My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine were an Irish shoegazing rock band. Taking their name from a Canadian slasher film, they formed in 1984 in Dublin and continued into the early 1990s. Original members were guitarist/singer Kevin Shields and drummer Colm O'Ciosoig. Lineup during heyday also included singer-guitarist Bilinda Butcher and bassist Debbie Googe.

Though they released an album and a handful of EPs during the mid-1980s, only their last two albums Isn't Anything (November 1988) and Loveless (November 1991), are considered representative of their sound: a distinct blend of noise rock, ambience, and off-kilter pop. The thick, swirling, multi-layered guitar sound pioneered by My Bloody Valentine would later be termed shoegazer by the British press.

After leaving Creation Records in 1992 and signing with Island Records, the band fell into a creative black hole. Rumors spread among their fans of albums being recorded and then shelved. Debbie Googe left the band to form Snowpony; she had not played bass on their recordings since You Made Me Realise. Colm O'Ciosoig eventually left and recorded an album with Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star. Kevin Shields sporadically collaborated with other artists, most notably Experimental Audio Research, Curve, and Primal Scream. He revealed in a fall 2003 National Public Radio interview that Island Records quit financing his My Bloody Valentine endeavours after he spent a half-million pounds of their money.

As of 2004, My Bloody Valentine were rumored to be re-recording 5 additional tracks for the re-release of 1989's Glider EP, minus Debbie Googe. In 2003, Kevin Shields contributed some music to the score of the Sofia Coppola film Lost In Translation.

Similar bands include The Boo Radleys, Lush, Slowdive, Curve, and Ride. Influences include: The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, late-1970s Wire, The Jesus & Mary Chain, and paisley underground artists such as the Pastels. Kevin Shields has also named The Beach Boys as a personal influence.

Discography

Albums

• This is Your Bloody Valentine (1985)
• Isn't Anything (1988)
• Ecstacy and Wine (1989) – compilation
• Loveless (1991)

EPs

• Geek (1985)
• The New Record by My Bloody Valentine (1986)
• Strawberry Wine (1987)
• Ecstacy (1987)
• Untitled EP [You Made Me Realise] (1988)
• Untitled EP [Feed Me with Your Kiss] (1988)
• Glider (1990)
• Tremolo (1991)

Singles

• "No Place to Go" (1986) – 7" edition of the Geek EP
• "Sunny Sundae Smile" (1987)
• "Feed me with your Kiss" (1988)
• "Instrumental" (1988)

External link

• www.mybloodyvalentine.net – unofficial fansite
• Pitchforkmedia news – My Bloody Valentine Return to Studio to Complete Unfinished Album, Shields Scores Coppola Film
• Pitchforkmedia news – My Bloody Valentine Reportedly Planning Two Anthologies, DVD For Release In 2005