The Legendary Pink Dots
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2010) |
The Legendary Pink Dots | |
|---|---|
 LPD vocalist Edward Ka-Spel on the keyboard and Niels van Hoorn at an 14 October 2007 show at the Stubnitz boat in Amsterdam | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, UK |
| Genres | Avant-garde rock Experimental Neo-psychedelia Ambient Post-punk Industrial Noise Synthpop Industrial rock Noise rock |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | ROIR Beta-lactam Ring Records Terminal Kaleidoscope Car Crash International Flesh Eating Ants Records Soleilmoon PIAS InPhaze |
| Members | Edward Ka-Spel Phil Knight Erik Drost Raymond Steeg |
| Past members | Ryan Moore Bob Pistoor April White Patrick Wright Lilly Ak "Macrobiotic" Bart Marylou Busch Rik Chevrolet Tony Copier Sally Graves Barry Gray Vincent Hoedt Calyxx Ka-Spel Lisa Michael Marshall Hans Meyer Nienke Poiesz Elke Peucker Jason Salmon Mark Thrasher Keith Thompson Edwin von Trippenhof Frank Verschuuren Julia Niblock Waller Patrick White Graham Whitehead Halekka Malaizhista Martijn de Kleer Niels van Hoorn |
| Website | LegendaryPinkDots.org |
The Legendary Pink Dots (LPD) are an Anglo-Dutch experimental rock band formed in London in August 1980.[1] In 1984 the band transplanted itself to Amsterdam. The core members of the group are vocalist/songwriter/keyboardist Edward Ka-Spel and keyboardist Phil Knight. As of 2012, the group is composed of Edward Ka-Spel (vocals, keyboards, songwriter), Phil Knight (keyboards, electronics), Erik Drost (guitars) and Raymond Steeg (live sound engineer).[2]
Although outside the mainstream (in terms of their music and career path), LPD have released more than 40 albums, have a devoted worldwide following, and tour frequently.
Overview
The band was originally called "One Day..." [3] but subsequently changed the name to The Legendary Pink Dots, apparently inspired by pink dots on certain keys of the band's main recording studio piano.[citation needed]
In the 1980s the band released albums on Mirrodot and InPhaze; in 1985 they signed with Play It Again Sam for the release of The Lovers.[4]
Their music touches on elements of neo-psychedelia, ambient music, electronic music, tape music, industrial, psych folk, synth-pop, post-punk, progressive, jazz, noise, pop, and goth rock, with a distinctly experimental/avant-garde bent; their sound has evolved over time and remains distinctive, making it difficult to place the group into a concise style or genre. The group's overall sound combined with Ka-Spel's distinct lyrics and singing have earned comparisons to Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett;[5] the group also has links to the sounds of krautrock bands such as Can,[6] Faust, Brainticket, Magma or Neu! (whose "Super" they covered on the 1999 tribute album "A Homage to NEU!"), as well, to some post-industrial`pioneers as Nurse With Wound and the neo-folk of Current 93. Edward Ka-Spel has said their musical influences range from the likes of Abba to Iannis Xenakis.
Related bands
The Pink Dots frequently collaborated with Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key, forming a side project named The Tear Garden.[7] Key also played drums on several tracks of the 1994 LPD album 9 Lives to Wonder. Others groups related to present and past Pink Dots members are Strange Attractor, Mimir and Minizza.
Ryan Moore, who provided drums on studio and live performances for the Legendary Pink Dots, departed to work on his own musical outlet, the Twilight Circus Dub Sound System. He has found notable success with Twilight Circus in the Reggae/Dub genre. He even wrote and produced new albums for grammy-award winning singer Michael Rose of Black Uhuru, and has worked with other notable Reggae figures such as Sly Dunbar, half of one of the most influential partnerships in reggae music, Sly & Robbie.
The Pink Dots have influenced a wide range of bands, such as The Dresden Dolls,[8] the Death Party, MGMT, Electric Caves, Orbit Service, Skinny Puppy, Christus and the Cosmonaughts, Snow in Texas, The Circus of the Scars, Halbes Vakuum,[9] Chanting Sheep, Golden Death Music, Un Festín Sagital, One for Jude, Hide n' Seek. and many others.
Discography
|
|
References
- ^ Edward Ka-Spel. "The Legendary Pink Dots - A 20 Year History (2000)". Retrieved 6 October 2012.
- ^ "About The Legendary Pink Dots".
- ^ "Interview with Edward Ka-Spel (Option Magazine)". LPD Official Site. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2001). All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music. Backbeat Books. pp. 247–48. ISBN 9780879306281.
- ^ Mason, Stewart: "Your Children Placate You from Premature Graves", Allmusic.com review. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
- ^ Mason, James: "A Perfect Mystery", Allmusic.com review. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Miller Freeman Books. pp. 457–58. ISBN 9780879306076.
- ^ "Amanda Palmer: "Thank God my best friend's a therapist"". The Guardian.
- ^ "MMII: Halbes Vakuum at the Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
External links
- LegendaryPinkDots.org - Official LPD Online Centraal: news, discography, etc.