The pioneering force behind the rise of [tag]trip-hop[/tag], Massive Attack were among the most innovative and influential groups of their generation; their hypnotic sound -- a darkly sensual and cinematic fusion of [tag]hip-hop[/tag] rhythms, soulful melodies, [tag]dub[/tag] grooves, and choice samples -- set the pace for much of the [tag]dance[/tag] music to emerge throughout the 1990s, paving the way for such acclaimed artists as [artist]Portishead[/artist], [artist]Sneaker Pimps[/artist], [artist]Morcheeba[/artist], [artist]UNKLE[/artist] and [artist]Tricky[/artist], himself a Massive Attack alumnus. Their history dates back to 1983 and the formation of the [artist]Wild Bunch[/artist], one of the earliest and most successful sound-system/DJ collectives to arrive on the UK music scene; renowned for their seamless integration of a wide range of musical styles, from [tag]punk[/tag] to [tag]reggae[/tag] to R&B, the group's parties quickly became can't-miss events for the [placeformed]Bristol[/placeformed] club crowd, and at the peak of their popularity they drew crowds so enormous that the local live music scene essentially ground to a halt.
When the Wild Bunch folded during the mid-'80s, two of its members -- [bandmember from=1988 to=1999]Andrew Vowles ([artist]Mushroom[/artist])[/bandmember] and [bandmember from=1988]Grant Marshall ([artist]Daddy G[/artist])[/bandmember] -- teamed with local graffiti artist [artist]3D[/artist] (born [bandmember from=1988]Robert del Naja[/bandmember]) to form Massive Attack in [yearformed]1987[/yearformed]; another Wild Bunch alum, [bandmember][artist]Nellee Hooper[/artist][/bandmember], split his time between the new group and his other project, [artist]Soul II Soul[/artist]. The group's first single, "[track artist=Massive Attack]Daydreaming[/track]," appeared in 1990; it featured the sultry vocals of singer [artist]Shara Nelson[/artist] and raps by [artist]Tricky[/artist], another onetime Wild Bunch collaborator. The classic "[track artist=Massive Attack]Unfinished Sympathy[/track]" followed (which, despite its slow BPM, is often cited as Britain's Favourite Dance tune - sources: MTV Dance, Kiss102) as did another compelling effort, "[track artist=Massive Attack]Safe From Harm[/track]." Finally, in 1991 Massive Attack issued their debut LP, [album artist=Massive Attack]Blue Lines[/album]; while by no means a huge commercial success, the record was met with major critical praise, and was dubbed an instant classic in many quarters. Nelson, featured on many of the album's most memorable tracks, exited for a solo career soon after, and the group then confusingly changed their name to simply "Massive" to avoid any implication of approval for the U.N.'s policy towards Iraq; in the wake of the disastrous U.S. tour that followed, many were quick to write the band off right then and there.
After a three-year layoff, Massive Attack -- their full name now properly reinstated -- resurfaced with Protection; again working with Hooper and Tricky, they also brought into the fold vocalist [bandmember from=1995][artist]Nicolette[/artist][/bandmember], as well as [artist]Everything but the Girl[/artist]'s [bandmember from=1995][artist]Tracey Thorn[/artist][/bandmember]. Three singles -- "[track artist=Massive Attack]Karmacoma[/track]," "[track artist=Massive Attack]Sly[/track]," and the title track -- were released from the LP, which was also remixed in its entirety by [artist]Mad Professor[/artist] and issued as No Protection. A lengthy tour followed, and over the next several years, Massive Attack's solo work was primarily confined to remixes for artists including [artist]Garbage[/artist]; they also worked with [artist]Madonna[/artist] on a track for a [artist]Marvin Gaye[/artist] tribute album. Finally, to promote their appearance at the annual Glastonbury music festival, the group issued a new EP, [album artist=Massive Attack]Risingson[/album], during the summer of 1997. They also took part of [album artist=Various Artists]The Jackal[/album]'s movie soundtrack for which they sampled the music of "Metal Postcard" by [artist]Siouxsie and the Banshees[/artist].The third full-length Massive Attack effort, [album artist=Massive Attack]Mezzanine[/album], appeared in mid-1998; in addition to reggae singer [artist]Horace Andy[/artist], making his third consecutive LP appearance with the group, vocal chores were handled by the [artist]Cocteau Twins[/artist]' [artist]Elizabeth Fraser[/artist] and newcomer [artist]Sara Jay[/artist]. Mezzanine became a cult hit among critics, clubs, and the college crowds, spinning successful singles such as "[track artist=Massive Attack]Teardrop[/track]" and "[track artist=Massive Attack]Inertia Creeps[/track]." A tour of America and Europe followed, but Vowles left the band after disagreeing with the artistic direction of Mezzanine. Del Naja and Marshall continued as a duo, later working with the likes of [artist]David Bowie[/artist] and [artist]Dandy Warhols[/artist], but Marshall later took a leave of absence to raise his family; producer Neil Davidge took up the slack. In February 2003, after a five-year wait, Massive Attack released their fourth album, [album artist=Massive Attack]100th Window[/album], including collaborations with mainstay Horace Andy as well as [artist]Sinéad O'Connor[/artist]. The closing track on the album, [track artist=Massive Attack]Antistar[/track], was named after an obscure science-fiction novel by Daniel Foley of electro-acoustic band [artist]Canabrism[/artist]. [album artist=Massive Attack]Danny the Dog[/album] from 2004 marked the group's entry into the world of soundtracks, and 2006 saw a 'Best of' compilation entitled Collected.
Massive Attack have finally returned with their EP 'Splitting the Atom' getting its first airing on Radio 1 before its digital release on 5/10/09. The EP is promoted, in typical Massive Attack style, prior to its release through their first real tour, Europe wide, since their 100th Window gigs.
Massive Attack's next full length LP Heligoland will be released on 8th February 2009 and features [artist]Horace Andy[/artist], [artist]Martina Topley-Bird[/artist], [artist]Damon Albarn[/artist], [artist]Tunde Adebimpe[/artist], [artist]Guy Garvey[/artist] and [artist]Hope Sandoval[/artist].
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It should also be mentioned that "Teardrop" has been the opening theme of the American TV series HOUSE M.D., for all 5 seasons! Actor Hugh Laurie, who plays the main character Gregory House, is well known for his music taste and frequently contributes song selections for the show -- apparently he was the one who recommended it. It also appears in the penultimate episode of Prison Break (Season One), several other series, adverts including the video game Assassins Creed and various radio shows. Also of notable mention one of the first scenes in The Matrix, circa 1999 where the character Neo listens to "Dissolved Girl, and Guy Ritchie's film Snatch features "Angel".
Jel voli neko? ))