Bis (band)

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Bis
Press Image
Press Image
Background information
Origin Flag of Scotland Glasgow, Scotland
Genre(s) Electro-pop
Post-punk
Years active 1994 - 2003.
Label(s) Chemikal Underground
Grand Royal
spinART Records
Lookout Records
Wiiija
Website Official site
Members
Steven Clark
John Clark
Amanda MacKinnon

Bis was a Scottish rock band composed of Steven Clark (Sci-fi Steven), John Clark (John Disco), and Amanda MacKinnon (Manda Rin). They were together for nine years, forming in 1994 and breaking up in 2003.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

The three musicians formed Bis in 1994, when Manda and John were in secondary school and Steven had recently finished. About a year later, they appeared on Top of the Pops performing Kandy Pop from their Secret Vampire Soundtrack EP ahead of its release, widely reported (even to the present day) as the first such appearance by an unsigned act. Bis had a number of EPs that almost scraped into the UK top 40, including Sweet Shop Avengerz. In the late 1990s "Eurodisco", from the album Social Dancing, became a notable success for the band.

The band's name, rhyming with 'this', derives from "Black Iron Skyline", a former band of John and Steven.

[edit] Rise to fame

The band's early releases were on Glasgow's legendary lo-fi Chemikal Underground label, run by The Delgados, before transferring to Wiiija where labelmates included Cornershop. In the USA, their records appeared on the underground label K Records and on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label. They toured extensively both in the UK and abroad—their diverse influences reflected in the kind of acts they appeared with: Pavement, Garbage, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters and Gary Numan among them.

Mainstream United States first encountered the band during the closing credits of the Powerpuff Girls animated series. They also enjoyed a period of considerable success in Japan—selling nearly 100,000 copies of their debut album in the first week of release.

[edit] Split and future projects

The band broke up in 2003, after playing a farewell show at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. All remain active in the local music scene. Steve and John play in Dirty Hospital and Manda DJs. Manda was also in a band called The Kitchen, whilst John joined ska band The Amphetameanies which include members of Belle & Sebastian and Pink Kross.

In 2005, they announced on the official Bis website that together they'd formed a new band, called data Panik with Stuart Memo on bass and drummer Graham Christie. After releasing two 7" singles, however, the band split.

They contributed a song to the game Jet Set Radio Future called "Statement Of Intent". In 2005 Bis performed in animated form on the CBBC children's cartoon BB3B.

As of 2006 Manda Rin is working on solo material. [1]

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the release of their debut album The New Transistor Heroes, Bis are re-forming for 3 shows in Glasgow, Manchester, and London in April 2007. A Greatest Hits compilation entitled We are Bis from Glasgow, Scotland will be released on CD to coincide with these shows.[2]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Compilations

[edit] EPs

[edit] Singles

  • Kandy Pop/ (1997, Tristar/Sony) - (1997, Wiiija)
  • Everybody Thinks That They're Going To Get Theirs (1997, Wiiija & Shock) - (1997, Tristar/Sony)
  • Kid Cut (demo) (1997) - (1998, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol)
  • Action & Drama (1999, Wiiija, Shock)
  • Detour (1999, Wiiija & Grand Royal)
  • What You're Afraid Of (2001, spinART)
  • Protection (2001, Tilt)
  • The End Starts Today (2002, Artful)

[edit] Splits

[edit] V/A Compilations of Note

  • Songs About Plucking (1996, Fierce Panda)
  • the Smiths is Dead (1996)
  • Random (1997, Beggar Banquet)
  • At Home with the Groovebox (2000, Grand Royal)
  • Powerpuff Girls: Heroes and Villains (2000, Rhino)

[edit] External links

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