Bis (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bis | |
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| Origin | Glasgow |
| Country | Scotland |
| Years active | 1994–2003 |
| Genres | Electro-pop Post-punk |
| Labels | Chemikal Underground Grand Royal spinART Records Lookout Records Wiiija |
| Members | Steven Clark John Clark Amanda MacKinnon |
Bis was a Scottish rock band composed of Steven Clark (Sci-fi Steven), John Clark (John Disco), and Amanda MacKinnon (Manda Rin). They were together for nine years, forming in 1994 and breaking up in 2003.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early history
The three musicians formed Bis in 1994, when Manda and John were in secondary school and Steven had recently finished. About a year later, they appeared on Top of the Pops performing Kandy Pop from their Secret Vampire Soundtrack EP ahead of its release, widely reported (even to the present day) as the first such appearance by an unsigned act. Bis had a number of EPs that almost scraped into the UK top 40, including Sweet Shop Avengerz. In the late 1990s "Eurodisco", from the album Social Dancing, became a notable success for the band.
[edit] Rise to fame
The band's early releases were on Glasgow's legendary lo-fi Chemikal Underground label, run by The Delgados, before transferring to Wiiija where labelmates included Cornershop. In the USA, their records appeared on the underground label K Records and on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label. They toured extensively both in the UK and abroad—their diverse influences reflected in the kind of acts they appeared with: Pavement, Garbage, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters and Gary Numan among them.
Mainstream United States first encountered the band during the closing credits of the Powerpuff Girls animated series. They also enjoyed a period of considerable success in Japan—selling nearly 100,000 copies of their debut album in the first week of release.
[edit] Split and future projects
The band broke up in 2003, after playing a farewell show at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. All remain active in the local music scene. Steve and John play in Dirty Hospital and Manda DJs. Manda was also in a band called the Kitchen. Also John joined the ska band, the Amphetameanies which include members of Belle and Sebastian and Pink Kross.
In 2005, they announced on the official Bis website that together they'd formed a new band, called data Panik with Stuart Memo on bass and drummer Graham Christie. After releasing two 7" singles, however, that band split.
They contributed a song to the game Jet Set Radio Future called "Statement Of Intent". More recently Bis have been seen performing in animated form on the CBBC children's cartoon BB3B.
As of 2006 Manda Rin is working on solo material.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- The New Transistor Heroes (1997, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol & Tristar/Sony)
- Social Dancing (1999, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol & V2)
- Play Some Real Songs: the Live Album (2001)
- Return To Central (2001, spinART, Apex & Tilt)
[edit] Compilations
- Icky-Poo Air Raid (1997, Rock)
- Intendo (1998, Grand Royal)
- I Love Bis (2001)
- Plastique Nouveau (2002, spinART)
[edit] EPs
- Transmissions on the Teen-C Tip! (1995, Acuarela)
- Disco Nation 45 (1995, Chemikal Underground)
- The Secret Vampire Soundtrack (1996, Chemikal Underground)
- Bis vs. the D.I.Y. Corps (1996, teen-c recordings)
- Atom-Powered Action! (1996, Wiiija)
- This Is Teen-C Power! (1996, Grand Royal)
- Techno Disco Lovers (1998, V2 & PIAS)
- Music For A Stranger World (2001, Wiiija, Lookout! & V2)
- fukd i.d. (2001, Chemikal Underground)
- Fact 2002 (2001, Optimo Singles Club and Other Related Recordings)
- Plastique 33 (2002, spinART)
Lookout!Freakout Vol.2 (2001)
[edit] Singles
- Kandy Pop/ (1997, Tristar/Sony)
(1997, Wiiija)
- Everybody Thinks That They're Going To Get Theirs (1997, Wiiija & Shock)
(1997, Tristar/Sony)
- Kid Cut (demo) (1997)
(1998, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol)
- Action & Drama (1999, Wiiija, Shock)
- Detour (1999, Wiiija & Grand Royal)
- What You're Afraid Of (2001, spinART)
- Protection (2001, Tilt)
- The End Starts Today (2002, Artful)
[edit] Splits
- Heavenly/Bis split (1996, K)
- Lugworm/Bis split (1997, Guided Missile)
- Bis/Apples in Stereo split (2000, Rhino)
[edit] V/A Compilations of Note
- Songs About Plucking (1996, Fierce Panda)
- the Smiths is Dead (1996)
- Random (1997, Beggar Banquet)
- At Home with the Groovebox (2000, Grand Royal)
- Powerpuff Girls: Heroes and Villans (2000, Rhino)
