The Twilight Singers
Encyclopedia
The Twilight Singers is an American
indie rock
band. The group was initially formed as a side project of The Afghan Whigs
leader Greg Dulli
in 1997. After the Whigs disbanded, Dulli used The Twilight Singers as his own artistic vehicle, and has now released five studio albums backed by worldwide tours.
, Dulli recorded demos for the act with friends and collaborators Shawn Smith
(Brad
, Satchel
, Pigeonhed
) and Harold "Happy" Chichester
(Royal Crescent Mob
, Howlin' Maggie) in New Orleans. The demos have an exceptionally dark, tense, and New Orleans-flavored groove and swagger. As a result of The Afghan Whigs' label troubles, it is debated that Elektra leaked the demo tapes as they were widely circulated in the trader circuit.
The Afghan Whigs settled their dispute with Elektra and signed with Sony/Columbia in April 1998. Columbia optioned The Twilight Singers recordings, but preferred to release a new Afghan Whigs album instead. The Afghan Whigs' swan song 1965
was released in October 1998 to wide critical acclaim. The band toured for one year in support of the album but decided to disband in February 2001.
. Columbia released the album as Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers
in September 2000. The band toured with members of Howlin' Maggie and former Afghan Whigs' drummer, Michael Horrigan, on bass.
Dulli took time off following the short tour for Twilight, investing in a bar in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began working on the follow-up for Twilight tentatively titled Amber Headlights. The death of Dulli's friend, director Ted Demme
in January 2002, forced him to shelve the project, and he took a second leave from writing and recording. After reading the Jack London
book Martin Eden
, and experiencing an earthquake, Dulli set about writing the concept album that became Blackberry Belle
.
With a large cast of performers, including former Prince protégé Apollonia
and former Screaming Trees
singer Mark Lanegan
, Blackberry Belle became an examination of the dark side of love and loss, a familiar topic revisited from former Afghan Whigs albums like Black Love
. Critics welcomed Dulli's return and were eager to give his second album, independently financed and released through One Little Indian Records
in October 2003, high marks.
In August 2004, the band released their third album, She Loves You, a collection of cover songs from artists as varied as Fleetwood Mac
, Mary J. Blige
, Björk
, and George Gershwin
.
In September 2005, Dulli finally released his formerly shelved Amber Headlights album as his first solo album. He continued working on his fourth Twilight Singers album which was partly recorded by generator power in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
.
The Twilight Singers released Powder Burns
on May 16, 2006, supported by tours in the United States, Europe, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. The third touring version of The Twilight Singers included Dave Rosser, (guitars), Scott Ford (bass), singer/songwriter Jeff Klein
(keys) and Bobby Macintyre (drums). Mark Lanegan
also toured with the group. On January 3, 2007, The Twilight Singers made their television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing their songs "Forty Dollars" from Powder Burns and "Sublime" from A Stitch in Time
. The band was joined by friend and musician Joseph Arthur
on guitar and vocals.
In mid-2009, The Twilight Singers' cover of "When Doves Cry
" was issued on Spin magazine's
download album Purpleish Rain.
, in late 2010. The album was released to warm critical acclaim on February 15, 2011 via Sub Pop Records. Prior to the new album's release in September 2010, the band issued the album track "Blackbird and the Fox", featuring guest vocals from Ani DiFranco
, as a free download on their website. The band supported the album's release with live in-store performances at Amoeba Music
in Los Angeles and San Francisco, then appeared again on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 23, 2011, performing the songs "On the Corner" and "Gunshots", both featuring guest guitarist and vocalist Joseph Arthur
.
The Twilight Singers also performed "On The Corner" on the Late Show with David Letterman on April 26th.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band. The group was initially formed as a side project of The Afghan Whigs
The Afghan Whigs
The Afghan Whigs were a soul-influenced American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. PopMatters described the band as "beyond simple genre categorization, and though lauded by the music press, never got their just due."-Band history:...
leader Greg Dulli
Greg Dulli
-Biography:Greg Dulli was born and brought up in the working-class city of Hamilton, Ohio. Although he was raised a Catholic, he is now agnostic. Dulli first came to public attention in the late 1980s with The Afghan Whigs when he joined D.C. transplant bassist John Curley and Louisville, Kentucky,...
in 1997. After the Whigs disbanded, Dulli used The Twilight Singers as his own artistic vehicle, and has now released five studio albums backed by worldwide tours.
Demos era
While in-between Afghan Whigs albums and amidst a dispute with their record label, Elektra RecordsElektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, Dulli recorded demos for the act with friends and collaborators Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith is a Seattle-based songwriter, vocalist and musician in several bands and also as a solo artist. He was born in Spokane, Washington.Smith has cited Freddie Mercury, Prince and KISS as early influences...
(Brad
Brad (band)
Brad is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1992. Brad's sound is influenced by the wide variety of influences brought by its members, including Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, Regan Hagar , Shawn Smith , and Jeremy Toback...
, Satchel
Satchel (band)
Satchel is an alternative rock band from Seattle, featuring Shawn Smith , Regan Hagar , John Hoag and Mike Berg , who replaced original bassist Cory Kane in 1995.-History:...
, Pigeonhed
Pigeonhed
Pigeonhed was a Seattle-area band that combined elements of funk, soul, trip hop, and lo-fi. The band was a collaboration of Shawn Smith and Steve Fisk that lasted from 1993 to 1997 and produced three albums. Soundgarden's Kim Thayil provided significant instrumental contributions to each album...
) and Harold "Happy" Chichester
Happy Chichester
Harold "Happy" Chichester is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, living in Columbus, Ohio.- Royal Crescent Mob :Happy's first band of note was the 1980s rock/funk group the Royal Crescent Mob in which he played bass. Formed in 1985, the Royal Crescent Mob were renowned for...
(Royal Crescent Mob
Royal Crescent Mob
Royal Crescent Mob was a four-person punk-funk band from Columbus, Ohio, that was formed in 1985. Also known to their fans as the R.C. Mob the band members included "Brian Emch" , David Ellison , Harold "Happy" Chichester and Carlton Smith . The band released five albums of material and one ep in...
, Howlin' Maggie) in New Orleans. The demos have an exceptionally dark, tense, and New Orleans-flavored groove and swagger. As a result of The Afghan Whigs' label troubles, it is debated that Elektra leaked the demo tapes as they were widely circulated in the trader circuit.
The Afghan Whigs settled their dispute with Elektra and signed with Sony/Columbia in April 1998. Columbia optioned The Twilight Singers recordings, but preferred to release a new Afghan Whigs album instead. The Afghan Whigs' swan song 1965
1965 (album)
-Track listing:All tracks written by Greg Dulli except where noted.#"Somethin' Hot" – 2:58#"Crazy" – 4:04#"Uptown Again" – 3:11#"Sweet Son of a Bitch" – 0:23#"66" – 3:23#"Citi Soleil" – 5:06#"John the Baptist" – 5:34...
was released in October 1998 to wide critical acclaim. The band toured for one year in support of the album but decided to disband in February 2001.
Twilight and Blackberry Belle
In 2000, Greg Dulli revived The Twilight Singers, reworking the original leaked demos with dance producers and remix auteurs Fila BrazilliaFila Brazillia
Fila Brazillia was an electronica collaboration from Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire in North-East England. Formed in 1990 by Steve Cobby and David McSherry...
. Columbia released the album as Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers
Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers
Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers is the first album by The Twilight Singers. It was released by Sony Music Entertainment in 2000.- Track listing :#"The Twilite Kid" - 5:52#"That's Just How That Bird Sings" - 3:52#"Clyde" - 4:40...
in September 2000. The band toured with members of Howlin' Maggie and former Afghan Whigs' drummer, Michael Horrigan, on bass.
Dulli took time off following the short tour for Twilight, investing in a bar in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began working on the follow-up for Twilight tentatively titled Amber Headlights. The death of Dulli's friend, director Ted Demme
Ted Demme
Edward K. "Ted" Demme was an American film director and producer.- Early life and career :Born in New York City, Demme grew up in Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York and attended South Side Senior High School. He graduated from SUNY-Cortland in 1985. His media career likely began with a...
in January 2002, forced him to shelve the project, and he took a second leave from writing and recording. After reading the Jack London
Jack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
book Martin Eden
Martin Eden
Martin Eden is a novel by American author Jack London, about a proletarian young autodidact struggling to become a writer. It was first serialized in the Pacific Monthly magazine from September 1908 to September 1909, and subsequently published in book form by Macmillan in September 1909.This book...
, and experiencing an earthquake, Dulli set about writing the concept album that became Blackberry Belle
Blackberry Belle
Blackberry Belle is the second full-length album released by The Twilight Singers. It was released by One Little Indian Records on October 14, 2003 and features guest appearances by Mathias Schneeberger, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Stanton Moore, Petra Haden and Mark Lanegan...
.
With a large cast of performers, including former Prince protégé Apollonia
Apollonia Kotero
Apollonia Kotero, born Patricia Kotero on August 2, 1959, is an actress, singer, former model and talent manager. Kotero, born in Santa Monica, California, is of Mexican descent...
and former Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period...
singer Mark Lanegan
Mark Lanegan
Mark Lanegan is an American rock musician and songwriter. Lanegan began his music career in the 1980s, forming the grunge group Screaming Trees with Gary Lee Conner, Van Conner and Mark Pickerel. During his time in the band Lanegan would start a low-key solo career...
, Blackberry Belle became an examination of the dark side of love and loss, a familiar topic revisited from former Afghan Whigs albums like Black Love
Black Love
Black Love is the fifth album by the band The Afghan Whigs, released on 1996. It was released on the Elektra label and was produced by Greg Dulli....
. Critics welcomed Dulli's return and were eager to give his second album, independently financed and released through One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
in October 2003, high marks.
She Loves You and Powder Burns
A second touring version of The Twilight Singers including Jon Skibic (guitars), Scott Ford (bass), John Nooney (keys) and Bobby Macintyre (drums), made two legs through the United States and Europe in 2003 and 2004.In August 2004, the band released their third album, She Loves You, a collection of cover songs from artists as varied as Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, and George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
.
In September 2005, Dulli finally released his formerly shelved Amber Headlights album as his first solo album. He continued working on his fourth Twilight Singers album which was partly recorded by generator power in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
The Twilight Singers released Powder Burns
Powder Burns
Powder Burns is the fourth album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers Powder Burns is the fourth album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers Powder Burns is the fourth album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers (not counting Dulli's solo album Amber Headlights. It was released on May 16, 2006 via...
on May 16, 2006, supported by tours in the United States, Europe, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. The third touring version of The Twilight Singers included Dave Rosser, (guitars), Scott Ford (bass), singer/songwriter Jeff Klein
Jeff Klein
Jeffrey Lawrence "Jeff" Klein is an American singer/songwriter from Newburgh, New York, who plays keyboards and guitar. He has released three critically acclaimed albums.-Biography:...
(keys) and Bobby Macintyre (drums). Mark Lanegan
Mark Lanegan
Mark Lanegan is an American rock musician and songwriter. Lanegan began his music career in the 1980s, forming the grunge group Screaming Trees with Gary Lee Conner, Van Conner and Mark Pickerel. During his time in the band Lanegan would start a low-key solo career...
also toured with the group. On January 3, 2007, The Twilight Singers made their television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing their songs "Forty Dollars" from Powder Burns and "Sublime" from A Stitch in Time
A Stitch in Time (EP)
A Stitch in Time is the second EP released by The Twilight Singers. The five song EP was first released on iTunes on October 10, 2006. Hard copies were then released in the UK on December 4, 2006 and in the US on January 23, 2007. A Stitch in Time features guest appearances by Mark Lanegan and...
. The band was joined by friend and musician Joseph Arthur
Joseph Arthur
Joseph Arthur is an American singer-songwriter and artist from Akron, Ohio. Combining poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette, Arthur has built his reputation over the years through critically acclaimed releases and constant touring; his unique solo live performances incorporate the use of a...
on guitar and vocals.
In mid-2009, The Twilight Singers' cover of "When Doves Cry
When Doves Cry
A hit cover version by R&B singer Ginuwine was produced by Timbaland in 1996 for Ginuwine's The Bachelor album, Ginuwine's cover uses actual dove sound effects as texture for its jungle music-inspired instrumental track.-Charts:-Other cover versions:...
" was issued on Spin magazine's
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
download album Purpleish Rain.
Dynamite Steps
Greg Dulli completed work on the fifth Twilight Singers album, entitled Dynamite StepsDynamite Steps
Dynamite Steps is the fifth full-length album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers. It was released on February 15, 2011, in the US and February 14, 2011, worldwide via Sub Pop on CD and double 12" white-colored vinyl. The UK release date was set at 29 August, 2011.The Sub Pop pre-order for...
, in late 2010. The album was released to warm critical acclaim on February 15, 2011 via Sub Pop Records. Prior to the new album's release in September 2010, the band issued the album track "Blackbird and the Fox", featuring guest vocals from Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
, as a free download on their website. The band supported the album's release with live in-store performances at Amoeba Music
Amoeba Music
Amoeba Music is an independent music chain with stores in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Founded by former employees of nearby Rasputin Records, it opened on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley in 1990. The stores are unusually large given their independent status...
in Los Angeles and San Francisco, then appeared again on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 23, 2011, performing the songs "On the Corner" and "Gunshots", both featuring guest guitarist and vocalist Joseph Arthur
Joseph Arthur
Joseph Arthur is an American singer-songwriter and artist from Akron, Ohio. Combining poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette, Arthur has built his reputation over the years through critically acclaimed releases and constant touring; his unique solo live performances incorporate the use of a...
.
The Twilight Singers also performed "On The Corner" on the Late Show with David Letterman on April 26th.
Albums
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| September 12, 2000 2000 in music See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.... |
Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers is the first album by The Twilight Singers. It was released by Sony Music Entertainment in 2000.- Track listing :#"The Twilite Kid" - 5:52#"That's Just How That Bird Sings" - 3:52#"Clyde" - 4:40... |
Columbia Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| October 14, 2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
Blackberry Belle Blackberry Belle Blackberry Belle is the second full-length album released by The Twilight Singers. It was released by One Little Indian Records on October 14, 2003 and features guest appearances by Mathias Schneeberger, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Stanton Moore, Petra Haden and Mark Lanegan... |
One Little Indian |
| August 24, 2004 2004 in music See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol.... |
She Loves You | One Little Indian |
| September 6, 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
Greg Dulli's Amber Headlights | Infernal Recordings |
| May 16, 2006 2006 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band.... |
Powder Burns Powder Burns Powder Burns is the fourth album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers Powder Burns is the fourth album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers Powder Burns is the fourth album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers (not counting Dulli's solo album Amber Headlights. It was released on May 16, 2006 via... |
One Little Indian |
| February 15, 2011 | Dynamite Steps Dynamite Steps Dynamite Steps is the fifth full-length album by Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers. It was released on February 15, 2011, in the US and February 14, 2011, worldwide via Sub Pop on CD and double 12" white-colored vinyl. The UK release date was set at 29 August, 2011.The Sub Pop pre-order for... |
Sub Pop Records |
Singles and EPs
- Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair (EP)Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair (EP)Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair is the title of a 2003 EP by the American rock band The Twilight Singers. The song "Black Is the Colour " is a traditional folk song which was first known in the United States about 1915. However, it may have come from Scotland originally. It is about a...
(October 7, 2003; Birdman Recordings) - "Teenage Wristband" single (November 10, 2003; One Little Indian)
- "Feathers"/"Number Nine" single (January 26, 2004; One Little Indian)
- "Too Tough to Die"/"Hard Time Killing Floor" single (November 15, 2004; One Little Indian)
- "There's Been an Accident" digital singleMusic downloadA music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
(May 15, 2006; One Little Indian) - "I'm Ready" single (July 10, 2006; One Little Indian)
- A Stitch in Time (EP)A Stitch in Time (EP)A Stitch in Time is the second EP released by The Twilight Singers. The five song EP was first released on iTunes on October 10, 2006. Hard copies were then released in the UK on December 4, 2006 and in the US on January 23, 2007. A Stitch in Time features guest appearances by Mark Lanegan and...
(December 4, 2006; One Little Indian)