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Biography
Other uses|dresden dollInfobox musical artist| name = The Dresden Dolls| image = Dresden Dolls2.jpg| caption = The Dresden Dolls: Amanda Palmer (left) and Brian Viglione (right)| background = group_or_band| origin = Boston , Massachusetts , US| genre = Dark cabaret , piano rock , alternative rock | years_active = 2001–2008, 2010–present| label = Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/DresdenDolls/ |title=Dresden Dolls |work=Roadrunner Records |accessdate=28 August 2011cite web |url= http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/501070649/free-at-last-free-at-last-dear-roadrunner-records |title=FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST (Dear Roadrunner Records…) |author=Amanda Palmer |date=6 April 2010 |work=amandapalmer.net |accessdate=28 August 2011| website = URL| http://www.dresdendolls.com/| current_members = Amanda Palmer Brian Viglione The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts . Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer ( lead vocals|vocals , piano , harmonica , ukulele ) and Brian Viglione ( drumkit|drums , percussion , guitar , bass guitar , backing vocals|vocals ). The two describe their style as " Bertolt Brecht|Brechtian punk rock|punk cabaret ", a phrase invented by Palmer because she was "terrified" that the press would invent a name that "would involve the word Goth subculture|gothic ".cite web |url= http://pollstar.com/news/viewhotstar.pl? Artist=DREDOL |title=The Dresden Dolls |accessdate=21 Aug 2006 |author=Speer, Deborah |date=April 3, 2006 |work=Pollstar |accessdate=13 August 2011Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBotDead link|date=August 2011 The Dresden Dolls are part of an underground dark cabaret movement that started gaining momentum in the early 2000s.
Career
Band formation and name
The duo formed a week after Brian Viglione witnessed Amanda Palmer perform solo at a Halloween party in 2000. Their live performances soon gained them a cult following. During these performances the two band members often wore dramatic Cosmetics|make-up and fancy clothing that push their cabaret /theater aesthetic. They encourage fans to become involved at their shows, with the fans' own stilt walking , living statues, fire breathers, and other performance art becoming an integral part of the show. The Dirty Business Brigade coordinated the fans' performances.cite web|url= http://www.thedirtybusinessbrigade.net |title=Dirty Business Brigade website |work=Thedirtybusinessbrigade.net |accessdate=28 August 2011
The band's first name was Out of Arms.cite web |url= http://www.dresdendolls.com/bio/bio_amanda.htm |title=Amandas Bio |work=Dresdendolls.com |accessdate=13 September 2011 At some point, the name became The Dresden Dolls. The name, according to Palmer, was "inspired by a combination of things," including the Bombing of Dresden in World War II|firebombing of Dresden, Germany and the porcelain dolls that were a hallmark of pre-war Dresden industry; an early song of the same name by The Fall (band)|The Fall ; and a reference to the V. C. Andrews novel Flowers in the Attic , where the classically blond-haired and blue-eyed protagonists are called "the Dresden dolls". The name also evokes Weimar Republic|Weimar Germany and its cabaret culture. Additionally, Palmer "liked the parallel between Dresden (destruction) and Dolls (innocence, delicacy), because it is very much in keeping with the dynamics of the music, which sometimes goes from a childlike whisper to a banshee scream within a few seconds."cite web |last=Peck |first=Stacey |url= http://www.newburycomics.com/rel/v2_home.php? storenr=103& deptnr=119 |title=Undressing The Dresden Dolls |work=Newbury Comics |date=n.d. |accessdate=13 September 2011
Growing fame and performances
The duo was featured in a webcast performance at the 2002 Ig Nobel Prize ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts .cite journal |date=4 October 2002 |title=Not-so-Nobel Laureates |journal=ScienceNOW |volume=4 |issue=3 |work=sciencemag.org |publisher=2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science | location = Washington, DC |url= http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2002/1004/3dead link|date=June 2010Dead link|date=August 2011 After a self-promoted demo recorded and released in 2001, their first release was the mostly live compilation A Is for Accident (Important Records), followed in 2003 by a The Dresden Dolls (album)|self-titled debut produced and recorded by Martin Bisi ( Swans (band)|Swans , Sonic Youth ) at The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Brooklyn . The album features fellow Boston-area musicians Ad Frank (guitar on " Good Day (The Dresden Dolls song)|Good Day ") and Shawn Setaro (bass on "Good Day," "Gravity", and "Jeep Song"). The Dresden Dolls album liner notes. Two songs off the album ranked in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2004 : " Girl Anachronism " at number 30 and " Coin-Operated Boy " at number 12.cite web |title=Hottest 100 2004 |url= http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/2004.htm |work= Triple J |accessdate=11 Jun 2007 In 2003 they were crowned the winners of Boston's long-running WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble .citation needed|date=September 2011 On 6 October 2005, The Dresden Dolls were interviewed by the subject of one of their songs, Christopher Lydon , on the radio show Open Source (radio show)|Open Source .cite web |url= http://www.radioopensource.org/the-dresden-dolls/ |title=The Dresden Dolls |date=6 October 2006 |work=radioopensource.org |publisher=Open Source Media, Inc. |accessdate=13 September 2011
Tours, festivals, books, and theater
In March 2005, the duo supported Nine Inch Nails on tour. On June 5, The Dresden Dolls hosted a free concert at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. When a power outage unexpectedly delayed their performance, city streets became a temporary stage for some of the many performers (living statues, stilt-walkers, and fire-breathers) who had come from across the world to entertain audiences. The entire event—concert and street performances—was filmed and the resulting DVD, Live: In Paradise , was released in Europe on October 10 2005 and in North America on November 22, shortly after the band's fall 2005 tour.cite web |url= http://www.theshadowbox.net/ddbb/viewtopic.php? t=5059 |title=Update on The Dresden Dolls "Paradise" DVD Pre-Ord |author=Bill H. |date=September 25, 2005 |work=theshadowbox.net |accessdate=13 September 2011
The Dresden Dolls' second studio album, Yes, Virginia... , was released on April 18, 2006.cite web |url= http://www.dresdendolls.com/diary/2005/09/out-of-closet-and-into-studio.html |title=Out of the Closet and into the Studio |author= Amanda Palmer |date=8 September 2005 |work=dresdendolls.com |accessdate=13 September 2011
Over the summer of that year, the duo performed at South by Southwest , Bonnaroo , Britain's Reading and Leeds Festivals , and Lollapalooza , in addition to touring with Panic& #33; at the Disco as their opening act . During the support tour, the band presented "Fuck the Back Row—A Night of Celluloid Vaudeville". The events consisted of screenings of short films from friends and fans, performances by local artists, and a solo show by Palmer who performed mostly cover songs inspired from film soundtracks.cite web |url= http://www.dresdendolls.com/fuckthebackrow/index.htm |date=27 November 2007 |title=Fuck the Back Row |author=The Dresden Dolls |work=dresdendolls.com |accessdate=16 Dec 2007
In June 2006, The Dresden Dolls Companion cite book |author=Amanda Palmer |title=The Dresden Dolls Companion |date=June 2006 |publisher=eight foot music publishing |isbn=978-1-57560-888-4 was released by Amanda Palmer. The book contains a history of the band and their first album— The Dresden Dolls (album)|The Dresden Dolls —as well as a partial autobiography. The book also contains the lyrics, sheet music , and notes on each song on the album, as well as a DVD featuring a 20-minute interview with Palmer about the origins of the band and the first LP. The interview was conducted by a friend while Palmer compiled the artwork for the first LP.
On 16 August, the East Providence Community Theatre in East Providence, Rhode Island premiered a full-length, fan-written jukebox musical , The Clockwork Waltz , featuring songs from The Dresden Dolls' three albums. The show was encouraged by the band and their management.cite web |url= http://cw.eptheatre.org/The%20Clockwork%20Waltz%20-%20Home.html |title=The Clockwork Waltz |year=2006 |month=August |work=eptheatre.oirg |quote=The Clockwork Waltz is an original concept and story, based on and including thirteen songs written by Boston-based punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls. The story is that of a school aged girl named Amanda, living with her overworked single mother, Jill. At first, Amanda seems like a typical girl with typical problems... but a freak accident at her doctor’s office starts to turn her life upside-down, inside-out, and sideways. |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071012131539/ http://cw.eptheatre.org/The+Clockwork+Waltz+-+Home.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |accessdate=13 September 2011
In December 2006 and January 2007, the music of The Dresden Dolls was featured in an original production— The Onion Cellar —at the American Repertory Theatre 's Zero Arrow Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts.cite web |url= http://amrep.org/onion/ |title=THE ONION CELLAR |work=amrep.org |publisher=American Repertory Theatre |quote=Inside the small confines of the mysterious club The Onion Cellar, the internationally renowned rock duo The Dresden Dolls provides nightly entertainment while a series of stories unfold around them. As singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione play their songs, the Onion Cellar becomes a space where rock and roll meets cabaret with humor and humanity. |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071012113322/ http://amrep.org/onion/ |archivedate=12 October 2007 |accessdate=13 September 2011cite web |url= http://www.thephoenix.com/OnTheDownload/PermaLink.aspx? guid=3634f0e3-a628-4230-90fc-d39925783c24 |title=Dresden Dolls take the ART |author=On The Download editors |work=On The Download |coauthors=photo by Kelly Davidson |accessdate=21 Aug 2006 |date=2005–04–20 |publisher=The Phoenix Media/Communications Group |quote=The Dresden Dolls are taking the world by storm. This punk cabaret duo from Boston are incredible musicians whose smart, personal, intricate songs and mesmerizing live performance have earned them a cult following. Now don't tell anyone, but there's a rumor that the Dolls may be appearing at a bizarre underground club somewhere in Cambridge – an Onion Cellar, where the audience peel onions for emotional release, where you never quite know who's sitting next to you, where your life could change forever. |accessdate=13 September 2011 The play is co-authored by Amanda Palmer, from her original concept.
On January 14, 2007, the duo took a temporary hiatus. Palmer worked on her solo album , Who Killed Amanda Palmer , while Brian Viglione toured with Boston-based H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E.|HUMANWINE cite web|url= http://www.humanwine.org/ |title=HUMANWINE website |work=Humanwine.org |accessdate=13 September 2011 and other local Boston acts, along with touring with Jesse Malin and offering drum clinics.
In June 2007, they joined the True Colors Tour 2007 ,cite web|url= http://www.truecolorstour.com/ |title=True Colors Tour website |work=Truecolorstour.com |accessdate=13 September 2011 including their debut in New York City's Radio City Music Hall cite news |first=Nate |last=Chinen |coauthors=photos by Hiroyuki Ito |title=Power to the People (and Some Pop Too) |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/20/arts/music/20true.html? 8dpc |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |pages=B1,B5 |issn=0362-4331 |date=June 20, 2007 |accessdate=9 November 2007 and their first review in the New York Times .
On July 10, 2007, the DVD, Live at the Roundhouse , was released in the U.S.
From December 27, 2007 to January 13, 2008, their Winter Tour started at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, DC, and ending at Norva Theatre|The Norva in Norfolk, Virginia .cite web|url= http://www.dresdendolls.com/shows/index.htm |title=The Dresden Dolls Show History |work=Dresdendolls.com |accessdate=13 September 2011
On January 15, 2008, they entered the studio to record new material for their fourth album, No, Virginia... Released on May 20, 2008, it is a collection of B-sides and rarities, along with new recordings of old favorites and cover songs that were previously only available as live versions. The album spawned the single, " Night Reconnaissance ".
July 2008 saw the release of the second Dresden Dolls book, the Virginia Companion .cite book |author1=Amanda Palmer |author2=Brian Viglione |authorlink2=Brian Viglione |title=Virginia Companion |date=July 2008 |publisher=Cherry Lane Music Company |isbn=978-1-60378-079-7 |accessdate=13 September 2011 It is a follow-up to the Dresden Dolls Companion , featuring the music and lyrics from the Yes, Virginia... and No, Virginia... albums.
Hiatus
In September 2008, rumors began to circulate about the future of the whole band. Viglione confirmed that the band is currently on hiatus but emphasized that he and Palmer are on good terms and that they will get together again when it feels right for both of them.cite web |url= http://www.theshadowbox.net/forum/index.php? topic=5336.msg117842#msg117842 |title=Re: Brian wrote this on a youtube video yesterday... |work=theshadowbox.net |author=Brian Viglione |accessdate=23 Sep 2008 |date=2008–09–23 In late July and early August 2009, a rumor began to spread that the band was "reuniting for performances in 2010" but Palmer clarified in her blog on August 7: "There's been a ton of press lately re-printing an old quote from an old interview that's now blown up into a full-fledged press rumour that Brian and I have planned Dresden Dolls' shows for 2010. Not true. We aren't planning any shows. Sorry about that, blame the gossip whores."cite web |url= http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/158275629/russia-puppet-lynchings-church-tractors |title=russia, puppet-lynchings & church-tractors |author=Amanda Palmer |date=2009–08–07 |work=amandapalmer.net |accessdate=13 September 2011
2010 reunion tour
In 2010, a reunion tour to selected venues in the United States occurred. It started on Halloween in New York City and ended in San Francisco on New Years Eve.cite web |url= http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Lpybi5sZBYk |title=THE DRESDEN DOLLS HALLOWEEN 10th ANNIVERSARY & FALL TOUR |author=Amanda Palmer |work= YouTube |date=7 September 2010 |accessdate=13 September 2011
2011/2012 tour
The Dresden Dolls played a show in Mexico City on 9 December 2011.cite web|url= http://www.amandapalmer.net/2011/10/17/the-dresden-dolls-are-coming-to-mexico-city/ |title=The Dresden Dolls are Coming to Mexico City& #33; « |publisher=Amanda Palmer |work=amandapalmer.net |quote=The Dresden Dolls will be coming to Mexico City on December 9, 2011 to play a night at Teatro Fru Fru. |date=2011-10-17 |accessdate=2012-03-11 They had a tour of New Zealand and Australia in early 2012, supported by The Jane Austen Argument .
Discography
main|The Dresden Dolls discography The The Dresden Dolls discography|discography of The Dresden Dolls includes studio, live, and compilation albums and dvds, as well as EPs, singles, and music videos.
Musical style
The Dresden Dolls are arguably the most commercially successful dark cabaret band, bringing more mainstream attention to the still fairly underground genre.Citation needed|reason=whole sentence fairly subjective|date=March 2012 Their piano and drum driven rock music, incorporated into alternative rock cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-dresden-dolls-p588611/biography |title=The Dresden Dolls |author=Alex Henderson |work=Allmusic |accessdate=28 August 2011 |quote=Formed in 2001, the Dresden Dolls have favored a most unlikely blend of alternative pop/rock, riot grrrl catharsis, and German cabaret song structures with piano replacing the rhythm guitar , has seen them fall into the piano rock genre.cite journal |author=Jordan Harper |date=5 May 2005 |journal= Riverfront Times |url= http://www.dresdendolls.com/press/press.clippings/rft.0505.htm |title=Press Clippings |accessdate=28 August 2011 |quote=Clearly, the Dolls are doing something right. Actually, they're doing almost everything right, bringing cabaret theatrics back to piano rock and mixing crowd-pleasing angst with real songwritingcite web |url= http://www.premonition.org/premor.php3? lien=chro/chro.php3X1Xcid=238012X3X238012& ta=10 |title=The Dresden Dolls |author=Stéphane Leguay |work=Premonition Magazine |accessdate=28 August 2011 |quote=Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione build and un-build a new form of piano-rock, sometimes burlesque (Coin-Operated Boy), or full of adrenalin (Girl Anachronism), sometimes perverse (Missed Me) or melancholic (Truce).
Awards and honors
2005 - WFNX / Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll, Best Local Act and Best Local Album.cite web | url = http://www.thoughtworthy.com/product.cgim? cookie_refresh=1& partner=twm& tab=ABOUT%20THE%20ARTIST& product_id=1383 | title = The Dresden Dolls | publisher = ThoughtWorthy Media, Inc.
|quote = In the 2005 WFNX/Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll The Dresden Dolls won Best Local Act and Best Local Album. Amanda Palmer also won Best Female Vocalist.
See also
Wikipedia-Books|The Dresden Dolls
Dark cabaret and List of dark cabaret artists
Evelyn Evelyn
Black Tape for a Blue Girl
http://www.vermillionlies.com Vermillion Lies
Bibliography
cite book | last = Palmer | first = Amanda | authorlink = Amanda Palmer | coauthors = | year = 2006 | title = The Dresden Dolls Companion | publisher = Eight Foot Music | location = New York, NY | isbn = 978-1-57560-888-4
cite book | last = Palmer | first = Amanda | authorlink = Amanda Palmer | coauthors = Brian Viglione | year = 2008 | title = The Dresden Dolls – The Virginia Companion | publisher = Cherry Lane Music Company | location = | isbn = 1-60378-079-3
Notes
Reflist|2
External links
wikiquoteCommons category
official website|dresdendolls.com including lyrics and downloads
MySpace|id=dresdendolls
Micheal Pope, Music Video Director http://popecinema.com Website
The Dresden Dolls DEFAULTSORT:Dresden Dolls, The Category:Rock music duos Category:Musical groups from Boston, Massachusetts Category:The Dresden Dolls| Category:Dark cabaret musicians Category:Alternative rock groups from Massachusetts Category:Musical groups established in 2001 Category:Massachusetts culture Category:Roadrunner Records artists Category:American musical duos
