the Suicide of Miss Melancholy

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the Suicide of Miss Melancholy

Background information
Origin West Virginia, USA
Genre(s) Indie Rock
Years active 1999 – 2003
Label(s) Teahaile Recordings
Members
Joshua Frattarola
Vinnie Frattarola
Israel Slick


the Suicide of Miss Melancholy was an American indie-rock musical group, between the years 1999 – 2003.

Contents

[edit] Band history

Primary songwriter/singer/guitarist Joshua Frattarola was a member of the short-lived Los Angeles based rock band, Plastique between 1996 – 1998. In 1999, Frattarola left LA to reunite with family in West Virginia. Frattarola then formed a group with his brother, Vincenzo Frattarola and Israel Slick, the bassist/leader of Vinnie's previous group, Backseat Drivers.

Experimenting with the styles of their influences, from Charles Mingus to David Bowie to Elliott Smith, the group finally found their own sound and settled down to record and release a self-titled album (dedicated to Jeff Buckley) in January of 2002, which received minimal radio airplay.

Soon after the release of the Suicide of Miss Melancholy, the band recruited a former high school student of Frattarola's, John Solenberger, to play lead guitar and recorded their second album, Integrity is Plastique, which was dedicated to Elliott Smith. The new recruit left the band after a few shows and SoMM, once again, became a trio. Integrity is Plastique received minimal airplay in the U.S., again, but received substantial airplay and reviews in Europe.

Despite the growing support and recognition the band was receiving, the Suicide of Miss Melancholy disbanded, cordially, in late-2003, due primarily to the differing directions that Frattarola and Slick.

Israel Slick started a side project, Red Orchestra, an electronic-punk solo-effort and was signed by Joy Electric label, Plastiq Musiq, to produce two albums. He is currently the bassist for an instrumental rock trio, Masquerade Manifesto.

Vinnie Frattarola continued to support Joshua's solo efforts, but when Joshua took a two-year hiatus, Vinnie joined the indie rock band, the Bleeding Heart Hit Parade (which recorded an album produced by Joshua, but was never released). Vincenzo attended and graduated from film school and is currently working in the film industry.

After a two-year break, Joshua Frattarola began recording and writing songs again. Together with his wife, he released an album of old hymns, entitled "Threads Through the Thistle", in September of 2006.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • the Suicide of Miss Melancholy - (January, 2002)
  • Integrity is Plastique - (January, 2003)
SoMM album cover
SoMM album cover
Integrity is Plastique album cover
Integrity is Plastique album cover

[edit] Collaborations

[edit] Movies

  • The Church League Basketball Diaries directed by Matt Coleman and Joe Smart, UNBLIND MOTION PICTURES

[edit] See also

Joshua Frattarola

[edit] External links