symptoms:...
. She explained to the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
that, "I had to keep going to the loo, and I couldn't get my leotard on and off quick enough. I missed all of the classes." After leaving Laban, she worked briefly as a nanny for a French family in London.
My Bloody Valentine
Butcher joined My Bloody Valentine in 1987, replacing original vocalist Dave Conway. Butcher, whose previous musical experience was playing classical guitar as a child and singing and playing tambourine "with some girlfriends for fun", learned that the group needed a backing vocalist. She was finally chosen, beating out "this girl, Julie, who was going out with Douglas Hart from The Jesus and Mary Chain." Butcher became co-vocalist, as well as co-guitarist and co-lyricist along with Kevin ShieldsKevin Shields
Kevin Patrick Shields is an American-born, Irish vocalist, guitarist, and producer of alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine....
. She first appeared on the band's Strawberry Wine EP.
While Kevin Shields
Kevin Shields
Kevin Patrick Shields is an American-born, Irish vocalist, guitarist, and producer of alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine....
is MBV's principal guitarist, producer, and songwriter, Butcher's vocals became a trademark of the band's ethereal, yet dissonant sound. The band went on to release the influential albums Isn't Anything
Isn't Anything
Isn't Anything is the debut full-length studio album by My Bloody Valentine, released in November 1988 on Creation Records after three years of issuing extended plays, singles, and mini-LPs.-Background:...
in 1988 and Loveless
Loveless (album)
Loveless is the second studio album by alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine. Released on 4 November 1991, Loveless was recorded over a two-year period between 1989 and 1991 in nineteen recording studios...
in 1991 to international critical acclaim.
Following Loveless, MBV became mostly inactive except for the occasional remix, or song contribution for compilations. The band reunited for selected tour dates in 2008, and they plan to release recordings. Shields mentioned in an interview on Soft Focus UK (www.VBS.tv) with Ian Svenonius
Ian Svenonius
Ian Folke Svenonius is an American musician, notable as the singer of various Washington, D.C.-based bands including Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Weird War, and Chain and The Gang. Between his numerous projects, Svenonius has released more than 15 full-length albums and more than 20 singles,...
in November 2007 that he and Butcher had recorded songs in the mid-90's, and they plan to use those recordings for a full-length album, as well as record an additional album of new material.
Work outside My Bloody Valentine
During MBV's hiatus, Butcher contributed lead vocals to two tracks on Collapsed Lung'sCollapsed Lung (band)
Collapsed Lung are a Harlow-based Brit-Pop group most famous for the song "Eat My Goal". They formed in February 1992.-History:Collapsed Lung was originally formed as a bedroom studio collaboration between Anthony Chapman and Steve Harcourt...
album Cooler in 1996, and she provided backing vocals to a track on the 1997 Dinosaur Jr. album Hand It Over.
Personal life
In the late 80s/early 90s, Butcher and Kevin ShieldsKevin Shields
Kevin Patrick Shields is an American-born, Irish vocalist, guitarist, and producer of alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine....
had a relationship. Butcher has three children, a son named Toby (c.1985) from an earlier marriage, and two younger sons, Davy and Billy. In a 2005 interview with Buddyhead.com, Shields said of Butcher, "She has a couple of kids. Her boyfriend is a musician, they make some music together."
In recent years, Butcher has taken up Flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
dancing and guitar playing, and she had studied Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
, working up to a green belt.