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{{More citations needed|date=June 2008}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2008}}
{{Fan POV|date=October 2020}}
{{Fan POV|date=October 2020}}
{{Overly detailed|date=July 2024}}
}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}

{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chicks on Speed
| name = Chicks on Speed
| image = Chicks On Speed by foto-di-matti 8421.jpg
| image = Chicks On Speed by foto-di-matti 8421.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = Chicks on Speed in [[Berlin]] on 7 February 2008
| caption = Chicks on Speed in [[Berlin]] on 7 February 2008
| alias = COS
| alias =
| origin = [[Munich]], Germany
| origin = [[Munich]], Germany
| genre = {{hlist|[[Electroclash]]|[[electropop]]}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Electroclash]]|[[electropop]]}}
| years_active = 1997–present
| years_active = 1997–present
| label = {{hlist|Chicks on Speed Records| Grönland Records |UniCAT University of Craft Action and Thought | [[K Records|K] ]}}
| label = {{hlist|[https://www.groenland.com Grönland Records]|[https://www.unicat.space UniCAT]|Chicks on Speed Records|[[K Records|K]]}}
| associated_acts =
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.chicksonspeed.com/}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.chicksonspeed.com/}}
⚫
| current_members = {{unbulleted list | Alex Murray-Leslie | Anat Ben David| Kathi Glas|Tina Frank | Unnur Andrea Einarsdóttir }}
| '''==Current_M
⚫
| past_members = {{unbulleted list | Melissa E. Logan | Kiki Moorse | Faustine Komplewjski | A.L. Steiner | Erica Lewis | Krõõt Juurak }}
== Current Members ==
}}
⚫
''' {{unbulleted list |Alex Murray-Leslie | Melissa E. Logan | Anat Ben David | Kathi Glas |Unnur Andrea Einarsdóttir | Saskia von Kiltzing }}
== Past Members ==
⚫
{{unbulleted list | Kiki Moorse | Faustine Komplewjski | A.L. Steiner | | Erica Lewis | Krõõt Juurak }}


⚫
'''Chicks on Speed''' is a feminist music and fine art ensemble, formed in Munich in 1997 at the [[Academy of Fine Arts Munich|Munich Academy of Fine Arts]].<ref name="mjunikdisco">{{cite book |last1=Hecktor |first1=Mirko |last2=von Uslar |first2=Moritz |last3=Smith |first3=Patti |last4=Neumeister |first4=Andreas |date=1 November 2008 |title=Mjunik Disco – from 1949 to now|publisher=Blumenbar |isbn=978-3936738476|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/masses-see-feminism-with-chicks-on-speed-11075385|title=Masses see feminism with Chicks on Speed|first=Johannes|last=Hillje|website=Hurriyet.com.tr|date=25 February 2009 |access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref> Though Chicks on Speed reached cult status throughout the 2000s and became most well known as catalysts of the musical genre [[electroclash]], the band performs as a multidisciplinary art group working in [[performance art]], [[electronic dance music]], collage graphics, textile design, fashion, musical instrument design, Artistic Research and education.

⚫
'''Chicks on Speed''' is a feminist music and fine art ensemble, formed in Munich in 1997, after members Alex Murray-Leslie and Melissa Logan met at the [[Academy of Fine Arts Munich|Munich Academy of Fine Arts]].<ref name="mjunikdisco">{{cite book |last1=Hecktor |first1=Mirko |last2=von Uslar |first2=Moritz |last3=Smith |first3=Patti |last4=Neumeister |first4=Andreas |date=1 November 2008 |title=Mjunik Disco – from 1949 to now|isbn=978-3936738476|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/masses-see-feminism-with-chicks-on-speed-11075385|title=Masses see feminism with Chicks on Speed|first=Johannes|last=Hillje|website=Hurriyet.com.tr|access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref>

Though Chicks on Speed reached cult status throughout the 2000s and became most well known as catalysts of the musical genre [[electroclash]], the band was founded and performs today as a multidisciplinary art group working in [[performance art]], [[electronic dance music]], collage graphics, textile design, fashion and musical instrument design.


==History==
==History==
The co-founders, Melissa E. Logan and Alex Murray-Leslie met in 1997 as art students at the [[Academy of Fine Arts, Munich]], while attending one of the academy's parties.<ref name="mjunikdisco"/>
The co-founders, Alex Murray-Leslie and Melissa E. Logan met in 1997 as art students at the [[Academy of Fine Arts, Munich]], while attending one of the academy's parties.<ref name="mjunikdisco"/> Logan and Kiki Moorse met through their Japanese boyfriends. Moorse came from fashion, formally an editor at [[Condé Nast]]. Moorse was a performer in an early Chicks on Speed video (Für die Bessere Welt/ for the better world, Seppi welt ist besser/ (a member until 2006 now on Toffeetones Records).


In 1997, Murray-Leslie invited Logan to join an illegal bar she founded, named "Seppi Bar". Logan and Murray-Leslie began working as a group at Seppi Bar with Lisa Walker and Kiki Morse to create art exhibitions and host illegal parties.<ref name="mjunikdisco" />
In 1996, Murray-Leslie invited Logan and Moorse to join an illegal bar she founded, named "Seppi Bar". Logan and Murray-Leslie along with co-art student Lisa Walker began working as a group at Seppi Bar to create art exhibitions and host illegal parties.<ref name="mjunikdisco" />


Murray-Leslie founded "Seppi Bar", originally named "Maria Bar", in 1994 with friends Barbara and Karl Fritsch. In 1996, the bar's name was changed to "Seppi Bar". It was a nomadic ArtBar around Munich that lasted 3 years. It was a project based on the [[Cabaret Voltaire (Zürich)|Cabaret Voltaire]] in [[Zürich]] where [[Dada]] artists met and performed.
Murray-Leslie founded "Seppi Bar", originally named "Maria Bar", in 1994 with friends Barbara and Karl Fritsch. In 1996, the bar's name was changed to "Seppi Bar". It was a nomadic ArtBar around Munich that lasted 3 years. It was a project based on the [[Cabaret Voltaire (Zürich)|Cabaret Voltaire]] in [[Zürich]] where [[Dada]] artists met and performed.


After painting 25 collaged, sloganeed paintings (Murray-Leslie writing collaged slogans and Logan painting) in one night to sell at the annual sale of paintings per metre at the Art Academy (to art consulting company Achenbach Art Consulting), they needed a collective name in order to be part of the sale, for which Murray-Leslie coined the name Chicks on Speed.
After a seminar by Roberto Ohrt on the Situationist International Logan asked Murray-Leslie to leave the lecture and in the hallway said they should be an art collective, a large radical group but without the boss structure of Guy Debord, they would be a collective with equal leadership, horizontal. Later Logan and Kiki Moorse met through their Japanese boyfriends. Moorse came from fashion, formally an editor at [[Condé Nast]]. Moorse was a performer in an early Chicks on Speed video (Für die Bessere Welt/ for the better world, Seppi welt ist besser/ (a member until 2006 now on Toffeetones Records), after which she invited her to join Chicks on Speed. In this period, Murray-Leslie worked with Upstart at the techno nightclub [[Ultraschall]] working the door, curating live-art events and interior media art installations.<ref name="redbull_musicacademy">{{cite web | first=Sven | last=Von Thülen | url=http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2014/10/nightclubbing-ultraschall | title=Nightclubbing: Munich's Ultraschall | publisher=Red Bull Music Academy Daily | date=6 October 2014 | access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> This meeting with Upstart (Label owner of Disko B) would see the medium of music merge with the Chicks' multimedia explorations.

In this period, Murray-Leslie worked with Upstart (Label owner of Disko B) at the techno nightclub [[Ultraschall]] working the door, curating live-art events and interior media art installations.<ref name="redbull_musicacademy">{{cite web | first=Sven | last=Von Thülen | url=http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2014/10/nightclubbing-ultraschall | title=Nightclubbing: Munich's Ultraschall | publisher=Red Bull Music Academy Daily | date=6 October 2014 | access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref>


Chicks on Speed created a live-art piece named ''I Wanna Be A DJ...Baby!''. They stood behind DJ decks and smashed records while a sound collage tape was playing. For this project they also put together a "box set" with a T-shirt, a cassette, a paper record and a fake interview for their "band". During this time they met Upstart (a.k.a. Peter Wacha) of [[Disko B]] record label who joined their freshly started record label, Go Records, which later become Chicks on Speed Records with Jeurgen Söder. Go Records was a suicide label—the release numbers started at 10 and went down to zero; the motto was, perhaps what is wrong with the world is that things are made to grow & get bigger. The 10 releases were primarily limited edition 7" and 10" records that sold out fast.
Chicks on Speed created a live-art piece named ''I Wanna Be A DJ...Baby!''. They stood behind DJ decks and smashed records while a sound collage tape was playing. For this project they also put together a "box set" with a T-shirt, a cassette, a paper record and a fake interview for their "band". During this time they met Upstart (a.k.a. Peter Wacha) of [[Disko B]] record label who joined their freshly started record label, Go Records, which later become Chicks on Speed Records with Jeurgen Söder. Go Records was a suicide label—the release numbers started at 10 and went down to zero; the motto was, perhaps what is wrong with the world is that things are made to grow & get bigger. The 10 releases were primarily limited edition 7" and 10" records that sold out fast.
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Chicks on Speed began researching and developing ObjektInstruments (self-made musical instruments) in 2005 for studio and stage implementation, and held a solo exhibition presenting the instruments in a performative installation at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre in 2010.
Chicks on Speed began researching and developing ObjektInstruments (self-made musical instruments) in 2005 for studio and stage implementation, and held a solo exhibition presenting the instruments in a performative installation at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre in 2010.


2011–2013 Chicks on Speed were Artist Residents at ZKM, Centre for Art and Media, Karlsruhe producing the new Chicks on Speed album ''ARTSTRAVAGANZA'' and a series of 6 APP's as musical instruments for their interactive stage performances and Australian touring exhibition SCREAM. Chicks on Speed collaborated with Julian Assange, Yoko Ono, Peter Weible and Francesca Thyssen, Anat Ben David, Angie Seah, Oliver Horton and Christopher Just on the album ''ARTSTRAVAGANZA'' released September 2014.
2011–2013 Chicks on Speed were Artist Residents at ZKM, Centre for Art and Media, Karlsruhe producing the new Chicks on Speed album ''UTOPIA'' and a series of 6 APP's as musical instruments for interactive stage performances. Chicks on Speed collaborated with Julian Assange, Yoko Ono, Peter Weible and Francesca Thyssen, Anat Ben David, Angie Seah, Oliver Horton and Christopher Just on the album ''UTOPIA'' released September 2014.


==Other artistic endeavours==
==Other artistic endeavours==
Chicks on Speed's work is not limited to one specific field, but rather encompasses various forms of creative expression, resulting in a unique and diverse body of work. They ran a record label 2000-2018, Chicks On Speed Records, together with Peter Wacha, Juergen Söder and Gero Loferer (design), releasing recordings by [[Le Tigre]], [[Kevin Blechdom]], [[Planningtorock]], Gustav, [[Ana da Silva]] of [[The Raincoats]], [[DAT Politics]], Susanne Brokesch, [[Kids on TV]], Anat Ben-David, [[Angie Reed]] and the Girl Monster compilation series.
Chicks on Speed's work is not limited to one specific genre, but rather encompasses various forms of creative expression, resulting in a unique and diverse body of work. They ran a record label, Chicks On Speed Records, together with Peter Wacha, Juergen Söder and Gero Loferer (design), releasing recordings by [[Le Tigre]], [[Kevin Blechdom]], [[Planningtorock]], Gustav, [[Ana da Silva]] of [[The Raincoats]], [[DAT Politics]], Susanne Brokesch, [[Kids on TV]], Anat Ben-David, [[Angie Reed]] and the Girl Monster compilation series curated by Murray-Leslie.


Chicks on Speed's interest lies in art, something that also characterises their live performances. Major solo art exhibitions include Kunstverein Wolfsburg 2004, Kunstraum Innsbruck 2005, CAC Vilnius 2007, Kunstraum Kreuzberg 2010, Dundee Contemporary Arts 2011, ArtSpace Sydney, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane 2013 and Design Hub RMIT University, Melbourne, 2014. Group exhibitions include "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", [[Bilbao Fine Arts Museum]] 2007 and "Switch On the Power", [[Vigo]], Spain 2006. XMas, Sell-Out, and ChicksTV. Chicks on Speed performed at Australian Pavilion vernisage, 55th Venice Biennale and Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney, 2013, Thyssen Bornemisza Art Contemporary 2012, [[Turner Prize]] Retrospective at the [[Tate]] in October 2007, and at [[Museum of Modern Art|MoMA]] in June 2006, as part of a special evening with Douglas Gordon. Their work with Douglas Gordon included a performance at the [[Centre Georges Pompidou]] in February 2007, Collection TBA-21 hosted a performance in Vienna in April 2007, and an exhibition at Yvonne Lambert in Paris in September 2007. They have been responsible for the cover art for various other artists, particularly ones signed to their label and Mego Records in Vienna.
Chicks on Speed's interest lies in art, something that also characterises their live performances. Major solo art exhibitions include; "Synthesize" touring exhibition in 2024-28 starting at The Espai d' Art Contemporani de Castelló (EACC)(Contemporary Art Space of Castellón) 2024, ArtSpace Sydney 2013, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane 2013 and Design Hub RMIT University, Melbourne, 2014, Dundee Contemporary Arts 2011, Kunstraum Kreuzberg 2010, CAC Vilnius 2007, Kunstverein Wolfsburg 2004 and Kunstraum Innsbruck 2005. Group exhibitions include "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", [[Bilbao Fine Arts Museum]] 2007 and "Switch On the Power", [[Vigo]], Spain 2006, . XMas, Sell-Out, and ChicksTV. Chicks on Speed performed at Australian Pavilion vernisage, 55th Venice Biennale and Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney, 2013, Thyssen Bornemisza Art Contemporary 2012, [[Turner Prize]] Retrospective at the [[Tate]] in October 2007, and at [[Museum of Modern Art|MoMA]] in June 2006, as part of a special evening with Douglas Gordon. Their work with Douglas Gordon included a performance at the [[Centre Georges Pompidou]] in February 2007, Collection TBA-21 hosted a performance in Vienna in April 2007, and an exhibition at Yvonne Lambert in Paris in September 2007. They have been responsible for the cover art for various other artists, particularly ones signed to their label and Mego Records in Vienna.


Chicks on Speed's focus on fashion began in 1997 with their first stage costumes; these developed into a longtime collaboration with Kathi Glas, and more recently with Peggy Noland, Ari Fish and Jeremy Scott. The fashion side of Chicks on Speed has grown into collaborations with independent fashion brands, including textile yardages for Crystal Ball Japan in 2007/2008, DAA (Designers Against Aids) and Hennes and Mauritz "Fashion Against Aids" in 2008. In 2009, Chicks on Speed and Insight launched the project, Insight on Chicks on Speed, with a range of girls' surf wear, and a song and video, titled "Super Surfer Girl". They are currently working on a larger collaboration with another larger brand.
Chicks on Speed's focus on fashion began in 1997 with their first stage costumes; these developed into a longtime collaboration with Kathi Glas, and more recently with Peggy Noland, Ari Fish and Jeremy Scott. The fashion side of Chicks on Speed has grown into collaborations with independent fashion brands, including textile yardages for Crystal Ball Japan in 2007/2008, DAA (Designers Against Aids) and Hennes and Mauritz "Fashion Against Aids" in 2008. In 2009, Chicks on Speed and Insight launched the project, Insight on Chicks on Speed, with a range of girls' surf wear, and a song and video, titled "Super Surfer Girl". They are currently working on a larger collaboration with another larger brand.
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Logan and Murray-Leslie published 2 books with Booth-Clibborn Editions, : ''Chicks on Speed: It's A Project'' 2005 containing historical pieces of information about the band and their art from their beginning stages onward, including a dress, a DIY pattern to make overalls, designed by Chicks on Speed and Jeremy Scott, a CD of unreleased music and a poster, all together in a tote bag designed by Chicks on Speed. "Chicks on Speed Don't Art, Fashion, Music 2011".
Logan and Murray-Leslie published 2 books with Booth-Clibborn Editions, : ''Chicks on Speed: It's A Project'' 2005 containing historical pieces of information about the band and their art from their beginning stages onward, including a dress, a DIY pattern to make overalls, designed by Chicks on Speed and Jeremy Scott, a CD of unreleased music and a poster, all together in a tote bag designed by Chicks on Speed. "Chicks on Speed Don't Art, Fashion, Music 2011".


Chicks on Speed's series of what they call ''OBJEKTINSTRUMENTS'' sees the group shy away from filling the stage with conventional band instruments, they invented their own instruments, which at times double as fashionable stage outfits –for example: "High Heeled Shoe Guitar", "E-Shoe" Computer Enhanced Footwear created by Alex in collaboration with Max Kibardin and Dr. Sam Ferguson, 4 prototypes were made during her PhD for triggering samples and effects. OBJEKTINSTRUMENTS from their archive include: Glove, Theremin Tapestry, Super suits, outfits which remotely trigger audio/video, and an haute couture hat made with Christophe Coppins, which is a self-contained amplification device.
Chicks on Speed's series of what they call ''ObjectInstruments'' sees the group shy away from filling the stage with conventional band instruments, they invented their own instruments, which at times double as fashionable stage outfits –for example: Super suits, outfits which remotely trigger audio/video, and an haute couture hat which is a self-contained amplification device.


The 2010 exhibition "Chicks on Speed: Don't, Art, fashion, Music" at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre was their first major solo exhibition in the UK. Chicks on Speed opened with a live art performance for invited guests, featuring the 'e-shoe' – the world's first wireless high-heeled shoe guitar, made in collaboration with Milan-based shoe designer [[Max Kibardin]] and Hangar.org. These shoes were unveiled alongside Chicks on Speed's ever-growing collection of self made ‘objektinstruments’ – A Theremin Tapestry, cigar-box synthesizers, super suits with sewn-in body sensors that trigger audio/video samples and two hats made in collaboration with Christophe Coppins and Hangar.org, based on illuminated drawings of [[Hildegard von Bingen]], a 12th-century Christian mystic who received visions, composed ethereal airs, performed healings and even founded convents. These hats transmit the utterances of their wearers by way of microphones and speakers.
The 2010 exhibition "Chicks on Speed Don't, Art, fashion, Music" at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre was their first major solo exhibition in the UK. Chicks on Speed opened with a live art performance for invited guests, featuring the 'e-shoe' – the world's first wireless high-heeled shoe guitar, made in collaboration with Milan-based shoe designer [[Max Kibardin]] and Hangar.org. These shoes were unveiled alongside Chicks on Speed's ever-growing collection of self made ‘objektinstruments’ – A Theremin Tapestry, cigar-box synthesizers, super suits with sewn-in body sensors that trigger audio/video samples and two hats made in collaboration with Christophe Coppins and Hangar.org, based on illuminated drawings of [[Hildegard von Bingen]], a 12th-century Christian mystic who received visions, composed ethereal airs, performed healings and even founded convents. These hats transmit the utterances of their wearers by way of microphones and speakers.


The DCA galleries were further transformed into a giant stage and studio set for making music videos, experimenting with no-choreography and ongoing craft projects live, including loom-weaving inspired by Bauhaus design, lectures and workshops, film screenings of their fashion archive and selected video pieces. Chicks on Speed worked with local and international makers to combine traditional craft with cutting-edge technology.
The DCA galleries were further transformed into a giant stage and studio set for making music videos, experimenting with no-choreography and ongoing craft projects live, including loom-weaving inspired by Bauhaus design, lectures and workshops, film screenings of their fashion archive and selected video pieces. Chicks on Speed worked with local and international makers to combine traditional craft with cutting-edge technology.
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In 2013 & 2014, Chicks on Speed toured their major solo interactive multimedia exhibition SCREAM to global cultural institutions:
In 2013 & 2014, Chicks on Speed toured their major solo interactive multimedia exhibition SCREAM to global cultural institutions:
ArtSpace, Sydney, RMIT Design Hub Melbourne, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane and Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore.
ArtSpace, Sydney, RMIT Design Hub Melbourne, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane and Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore.

In 2023-2028 Chicks on Speed tour their major retrospective exhibition curated by Arakis Arakistan to global key art institutes, opening 13th September, 2024 Espai d´Art Contemporani de Castelló (EACC) | Museum, Spain.

==Solo activities of the members==

'''Alex Murray-Leslie''' is currently a Professor of Digital Performance at the Trondheim Academy of Fine Art, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Her endeavours reach well beyond the conventional bounds of academia, interfacing directly with industry. She is currently in an advisory role at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona (Sonar +D), where she advises on Artistic Research and Entrepreneurship, nurturing synergies between the academic world, pop music, art and industry, to build innovative collaborations, aiming to create a symbiotic relationship that drives forward and blurs the boundaries of each field.

CURRENT ARTISTIC RESEARCH PROJECTS
July. 2019—Dec. 2025 Real-Time Telematic Audiovisual Improvisation, funded by the The Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education.

April. 2020-Dec. 2024 KLIMAFORSK project MEATigation: Towards sustainable meat-use in Norwegian food practices for climate mitigation. The project is a collaboration across the Social Sciences Humanities and Art, Norwegian business and cultural actors with the aim to explore and transform Norwegian food practices towards reducing meat use. Research Council of Norway (RCN) 303698. Director: Senior Researcher Sophia Efsthatiou, (NTNU, Norway).

Murray-Leslie founded and curated the compilation ''Girl Monster'' in 2006, featuring sixty two women in cutting-edge music from the late 1970s to present day, released on Chicks on Speed Records. The "Girl Monster" 12" single, featured Scream Club, [[Client (band)|Client]], Chicks on Speed, [[Vivien Goldman]] and Kids on TV.

'''Melissa E Logan''' is represented by Gallerie Gisela Clement, Bonn, Germany. The gallery represented a solo booth of Logans painting at the 51st Art Cologne, April 2017. Simultaneously Logan premiered a one-hour sound piece at Schauspiel Köln titles Cetacea. it was performed on three consecutive evenings and is part one of the five part: The Ursula Series, sound works for the post human planet. Cetacea is composed in two versions, one for humans, the other is made in the sound range audible to whales. The section titled Quartetris, started in 2014, is being created by robots for humans to perform mimicking dystopian theory of machines controlling humans. Her first solo exhibition there was April 15, 2016 ''University of Craft Action Thought, Flags''. The exhibition was expanded as a collaborative exhibitions in GRAD, European Center for Art and Debate, Belgrad September 11, 2016.

In 2001, Logan, together with Chicks on Speed producer Thies Mynther and chiptune composer [[Rob Hubbard]], released the single "Mutants, Here I Am" under the band name Plundersonics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/39077-Plundersonics|title=Plundersonics|website=Discogs}}</ref>
Logan composed music for Mathilde ter Heigne and for theatre. Kippenberger written and directed by Angela Richter at Schauspiel Köln. Logan appeared in theatre plays by the director Angela Richter ''Versaut'' (with costumes by [[Kate Lloyd-Hughes]] and Chicks on Speed; at Kampnagel Theatre, [[Hamburg]], 2001), ''Alles wird in Flammen stehen'' (Frank Gehry Tower, Hannover, 2001) and a "propaganda operette" ''L'Amerique'' (Hamburg, 2003). ''L'Amerique'''s "[[soundtrack]]" (with music by [[Les Robespierres]] featuring Melissa Logan) has been released on Chicks on Speed Records in 2004. She has worked with the theatre and dance directors Gintersdorfer/Klassen from 2010 on. Die Geselschaft des Bösen, Erleide Meine Inspiration are theatre productions she has acted in. The collaboration includes music, a mix of ivorien Coupè de calè, combined with electroclash. New Black is the resulting album produced in Abidjan [[Ivory Coast]], Berlin, Austria and Hamburg, released on Buback, Hamburg.

'''Anat Ben-David''' Long-time associate-member of Chicks On Speed since 2002 joined first as VJ and support-act in and later joined the band on tours as collaborator, film-maker and performer, taking part in exhibitions and projects such as ‘Art Rules Crew’.

Anat is also a cowriter on several songs on Cutting The Edge and Artstravaganza albums. Her first official solo album: Virtual Leisure released on Chicks On Speed Label.

'Anat Ben-David’s broader practice stretches from stationary audio to video installation, to automatic writing, to chancing with human emotion, all at once. Ben-David has got all camps covered. It’s not surprising that she has worked with the likes of Peaches, and as part of Chicks on Speed, the feminist music-cum-fine art manifestation. It seems that second nature, to Anat Ben-David, sounds like Gilles Deleuze in a Pam Hogg jumpsuit.' (Ronnie Angel Pope/ Quietus)

[https://anatben-david.bandcamp.com Anat Ben-david Bandcamp]



==Current members==
==Current members==
* Alex Murray-Leslie ([[Bowral, New South Wales]], Australia)
* Alex Murray-Leslie ([[Bowral, New South Wales]], Australia)
⚫
* Anat Ben David (London, UK/Israel)
* Melissa E. Logan ([[Upstate New York]], United States)
⚫
* Kathi Glas (Berlin, Germany)
⚫
* Anat Ben David (UK)
* Tina Frank (Vienna, Austria)
⚫
* Kathi Glas (Germany)
* Unnur Andrea Einarsdóttir (Reykjavík, Iceland)


==Discography==
==Discography==
===Albums===
===Albums===
* ''The Un-Releases'' (1999)
* ''The Un-Releases'' (1999)
* ''[[Chicks On Speed Will Save Us All]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Chicks on Speed Will Save Us All]]'' (2000)
* ''The Re-Releases of the Un-Releases'' (2001)
* ''The Re-Releases of the Un-Releases'' (2001)
* ''[[99 Cents (Chicks on Speed album)|99 Cents]]'' (2003)
* ''[[99 Cents (Chicks on Speed album)|99 Cents]]'' (2003)
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* "We Are Data" (remix) Cora Nova (2017)
* "We Are Data" (remix) Cora Nova (2017)
* "Vaccinate Me Baby" (2021)
* "Vaccinate Me Baby" (2021)
* "2 Songs for Julian Assange" (2022)
* "Arctic Rabbit" (2022)
* "Arctic Rabbit" (2022)
* "Uploading the Human" (2023)
* "Uploading the Human" (2023)
* "Synthesize" (2024)
* "We are Cosmique" with ORLAN (2023)
* "Shifting Baseline"s with Captain Moustache (2023)



==References==
==References==
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{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.chicksonspeed.com/ |title=The Official Chicks on Speed Website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014180105/http://www.chicksonspeed.com/ |archive-date=2015-10-14}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.chicksonspeed.com/ |title=The Official Chicks on Speed Website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014180105/http://www.chicksonspeed.com/ |archive-date=2015-10-14}}
[https://chicksonspeed.bandcamp.com/track/uploading-the-human-concorde-remix Chicks on Speed band camp]



{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 08:52, 27 August 2024

Chicks on Speed
Chicks on Speed in Berlin on 7 February 2008
Chicks on Speed in Berlin on 7 February 2008
Background information
OriginMunich, Germany
Genres
Years active1997–present
Labels
Members
  • Alex Murray-Leslie
  • Anat Ben David
  • Kathi Glas
  • Tina Frank
  • Unnur Andrea Einarsdóttir
Past members
  • Melissa E. Logan
  • Kiki Moorse
  • Faustine Komplewjski
  • A.L. Steiner
  • Erica Lewis
  • Krõõt Juurak
Websitewww.chicksonspeed.com

Chicks on Speed is a feminist music and fine art ensemble, formed in Munich in 1997 at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts.[1][2] Though Chicks on Speed reached cult status throughout the 2000s and became most well known as catalysts of the musical genre electroclash, the band performs as a multidisciplinary art group working in performance art, electronic dance music, collage graphics, textile design, fashion, musical instrument design, Artistic Research and education.

History

[edit]

The co-founders, Alex Murray-Leslie and Melissa E. Logan met in 1997 as art students at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, while attending one of the academy's parties.[1] Logan and Kiki Moorse met through their Japanese boyfriends. Moorse came from fashion, formally an editor at Condé Nast. Moorse was a performer in an early Chicks on Speed video (Für die Bessere Welt/ for the better world, Seppi welt ist besser/ (a member until 2006 now on Toffeetones Records).

In 1996, Murray-Leslie invited Logan and Moorse to join an illegal bar she founded, named "Seppi Bar". Logan and Murray-Leslie along with co-art student Lisa Walker began working as a group at Seppi Bar to create art exhibitions and host illegal parties.[1]

Murray-Leslie founded "Seppi Bar", originally named "Maria Bar", in 1994 with friends Barbara and Karl Fritsch. In 1996, the bar's name was changed to "Seppi Bar". It was a nomadic ArtBar around Munich that lasted 3 years. It was a project based on the Cabaret Voltaire in Zürich where Dada artists met and performed.

After painting 25 collaged, sloganeed paintings (Murray-Leslie writing collaged slogans and Logan painting) in one night to sell at the annual sale of paintings per metre at the Art Academy (to art consulting company Achenbach Art Consulting), they needed a collective name in order to be part of the sale, for which Murray-Leslie coined the name Chicks on Speed.

In this period, Murray-Leslie worked with Upstart (Label owner of Disko B) at the techno nightclub Ultraschall working the door, curating live-art events and interior media art installations.[3]

Chicks on Speed created a live-art piece named I Wanna Be A DJ...Baby!. They stood behind DJ decks and smashed records while a sound collage tape was playing. For this project they also put together a "box set" with a T-shirt, a cassette, a paper record and a fake interview for their "band". During this time they met Upstart (a.k.a. Peter Wacha) of Disko B record label who joined their freshly started record label, Go Records, which later become Chicks on Speed Records with Jeurgen Söder. Go Records was a suicide label—the release numbers started at 10 and went down to zero; the motto was, perhaps what is wrong with the world is that things are made to grow & get bigger. The 10 releases were primarily limited edition 7" and 10" records that sold out fast.

Philosophy

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In an interview with Undertheradar.co.nz, Melissa Logan, a founding and current member stated, "We are humanists. Feminism is a small and at the same time a great part of this. Besides the obvious deserved rights for females through sexual equality, equality offers white males a way out of the white male oppressor role."[4] Logan states that their political activism is a form of feminism and that their form of feminism does not have to fit into a box. She asserts, "We were confused and aggressive: what do you mean, we’re feminists? We’re just making our work. And then, at the time, I had a really political boyfriend, who said, yes, you guys are really political, if you’re not feminists you can’t do what you want to do. It doesn’t mean that there’s a definition and you have to fit with it – you can make your own definition of it – and then it was oh yeah."[5]

Music

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Alex Murray-Leslie and Melissa Logan, portrayed in a Gaudi building in Barcelona in 2009

A cassette titled Analog Internet was the first piece of music released by Chicks On Speed. The cassette was released in 1997, though it seems widely agreed that the first Chicks on Speed single was a cover of the song "Warm Leatherette", originally by Daniel Miller (as The Normal), released in 7" form. The single was released in 1998 and four further singles ("Smash Metal", "Euro Trash Girl" (originally by Cracker in 1993), "Mind Your Own Business" (originally by Delta 5 in 1979) and "Glamour Girl" over 1998 and 1999) preceded any actual album releases. In March 2000, two Chicks on Speed LPs were released; the first, titled The Un-Releases, is not considered an official album, instead described as a "collage" of various songs in various forms. Chicks on Speed's debut, Chicks On Speed Will Save Us All appeared later in the month and featured all five of the previous singles as well as a new one, "Kaltes Klares Wasser", a cover of a song by the German all-women punk band Malaria!. All six of these singles proved popular and in October 2000, The Re-Releases Of The Un-Releases was issued.

Several EPs were issued over the next few years such as chix 52, a collection of B-52's covers and Fashion Rules that heralded the arrival of the 2003 second album 99 Cents released on Chicks on Speed records and licensed to EMI. The album produced three more singles: "We Don't Play Guitars", a collaboration with Canadian artist Peaches, which was a hit around the world; a cover of Tom Tom Club's "Wordy Rappinghood" which saw a number of guest stars including Le Tigre; and "Flame On", a hidden track on the album with Mika Vanio. By this time Chicks on Speed have already been collaborating with Anat Ben-David, an unofficial band member working with them since 2002.

In 2004, their third album, Press The Spacebar was released. The album was a collaboration with the Spanish band The No-Heads and Cristian Vogel. No singles were issued from the album, though it included a new version of "Culture Vulture", a song from their previous LP release 99 Cents.

In November 2006, Chicks on Speed released the 12" single "Art Rules" produced with Christopher Just, with guests Anat Ben David and Turner prize artist Douglas Gordon; after the release, Chicks on Speed concentrated on live art performances under the same name and toured art institutions the world over, collaborating with A.L. Steiner, Anat Ben David, Kathi Glas and Adi Nachman.

Chicks on Speed began researching and developing ObjektInstruments (self-made musical instruments) in 2005 for studio and stage implementation, and held a solo exhibition presenting the instruments in a performative installation at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre in 2010.

2011–2013 Chicks on Speed were Artist Residents at ZKM, Centre for Art and Media, Karlsruhe producing the new Chicks on Speed album UTOPIA and a series of 6 APP's as musical instruments for interactive stage performances. Chicks on Speed collaborated with Julian Assange, Yoko Ono, Peter Weible and Francesca Thyssen, Anat Ben David, Angie Seah, Oliver Horton and Christopher Just on the album UTOPIA released September 2014.

Other artistic endeavours

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Chicks on Speed's work is not limited to one specific genre, but rather encompasses various forms of creative expression, resulting in a unique and diverse body of work. They ran a record label, Chicks On Speed Records, together with Peter Wacha, Juergen Söder and Gero Loferer (design), releasing recordings by Le Tigre, Kevin Blechdom, Planningtorock, Gustav, Ana da Silva of The Raincoats, DAT Politics, Susanne Brokesch, Kids on TV, Anat Ben-David, Angie Reed and the Girl Monster compilation series curated by Murray-Leslie.

Chicks on Speed's interest lies in art, something that also characterises their live performances. Major solo art exhibitions include; "Synthesize" touring exhibition in 2024-28 starting at The Espai d' Art Contemporani de Castelló (EACC)(Contemporary Art Space of Castellón) 2024, ArtSpace Sydney 2013, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane 2013 and Design Hub RMIT University, Melbourne, 2014, Dundee Contemporary Arts 2011, Kunstraum Kreuzberg 2010, CAC Vilnius 2007, Kunstverein Wolfsburg 2004 and Kunstraum Innsbruck 2005. Group exhibitions include "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", Bilbao Fine Arts Museum 2007 and "Switch On the Power", Vigo, Spain 2006, . XMas, Sell-Out, and ChicksTV. Chicks on Speed performed at Australian Pavilion vernisage, 55th Venice Biennale and Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney, 2013, Thyssen Bornemisza Art Contemporary 2012, Turner Prize Retrospective at the Tate in October 2007, and at MoMA in June 2006, as part of a special evening with Douglas Gordon. Their work with Douglas Gordon included a performance at the Centre Georges Pompidou in February 2007, Collection TBA-21 hosted a performance in Vienna in April 2007, and an exhibition at Yvonne Lambert in Paris in September 2007. They have been responsible for the cover art for various other artists, particularly ones signed to their label and Mego Records in Vienna.

Chicks on Speed's focus on fashion began in 1997 with their first stage costumes; these developed into a longtime collaboration with Kathi Glas, and more recently with Peggy Noland, Ari Fish and Jeremy Scott. The fashion side of Chicks on Speed has grown into collaborations with independent fashion brands, including textile yardages for Crystal Ball Japan in 2007/2008, DAA (Designers Against Aids) and Hennes and Mauritz "Fashion Against Aids" in 2008. In 2009, Chicks on Speed and Insight launched the project, Insight on Chicks on Speed, with a range of girls' surf wear, and a song and video, titled "Super Surfer Girl". They are currently working on a larger collaboration with another larger brand.

Logan and Murray-Leslie published 2 books with Booth-Clibborn Editions, : Chicks on Speed: It's A Project 2005 containing historical pieces of information about the band and their art from their beginning stages onward, including a dress, a DIY pattern to make overalls, designed by Chicks on Speed and Jeremy Scott, a CD of unreleased music and a poster, all together in a tote bag designed by Chicks on Speed. "Chicks on Speed Don't Art, Fashion, Music 2011".

Chicks on Speed's series of what they call ObjectInstruments sees the group shy away from filling the stage with conventional band instruments, they invented their own instruments, which at times double as fashionable stage outfits –for example: Super suits, outfits which remotely trigger audio/video, and an haute couture hat which is a self-contained amplification device.

The 2010 exhibition "Chicks on Speed Don't, Art, fashion, Music" at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre was their first major solo exhibition in the UK. Chicks on Speed opened with a live art performance for invited guests, featuring the 'e-shoe' – the world's first wireless high-heeled shoe guitar, made in collaboration with Milan-based shoe designer Max Kibardin and Hangar.org. These shoes were unveiled alongside Chicks on Speed's ever-growing collection of self made ‘objektinstruments’ – A Theremin Tapestry, cigar-box synthesizers, super suits with sewn-in body sensors that trigger audio/video samples and two hats made in collaboration with Christophe Coppins and Hangar.org, based on illuminated drawings of Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th-century Christian mystic who received visions, composed ethereal airs, performed healings and even founded convents. These hats transmit the utterances of their wearers by way of microphones and speakers.

The DCA galleries were further transformed into a giant stage and studio set for making music videos, experimenting with no-choreography and ongoing craft projects live, including loom-weaving inspired by Bauhaus design, lectures and workshops, film screenings of their fashion archive and selected video pieces. Chicks on Speed worked with local and international makers to combine traditional craft with cutting-edge technology.

In 2013 & 2014, Chicks on Speed toured their major solo interactive multimedia exhibition SCREAM to global cultural institutions: ArtSpace, Sydney, RMIT Design Hub Melbourne, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane and Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore.

Current members

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  • Alex Murray-Leslie (Bowral, New South Wales, Australia)
  • Anat Ben David (London, UK/Israel)
  • Kathi Glas (Berlin, Germany)
  • Tina Frank (Vienna, Austria)
  • Unnur Andrea Einarsdóttir (Reykjavík, Iceland)

Discography

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Albums

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  • The Un-Releases (1999)
  • Chicks on Speed Will Save Us All (2000)
  • The Re-Releases of the Un-Releases (2001)
  • 99 Cents (2003)
  • Press the Spacebar (with the No Heads) (2004)
  • Cutting The Edge (2009)
  • Artstravaganza (2014)
  • Synthesize (2024)

EPs and singles

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  • "Warm Leatherette" (with DJ Hell) (1997)
  • "Euro Trash Girl" (with Mäuse) (1998)
  • "Smash Metal" (with DMX Krew) (1999)
  • "Mind Your Own Business" (with Pulsinger, Gaier/Reents) (1999)
  • "Glamour Girl" (1999)
  • "Kaltes Klares Wasser" (2000)
  • "Split 7" with V/VM" (2000)
  • "Chix 52" (2000)
  • "The Chicks on Speed / Kreidler Sessions" (with Kreidler) (2001)
  • "Fashion Rules" (2002)
  • "We Don't Play Guitars" (2003)
  • "Wordy Rappinghood" (2003) – UK 66[6]
  • "Flame On" (with Mika Vainio) (2004)
  • "What Was Her Name?" (2004) (Dave Clarke featuring Chicks on Speed) – UK #50[6]
  • "Art Rules" (2007)
  • "Super Surfer Girl" (2008)
  • "10 Years Thyssen Bornemisza Art Contemporary 21-Art Dump" (2012)
  • UTOPIA (2014)
  • "We Are Data" (remix) Cora Nova (2017)
  • "Vaccinate Me Baby" (2021)
  • "Arctic Rabbit" (2022)
  • "Uploading the Human" (2023)
  • "Synthesize" (2024)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hecktor, Mirko; von Uslar, Moritz; Smith, Patti; Neumeister, Andreas (1 November 2008). Mjunik Disco – from 1949 to now (in German). Blumenbar. ISBN 978-3936738476.
  2. ^ Hillje, Johannes (25 February 2009). "Masses see feminism with Chicks on Speed". Hurriyet.com.tr. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  3. ^ Von Thülen, Sven (6 October 2014). "Nightclubbing: Munich's Ultraschall". Red Bull Music Academy Daily. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Chicks on Speed - Interviews at Undertheradar". Undertheradarnz.co.nz. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  5. ^ Gray, Louise. "Chicks On Speed - The Wire". Thewire.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 104. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  • Piers Martin, Chicks on Speed in The Face Vol. 3, No 38, March 2000
  • Steven Wells, International Punky Art Rockers: Chicks on Speed in NME, 8 January 2000
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