Gossip is a three-piece American indie rock
band formed in 1999 in Olympia, Washington.
The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist
Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie.
After releasing several recordings, the band
broke through with their 2006 studio album,
Standing in the Way of Control.
A follow-up, Music for Men, was released in
2009.
The band plays a mix of post-punk revival,
indie rock, and dance-rock.
Their latest album, A Joyful Noise, was released
in May 2012.
History
Formation and early history
Gossip was formed in 1999 in Olympia, Washington,
with vocalist Beth Ditto, guitarist Nathan
"Brace Paine" Howdeshell and drummer Kathy
Mendonça.
All three were originally from Searcy, Arkansas;
Mendonça moved to Olympia to attend Evergreen
State College and Howdeshell and Ditto followed.
Howdeshell and Mendonça had been in bands
together in Arkansas.
The band coalesced when the three members
were roommates in Olympia.
In 1999 the independent record label K Records
released Gossip's first recording, their eponymous
debut EP, The Gossip to coincide with the
band's tour with Sleater-Kinney.
The band played at the first Ladyfest in Olympia
in August 2000 and was included in Time Magazine's
article on the festival.
Their next release was their first album,
That's Not What I Heard, released by the record
label Kill Rock Stars on January 23, 2001.
They followed it with the EP Arkansas Heat
on May 7, 2002.
Movement, their second studio album, was released
on May 6, 2003.
In November 2003, two months after the release
of their first live album Undead in NYC on
September 9, drummer Kathy Mendonça left
the band to pursue a career as a midwife.
Established punk drummer Hannah Blilie joined
to replace her.
The band then dropped the "The" from their
name, continuing as plain "Gossip".
The first release featuring new drummer Hannah
Blilie was the band's next album Standing
in the Way of Control.
It was released on January 24, 2006 on Kill
Rock Stars and later in 2006 on UK independent
label Back Yard Recordings.
It was produced by Ryan Hadlock, owner of
Bear Creek Studio and Fugazi singer/guitarist
Guy Picciotto.
2007-2011: Mainstream success and moving to
a major label
The album Standing in the Way of Control has
since earned Gold Record Status in the UK.
Gossip's first UK TV appearance was on BBC1's
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, where they
performed "Standing in the Way of Control".
As reported on Pitchfork Media in March 2007,
the group signed to Music With a Twist, a
subsidiary of Sony Music Label Group, concentrating
on LGBT music acts.
During the summer of 2007, Gossip was a part
of the multi-artist True Colors Tour 2007,
which traveled through 15 cities in the United
States and Canada.
Hosted by comedian Margaret Cho and headlined
by Cyndi Lauper, the tour also included Debbie
Harry, Erasure, Rufus Wainwright, The Dresden
Dolls, The MisShapes, The Cliks and special
guests.
Profits from the tour went to benefit the
Human Rights Campaign.
Gossip is based in Portland, Oregon and has
played with bands such as Sleater-Kinney,
Le Tigre, CSS, Erase Errata, Mika Miko, Panther,
Comanechi, and Mates of State.
Gossip also opened for the Scissor Sisters
for three dates on their November 2006 tour.
On June 24, 2007 Gossip closed the Glastonbury
Festival, playing the final set on the John
Peel stage during which Ditto gave a tribute
to the late John Peel.
Gossip also performed the following year,
on the Pyramid Stage.
Gossip launched the Live in Liverpool album
in the UK and the U.S. in April 2008.
The album was produced by Rick Rubin and also
features a DVD of their live performance.
A new studio album called Music For Men was
released in June 2009.
The first single from the album, "Heavy Cross",
was especially successful in Germany where
it was certified triple gold for selling over
450,000 copies and was mentioned as the "most
successful internationally produced single"
of all time in September 2010.
In January 2011 the single broke the German
record for the longest selling track in chart
history.
By 14 January 2011 it had spent 82 consecutive
weeks within the German Top 100.
2012–present: A Joyful Noise
On March 12, 2012, their comeback single,
"Perfect World", was unveiled on Zane Lowe's
BBC Radio 1 show.
Their fifth studio album A Joyful Noise, produced
by Xenomania's Brian Higgins, was released
in late May.
Their music had evolved and became poppier.
Andy Gill, writing in The Independent, welcomed
the result where as Pitchfork's review was
more nuanced.
A second single "Move in the Right Direction",
was issued in May.
During the summer, the band headlined various
festivals.
The song "Heavy Cross" featured in the Dior
J'adore TV Spots.
Musical style
Their style has been described as "a soul
or gospel" voice with "a sort of funky punk
soundtrack".
The band stated a liking for rock bands like
Birthday Party, Siouxsie and the Banshees,
Nirvana and The Raincoats but also for other
genres such as dance and hip hop.
Discography
That's Not What I Heard
Movement
Standing in the Way of Control
Music for Men
A Joyful Noise
Personnel
Beth Ditto – vocalist, piano
Nathan "Brace Paine" Howdeshell – guitar,
bass
Hannah Blilie – drums
Touring Members
Christopher Sutton - bass
Katy Davidson - keyboards, piano, backing
vocalist
Past members
Kathy Mendonça – drums
Awards
2010: nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for
"Outstanding Music Artist" for their album
Music for Men during the 21st GLAAD Media
Awards.
2010 nominated for an ECHO Award, alongside
groups such as Depeche Mode and U2.
June 18, 2012, the single "Move In The Right
Direction" was named BBC Radio 2's Record
of The Week.
Notes
External links
Official website
Photos of a concert in Paris in December 2010
'Gossip on Q TV' - interview with the band
