Dirty Three Biography
Melancholy instrumental trio Dirty Three formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1992, led by classically-trained violinist Warren Ellis, who began writing and performing music for art openings and plays and also tenured in the groups Blackeyed Susans, Paranoid and the Nursing Mothers. After enlisting Blackeyed Susans' guitarist Mick Turner and drummer Jim White -- veterans of Melbourne bands including the Sick Things, the Moodists, Fungus Brain and Venom P. Stinger -- Ellis formed the Dirty Three; at the group's debut performance, he used a rubber band to attach a guitar pickup to his violin, giving the instrument a distorted, feedback-drenched feel far removed from its original sound. Recorded as a demo, the trio's debut Sad & Dangerous appeared in 1994; subsequent tours in support of Pavement, Sonic Youth and John Cale helped win the Dirty Three a deal with the Touch & Go label, which issued a 1995 eponymous effort and 1996's acclaimed Horse Stories. In 1998, the Dirty Three resurfaced with Ocean Songs; Whatever You Love, You Are followed two years later. That February, the Dirty Three celebrated their 10th anniversary and headed back into the studio. Initially, the trio had recorded songs for a follow-up to Whatever You Love, You Are in early 2001, however the songs were scrapped. White went on to tour with Smog and Will Oldham. Turner founded his own label, King Crab Records, and worked with Marquis de Tren. Ellis joined his fellow mates Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds for a monumental world tour in spring 2002. Somewhere in there, the Dirty Three reconvened with producer Fabrice Lor. Lor is chief of Prohibited Records and recorded part of the soundtrack to Amelie. Together, he and the Dirty Three arrived with the enigmatic, dark album She Has No Strings Apollo in February 2003. Cinder, which features appearances
by Cat Power's Chan Marshall and Sally Timms from the Mekons, followed two years later. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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