Bis (band)

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For the Japanese band, see BIS (band).


Bis
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Bis performing in 2012. L-R: John Disco, Sci-fi Steven, Manda Rin.
Background information
Origin Glasgow, Scotland
Genres Indie pop
Electropop
Pop punk
Indie rock
Years active 1994–2003
2007
2009–present
Labels Chemikal Underground
Grand Royal
spinART Records
Lookout! Records
Wiiija
PolyGram
Micro, Inc. Recordings
Do Yourself In
Associated acts The Kitchen
Data Panik
Italian Electro
Dirty Hospital
Juno!
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Cor Ysgol Glanaethwy
Ambrosian Choir
Website bisnation.com
Members Steven Clark
John Clark
Amanda MacKinnon

Bis are a Scottish indie pop band composed of Steven Clark (Sci-fi Steven), John Clark (John Disco), and Amanda MacKinnon (Manda Rin). The band's name, rhyming with 'this', derives from "black iron skyline", a lyric from the song "Twilight of a Champion" by The The. Formed in 1994, the band broke up in 2003, but re-formed briefly in 2007 for a series of concerts. In 2009 they re-formed again, and released a new album in 2014.

History

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The three musicians formed Bis in 1994, when Rin and Disco were in secondary school and Steven had recently finished there. About a year later, they appeared on BBC Television's Top of the Pops performing "Kandy Pop" from their Secret Vampire Soundtrack EP ahead of its release. Much being made at the time about them being the first 'unsigned' band to do so, when in reality dozens of bands — especially in the late 1970s and in the cases of 'novelty' acts — had appeared on the show with singles released on labels they either had no formal contract with other than as a distributor or, as with Bis, agreements signed on a single by single basis.

Bis released a number of EPs, three of which entered the UK Singles Chart. In the late 1990s, "Eurodisco", from their album Social Dancing, became a minor success for the band in Australia as well as the UK.

Rise to fame

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The band's early releases were on Glasgow's Chemikal Underground label, run by The Delgados, before they transferred to Wiiija where labelmates included Cornershop. In the United States, 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 kinds of acts they appeared with, Foo Fighters Garbage, Luscious Jackson, Gary Numan and Pavement amongst them.

The group became a favourite of the likes of Blur, John Peel and Green Day, despite a particularly hostile review by Steven Wells in the New Musical Express entitled "The Sinking of the Bis-Lark".

The U.S. first encountered the band during the closing credits of The Powerpuff Girls animated series. Their song "Detour" was also given some radio airplay in the U.S. They enjoyed a period of success in Japan, selling nearly 100,000 copies of their debut album in its first week of release, but future releases failed to be anywhere near as successful.

Split and future projects

The band broke up in 2003, after playing a farewell show at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. All remained active in the local music scene. Steven and John Disco played in Dirty Hospital and Rin acted as a DJ. Rin was also in a band called The Kitchen, whilst Disco joined the ska band, The Amphetameanies, which included members of Belle & Sebastian and Pink Kross.

In 2005, they announced on the official Bis website that together they had formed a new band called Data Panik, with Stuart Memo on bass and drummer Graham Christie. After releasing two 7" singles, however, this band split up.

Bis contributed an old song to the game Jet Set Radio Future called "Statement of Intent". In 2005, Bis performed in animated form on the CBBC children's cartoon BB3B.

As of 2006 Rin was working on solo material.[1] In 2007 she teamed up with the Scottish electro-pop outfit, Juno!, and has collaborated on their independently released singles, "Smoke & Mirrors" and "These Boys Are Athletes", as well as regularly appearing live with the band, most recently at the Rock Ness 2008 Festival.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the release of their debut album The New Transistor Heroes, Bis re-formed in April 2007 for three shows in Glasgow, Manchester, and London. A greatest hits compilation, titled We Are Bis from Glasgow, Scotland, was released on compact disc to coincide with these shows.

In August 2008, Rin released the solo single "DNA", which she followed up with the release of her debut album, My DNA with This Is Fake DIY in September 2008.

More recently, singer Manda Rin provided the artwork for an iPhone game called "All Fridges Are Psychotic".[2] She has also made two guest appearances on the BBC music quiz programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks (on 18 November 2010 and 19 January 2011). She also teamed up with Hyperbubble on a track for their 2011 album Drastic Cinematic.

Reunion

In November 2009, Rin announced that the band would re-form to play at the Primavera Festival in May 2010.

In February 2014, the band announced they would release their fourth album, Data Panik Etcetera, on 15 May on Rough Trade Records.[3]The album was made available for streaming at NME on 28 April.[4]

Members

  • Sci-Fi Steven - vocals, guitar, synthesizer
  • Disco John - vocals, guitar, bass guitar
  • Manda Rin - vocals, keyboards

Discography

Bis discography
Studio albums 4
Live albums 1
Compilation albums 6
Music videos 10
EPs 12
Singles 17

Studio albums

Title Album details Chart positions
UK
[5]		 JPN
[6]
The New Transistor Heroes 55 19
Social Dancing 161 60
Return to Central
  • Released: September 2001
  • Labels: spinART, Apex, Tilt
 — —
Data Panik Etcetera
  • Released: 5 May 2014
  • Labels: Do Yourself In, Micro Inc
 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

Compilation albums

Extended plays

Singles

  • "Sweet Shop Avengerz" (1997, Tristar/Sony) – (1997, Wiiija) UK No. 46[5]
  • "Everybody Thinks That They're Going To Get Theirs" (1997, Wiiija & Shock) – (1997, Tristar/Sony) UK No. 64[5]
  • "Tell It to the Kids" (1997, Sony Japan)
  • "Kid Cut (Demo Version)" (1997) (One-sided 7" single given out at gigs in Glasgow and London)
  • "Eurodisco" (1998, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol) UK No. 37,[5] BE No. 41[7]
  • "Action and Drama" (1999, Wiiija, Shock) UK No. 50[5]
  • "Detour" (1999, Wiiija & Grand Royal) UK No. 84[5]
  • "What You're Afraid Of" (2001, spinART)
  • "Protection" (2001, Tilt)
  • "The End Starts Today" (2002, Artful)
  • "Rulers and the States" (2014, Rough Trade)
  • "Minimum Wage" (2014, Do Yourself In Records)
  • "Twilight Cafe" (2014, Do Yourself In Records)

Splits

  • "Trophy Girlfriend" b/w "Keroleen" – Heavenly/Bis split (1996, K)
  • "Pop Song" / "Clockwork Punk" b/w "Rococo Neggro" / "Harrap Ageing Fast" – Bis/Lugworm split (1997, Guided Missile)
  • "Signal in the Sky (Let's Go)" b/w "The Powerpuff Girls (End Theme)" – The Apples in Stereo/Bis split (2000, Kid Rhino)
  • "Minimum Wage" b/w "Hair Metal Shame" - Bis/Ghosts Of Dead Airplanes split (2014, Do Yourself In Records)

Various artist compilations

Music videos

  • "Kandy Pop" (1996)
  • "This Is Fake D.I.Y" (1996)
  • "Starbright Boy" (1997)
  • "Sweet Shop Avengerz" (1997)
  • "Tell it to the Kids" (1997)
  • "Everybody Thinks They're Going To Get Theirs" (1997)
  • "Eurodisco" (1998)
  • "Action and Drama" (1999)
  • "Detour" (1999)
  • "The End Starts Today (Single Edit)" (2001)

References

  1. ↑ [1] Archived 10 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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