The Twilight Singers
is an American indie rock band. The group was initially formed as a side project by The Afghan Whigs leader Greg Dulli in 1997. After the Whigs disbanded The Twilight Singers became an artistic vehicle, and has released four albums backed by international tours.
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THE TWILIGHT SINGERS TICKETS
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Career
Demos era
While in-between Afghan Whigs albums and amidst a dispute with their record label,
Elektra, Dulli recorded demos for the act with friends and collaborators
Shawn Smith (
Brad,
Satchel,
Pigeonhed) and
Harold "Happy" Chichester (
Royal Crescent Mob,
Howlin' Maggie) in
New Orleans. The demos have an exceptionally dark, tense, and
New Orleans-flavored groove and swagger. As a result of The Afghan Whigs' label troubles, it is debated that Elektra leaked the demo tapes as they were widely circulated in the trader circuit.
The Afghan Whigs settled their dispute with Elektra and signed with Sony/Columbia in April 1998. Columbia optioned The Twilight Singers recordings, but preferred to release a new Afghan Whigs album instead. The Afghan Whigs' swan song
1965
was released in October 1998 to wide critical acclaim. The band toured for one year in support of the album but decided to disband in February 2001.
Twilight
and Blackberry Belle
2000 saw Greg Dulli revive The Twilight Singers, reworking the original leaked demos with dance producers and remix auteurs
Fila Brazillia. Columbia released the album as
Twilight As Played By The Twilight Singers
in September 2000. The band toured with members of Howlin' Maggie and former Afghan Whigs' drummer, Michael Horrigan, on bass.
Dulli took time off following the short tour for
Twilight
, investing in a bar in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began working on the follow up for
Twilight..
tentatively titled
Amber Headlights
. The death of Dulli's friend, director
Ted Demme in January 2002, forced him to shelve the project, and he took a second leave from writing and recording. After reading the
Jack London book
Martin Eden
, and experiencing an earthquake, Dulli set about writing the concept album that became
Blackberry Belle
.
With a large cast of performers, including former
Prince protégé
Apollonia and former
Screaming Trees singer
Mark Lanegan,
Blackberry Belle
became an examination of the dark side of love and loss, a familiar topic revisited from former Afghan Whigs albums like
Black Love
. The critics welcomed Dulli's return and were eager to give his second album, independently financed and released through
One Little Indian Records in October 2003, high marks.
She Loves You
and Powder Burns
A second touring version of The Twilight Singers including
Jon Skibic (guitars),
Scott Ford (bass),
John Nooney (keys) and
Bobby Macintyre (drums), made two legs through the United States and Europe in 2003 and 2004.
August 2004, the band released their third album,
She Loves You
, a collection of cover songs from artists as varied as
Fleetwood Mac,
Mary J. Blige,
Björk and
George Gershwin.
In September 2005, Dulli finally released his formerly shelved
Amber Headlights
as his first solo album. He continued working on his fourth Twilight Singers album titled
Powder Burns
, which was partly recorded by generator power in
New Orleans in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina.
The Twilight Singers released
Powder Burns
on May 16, 2006, supported by tours in the United States, Europe, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. The third touring version of The Twilight Singers included
David Rosser (guitars),
Scott Ford (bass), singer/songwriter
Jeff Klein (keys) and
Bobby Macintyre (drums).
Mark Lanegan also toured with the group. Their song "There's Been an Accident" featured in the film adaptation of
Chuck Palahniuk's novel,
Choke
.
On January 3, 2007, The Twilight Singers made their television debut on
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
, performing their songs "Forty Dollars" from
Powder Burns
and "Sublime" from
A Stitch In Time (EP)
. The band was joined by friend and musician
Joseph Arthur on guitar and vocals.
In mid-2009 a cover of "When Doves Cry" by The Twilight Singers appeared on the SPIN Magazine download album Purpleish Rain.
Greg Dulli has begun work on a new Twilight Singers album, which he expects to release in 2010 on Sub Pop Records.
Discography
Albums
| Date
| Title
| Label
|
| September 12, 2000
| Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers
| Columbia
|
| October 14, 2003
| Blackberry Belle
| One Little Indian
|
| August 24, 2004
| She Loves You
| One Little Indian
|
| September 6, 2005
| Greg Dulli's Amber Headlights
| One Little Indian
|
| May 16, 2006
| Powder Burns
| One Little Indian
|
Singles & EP's
- Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair
EP (October 7, 2003) ()
- Teenage Wristband
Single (November 10, 2003)
- Feathers
Single (January 26, 2004)
- Too Tough To Die
Single (November 15, 2004)
- I'm Ready
Single (July 10, 2006)
- A Stitch In Time (EP)
(December 4, 2006 - UK) (January 23, 2007 - US) ()