Rasputina (band)

Rasputina
Background information
Origin Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres Cello rock, dark cabaret, indie rock, folk rock
Years active 1992–present
Labels Filthy Bonnet Records
Columbia Records
Instinct Records
Website http://www.rasputina.com/
Members Melora Creager
Luis Mojica
Polly Panic
Past members Carpella Parvo Jonathon TeBeest
Sarah Bowman
Zoë Keating
Julia Kent
Kris Cowperthwaite
Agnieszka Rybska
Nana Bornant
Serena Jost
Lisa Haney
Perry James
Tom Martin
Mark Hutchins
Catie D'amica
Melissa Bell
Julie Griner
Stephanie McVey (touring)
Daniel DeJesus
Dawn Miceli

Rasputina is an American, cello-driven band based in New York City, that is known for their unconventional and quirky music style, as well as their fascination with historical allegories and fashion, especially those pertaining to the Victorian era.

The group is fronted by cellist/vocalist Melora Creager, who writes the music and lyrics and creates art for the band's albums, singles, and website.

History

In 1989, Creager wrote a manifesto, and placed an ad in The Village Voice seeking women to form an electric cello choir. Julia Kent, then an editor at the Village Voice, was the first respondent. The original group of nine was whittled to three. They named themselves "Rasputina", after one of Creager's songs. The group performed frequently and became a local favorite in New York City. Columbia Records signed the group in 1996.

In 1996, they released Thanks for the Ether. In 1997 the band released Transylvanian Regurgitations, a follow up EP remixed by Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez.

On their second full-length album, How We Quit the Forest, Rasputina signed on Chris Vrenna (from Nine Inch Nails) as their drummer and producer. He also provided electronic drums and sound effects.

Rasputina toured with such bands as Bob Mould, Porno for Pyros, Marilyn Manson, Siouxsie Sioux, and Les Claypool. Creager played cello with Nirvana for their final tour in Europe, 1994.

In summer 2010, a documentary was made about Rasputina called Under the Corset by Dawn Miceli.[1] In January 2011 Melora Creager announced on The Dawn and Drew Show that Dawn Miceli would be playing the drums on the February 2011 tour.[2]

Rasputina released Unknown on April 10, 2015. The record is a concept album that exhibits the band's frontwoman, Melora Creager's, trauma after her computer was hacked into. The album is only available on CD from the band's website so, as Melora states on the site "conceptually... anyone who purchases it is known to me." The entire album was recorded solo by Creager in three weeks.[3]

The 2015 "Unknown" lineup is the first in the history of Rasputina to add piano and beat boxing, in place of traditional drums, by Luis Mojica.[4]

On June 26th 2015 Rasputina released a compilation of demo recordings from 1991 - 1997 titled "Magnetic Strip" and is only available by digital download on the band's website.

In the fall of 2016, Polly Panic joined Rasputina as the second cellist. The first tour of the line up with Melora, Polly Panic as second cellist/backing vocalist, and Luis Mojica as keyboardist/beat boxer and backing vocalist.[5]

Discography

Albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles and EPs

Promotional

Videos

Misc

Song inspirations

Creager is a self-proclaimed history buff and often bases the lyrics for the band on that historical knowledge.

These include:

See also

References

  1. "Under the Corset with Rasputina - a documentary by Dawn Miceli". Underthecorset.com. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  2. "DNDS-953". Thedawnanddrewshow.com. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  3. "About New Rasp Album —". Meloracreager.space. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  4. "Interview with Melora Creager of Rasputina". Chaoscontrol.com. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  5. http://meloracreager.space/rasputina/
  6. "Various - The Black Bible (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  7. Allen G. Breed (2005-03-09). "New Orleans Evacuation Picking Up Steam". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
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