Shakespears Sister

Shakespears Sister

Shakespears Sister is a synth-pop-rock band formed by former Bananarama singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988. It was Fahey's first musical project since leaving Bananarama. Later in 1989, American backing vocalist and guitarist Marcella Detroit was featured more as London Records presented the band as a duo. The name is taken from the title of the song "Shakespeare's Sister" by The Smiths and in reference to Virginia Woolf's work A Room of One's Own.

There have been minor variations in the spelling of the band's name over the years, which lost the final "e" from "Shakespeare" (and the apostrophe) when a friend made a woodcut logo for Fahey with the name carved as "Shakespear".

Initially a solo project, Shakespears Sister developed into a duo, then reverted to Fahey on her own again till 1996. After a 13-year hiatus, in 2009, Siobhan Fahey resurrected the name Shakespears Sister and released a new body of work.

History

1988 – 1990: Sacred Heart

Originally conceived as a Fahey solo project, Shakespears Sister's first release was the double A-sided single "Break My Heart (You Really)"/"Heroine" in October 1988. In 1989, with Shakespears Sister now presented as a duo of Fahey with Marcella Detroit, the next single, "You're History", became a top-ten hit in the UK. The debut album, Sacred Heart, also went top ten, though further singles taken from the album were less successful.

1991 – 1993: Hormonally Yours

Taking some time off due to both members' pregnancies, Shakespears Sister returned in late 1991 with the release of the single "Goodbye Cruel World", which peaked at number 59 in the UK Singles Chart. However, in early 1992, the duo released what would become their biggest hit single, "Stay". The single reached number one in the UK for eight weeks. It was also a six-week number one in Ireland, and became their biggest US hit, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of the single was enhanced by a campy, futuristic accompanying music video.

Hormonally Yours, was critically acclaimed and peaked at number three in the UK Albums Chart (spending approximately one year on the chart). Further singles "I Don't Care", "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)", a re-release of "Goodbye Cruel World" and "My 16th Apology" were also released to help promote the album. The album was re-released during 1992 with slightly different mixes of certain tracks. The album was certified Double Platinum by the BPI in February 1993 for selling over 600,000 copies.

After a year-long worldwide tour throughout 1992, Fahey cancelled further European touring due to physical and emotional exhaustion and subsequently admitted herself into a psychiatric unit with severe depression. Following this, Shakespears Sister were nominated for several BRIT Awards, including best group, best album, best video, best single and best female artist (for Fahey). However, out of these they only won Best Video for "Stay", which was voted for by the British public. At the 1993 Ivor Novello Awards it was announced that Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit had split. Fahey was not present at the awards due to personal problems, however Detroit was present and was unaware of the split until the public announcement. According to Marcella Detroit, the pair have occasionally been in touch via e-mail since, but have not met in person since 1993.

1994 – 1996

Shakespears Sister carried on as Fahey by herself, and in 1994 she recorded "Prehistoric Daze" for the soundtrack to the film The Flintstones as well as "Waiting" for the Sadie Frost – Jude Law film Shopping.

In 1996, Fahey resurfaced again as Shakespears Sister with "I Can Drive", a single picked by the record company from her forthcoming third album, instead of Fahey's choice of "Do I Scare You". After the single peaked at number 30, London Records declined to release the full album. Fahey later parted company with the label, leaving the album unreleased. That year also marked Fahey's divorce from Dave Stewart, whom she had married in 1987.

2003 – 2005: #3, The Best of Shakespears Sister and Long Live the Queens!

In 2003, Fahey regained the master tapes for the unreleased album #3, which had been recorded in 1995–1996. The album was finally given an independent release in 2004 on Fahey's own record label, SF Records. A greatest hits CD–DVD retrospective (The Best of Shakespears Sister) was also released in late 2004, containing all of the group's singles and music videos, as well as tracks intended for the #3 album. An additional compilation album, Long Live the Queens!, featuring a track listing of remixes and b-sides, was released in late 2005.

2009 – present: Songs from the Red Room

Siobhan Fahey began writing the Songs From The Red Room with former Shakespears Sister band members Clare Kenny and Stephen Gallifant in 2000, with the intention of creating her first solo album. The album was originally due to be released in 2000, and then again in 2005 with the title 'Bad Blood'. However, both releases were cancelled.

The album was announced again on Fahey's official MySpace in February 2008, and a release date was given in October 2009, along with the album's track list. It was also revealed that the album would be released under the Shakespears Sister name instead of as a solo album.

The album now entitled as Songs from the Red Room, was released 16 November 2009. It was the second Shakespears Sister album without Detroit. It was released on her own record label, SF Records.. Fahey performed her first live show in almost 15 years as Shakespears Sister in Hoxton, London on 20 November 2009., and she is currently planning to tour the UK in April 2010. The first Shakespears Sister single since 1996 ("It's a Trip") will be released on 29 March 2010. It will be released in EP form and includes several remixes as well as a number of special bonus tracks. A physical release of Songs from the Red Room in the U.S. is scheduled for 12 April 2010 followed by a deluxe edition release on 26 April 2010.

Discography

Main article: Shakespears Sister discography

External links

Shakespears Sister and Siobhan Fahey