Belly Intro/Epi/News
Welcome to my Belly pages!
Belly is an "alternative rock" band based in Newport, Rhode Island. The band was formed in Boston in 1991 when Tanya Donelly (vocals and guitar) left The Breeders and met up with the Gorman brothers, Chris (drums and percussion) and Thomas (keyboard and guitar), and Fred Abong (bass), a fellow musician from her days with Throwing Muses. They released the singles "Slow Dusted", "Gepetto", and "Feed the Tree" before releasing their debut album, "Star", on January 23, 1993. "Star" was a critical success as well as a gold selling album in the US and a silver selling album in the UK. "Star" earned Belly two Grammy nominations and two MTV award nominations.
When Fred Abong left the band a short time following the release of "Star", Leslie Langston (bass and vocals) filled in for awhile before Gail Greenwood (bass and vocals) was recruited. With Gail, Belly toured all of 1993. In December of that year, the band went into the studio to produce a new album. "King" was released on February 13, 1995. "King", while also having received critical acclaim, did not fare as well in sales. Nevertheless, Belly toured much of 1995, to the cheer of many fans.
The band split on July 26, 1996 with an official statement released from their record label 4AD.
Tanya Donelly has completed her first solo album, tentatively titled "Manna from Mars". It will be released June 17, 1997 from 4AD ( UK ) and Reprise ( US ). A 7" [BAD 6018] and CD [BAD 6018 CD] "Sliding&DIVING" EP was released November 25, 1996 in the UK. It is available as an import in the US. Also, Tanya wed Dean Fisher on June 22nd! Congrats!
Press coverage:
Why did Belly break up?
Mark: Why did you break up the band, what happened there?...
Without dwelling on it, but I've gotta ask.
Tanya: Uuurrrmmmmm... we just all...
Mark: Fell out.
Tanya: ...well ya'know, that's what happens to a certain extent,
but that wasn't the primary reason... it was just that... er...
people wanted to go off and do their own thing....and we'd
kinda...I think things run their course at different times
for different bands...and ours was particularly brief.
( Tanya laughs a bit )
Mark: ...right... Are you happier now?
Tanya: Yep!
Mark: Good... alright... you sound it...
Tanya: I mean we're all han... ya'know it's gross, but we all
still hang out and talk to each other... so ya'know...
( Thanks to Stew on the mailinglist. )
Concert info:
Tanya will be playing with Dean Fisher (bass, formerly of Juliana Hatfield), Lisa Mednick (keyboard and accordian, formerly of Juliana Hatfield), Stacey Jones (drummer, formerly of Letters to Cleo and Veruca Salt), and members of Madder Rose, Mary Larson (guitar and vocals) and Billy Cote (guitar).
- November 20, 1996 ( Wednesday ) at the Manchester Hop, Manchester, England. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Price 7 pounds plus booking fee. Read the report!
- November 21, 1996 ( Thursday ) at the London Camden Dingwalls. Read NME Online's review.
- November 29, 1996 ( Friday ) at the Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. ( between Allen Street and Ludlow Street ) in New York, NY. Doors open at 8 PM and it is 21 and over.
- November 30, 1996 ( Saturday ) at the Paradise Club, 967 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston, MA. Doors open at 7 PM and it is 18 and over. Price $11.50. If you can make it, Belly fans from the mailinglist are meeting at McDonald's on Commonwealth Ave. and Babcock Street, closest to the Paradise. Meeting time is around 4 or 5 PM. Read the reports! See the photos!
- December 4, 1996 ( Wednesday ) at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, 239 Westminister St., in Providence, RI. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Price $12. Other bands playing that night include The Lemonheads, Soul Coughing, and Superdrag. The local radio station, 95.5, is sponsoring the event. Read the report!
- December 11, 1996 ( Wednesday ) at Strawberries, Boylston St., in Boston, MA. It starts at 4 PM. It's a benefit performance and signing for "Safe and Sound". Performances will be by Jennifer Trynin and Mary Lou Lord. Tanya, Letters to Cleo and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones will appear for signings. Read the report!
- February 1, 1997 ( Saturday ) at the Paradise Club, 967 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston, MA. Price $15. Tanya, Tracy Bonham, Kay and Mike from Letters to Cleo will be performing. It is a benefit for Safe and Sound. Laura from the mailinglist is interested in forming a group to see the performance. Read the *NEW* reports!
( Thanks to those on the mailinglist for the info! )
Gail Greenwood has joined L7 ( or L7 ) as their new bass guitarist. It is unknown whether she is still involved with Walter, her side band during her time with Belly.
Press coverage:
Concert info:
L7 is opening for Marilyn Manson. Marilyn Manson is... definately not Belly! I'm a bit spooked by some of the webpages I've seen so far!
Chris Gorman is currently doing graphic design for the new 4AD band Polara. Perhaps with v23, the design studio that produced all the Belly covers? Musically, he is also working with Scarce's Chick Graning and Xanax 25's Matt Stein.
Press coverage:
Exhibition info:
Tom Gorman is rocking with Buffalo Tom on keyboard and guitar. He is also exploring the ambient groove.
Concert info:
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