Sneaker Pimps
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Sneaker Pimps | |
---|---|
Origin | Hartlepool, United Kingdom |
Genres | Trip-hop, electronica, dance, garage |
Years active | 1994–2005 |
Labels | Clean Up Records Virgin Records Tommy Boy Records |
Past members | Kelli Dayton Chris Corner Liam Howe Joe Wilson David Westlake |
Website | Sneakerpimps.com (archived) |
Sneaker Pimps were a British trip-hop band formed in Hartlepool, England, in 1994. They are best known for their first album, Becoming X (released in 1996), and particularly the singles "6 Underground", "Spin Spin Sugar", and "Tesko Suicide" from the same album. They took their name from an article the Beastie Boys published in their Grand Royal magazine about a man they hired to track down classic sneakers.
The band's founding members were Liam Howe and Chris Corner, who then recruited Kelli Dayton (formerly of Lumieres, now recording under the name Kelli Ali) for vocal duties and long-time friend Ian Pickering to provide lyrics. After the first album, the band felt that demos for the second album (on which Corner provided the guide vocals) better suited his voice, especially in regard to the more raw, personal quality of the lyrics. Following the promotional tour for Becoming X, Kelli was dismissed from the group, and Corner became the singer.[1]
Side projects
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Chris Corner began working on a side project in 2003 and released five solo albums in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2013 under the moniker IAMX titled Kiss + Swallow, The Alternative, Kingdom of Welcome Addiction, Volatile Times and The Unified Field.[2] He has also sung guest vocals for TNT Jackson, Moonbootica and The Strike Boys, as well as produced material for Robots in Disguise. Corner also collaborated with Sue Denim from Robots in Disguise, under the name Sibling.
Past member Joe Wilson formed Trash Money with Chris Tate in 1999 and plays live with Client.
Liam Howe has become a successful writer / producer and has written and produced the likes of Marina and the Diamonds, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding. He is signed to Columbia records for his solo project which includes collaborations with Alan Vega, Neneh Cherry and Princess Superstar. David Westlake[clarification needed] currently plays drums in Trash Money, has done session work for Natalie Imbruglia, Mediaeval Baebes, and Zero-G, and played drums with Ultrafox on tour.
Kelli Ali (Dayton) recorded her third solo album Rocking Horse at the beginning of 2008 and released it through One Little Indian late autumn 2008. She is quoted as saying this is a very different affair from her two previous solo albums, Tigermouth and Psychic Cat. Rocking Horse was produced by Max Richter.
Ian Pickering is a lyricist/songwriter. Currently nearing completion of his first solo album - Left Handed Tendencies - he has most recently provided lyrics for two tracks on Front Line Assembly's 'Echoes' album - The Next War and Contagion. He wrote lyrics for a number of tracks on the IAMX albums "Kiss + Swallow" and "The Alternative" and released the album All These Lines Make Noises in 2005 as singer/songwriter/lyricist with the band transporter. He is also currently contributing lyrics to a number of other projects and has previously written lyrics for Anomie Belle, Natalie Imbruglia, Neil Barnes from Leftfield and The SuperDead.
Members
In the studio, the band share instrumental duties, however in the live environment they could usually be observed playing the following:
- Chris Corner (guitar, synthesiser, vocals)
- Liam Howe (synthesiser)
- Joe Wilson (bass)
- David Westlake (drums and sampling)
Also note:
- Chris Tate (friend of Joe Wilson and stand-in for Liam Howe on synthesiser during Bloodsport)
- Kelli Dayton (ex-vocalist, asked to leave after making their first album Becoming X)
Discography
Albums
- Becoming X (1996) – #27 UK, #111 U.S., #1 U.S. Heatseekers – BPI: Gold
- Becoming Remixed (1998) – #24 U.S. Heatseekers
- Splinter (1999) - #80 UK
- Bloodsport (2002) – #16 U.S. Electronic, #46 U.S. Indie
- SP4 (unreleased) – most songs ended up on Chris Corner's IAMX project
Singles
Year | Song | UK Singles Chart[3] | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Modern Rock | U.S. Hot Dance Club Play | Album |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | "Tesko Suicide" | - | - | - | - | Becoming X |
1996 | "Roll On" | - | - | - | - | Becoming X |
1996 | "6 Underground" | 15 | - | - | - | Becoming X |
1997 | "Spin Spin Sugar" | 21 | 87 | - | - | Becoming X |
1997 | "6 Underground (re-issued)" | 9 | 45 | 7 | - | Becoming X |
1997 | "Spin Spin Sugar (remixes)" | 46 | - | - | 2 | Becoming X |
1997 | "Post Modern Sleaze" | 22 | - | - | - | Becoming X |
1999 | "Low Five" | 39 | - | - | - | Splinter |
1999 | "Ten To Twenty" | 56 | - | - | - | Splinter |
2002 | "Sick" | 100 | - | - | 16 | Bloodsport |
2002 | "Bloodsport" | - | - | - | - | Bloodsport |
2002 | "Loretta Young Silks" | - | - | - | - | Bloodsport |
2005 | "Low Five (digital remix EP)" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | The Mix You Miss website |
2005 | "Loretta Young Silks (digital remix EP)" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | The Mix You Miss website |
- Also the song "Velvet Divorce" on the A Life Less Ordinary soundtrack, and a collaboration track with Marilyn Manson on the Spawn soundtrack, "Long Hard Road out of Hell".
Promo singles
- 2002 "Kiro TV"
- 2002 "M'Aidez"
References
- ^ "Kelli Ali". Kelli Ali. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
- ^ "IAMX Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1974-01-23. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 511. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
- Sneaker Pimps Official Website (archived)
- Sneaker Pimps Unofficial Website (including discography) (links to download or play music/videos are broken or no longer work)
- Sneaker Pimps Unofficial italian Website
- Kelli Ali – official website
- Kelli Ali Interview for WeirdMusic.net magazine
- Band members' comments about their songs (archive.org copy)
- Trash Money Official Website
- Gashaus Profile with concert photos from June 21st 1997 in Prague's Akropolis