The Kills

The Kills are an alternative rock duo from London, England, active since 2000. The group consists of Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince, and their sound is commonly associated with garage punk, garage rock revival, indie rock, and rock.

Formation and early work

Mosshart, an American vocalist, had previously played in the Florida punk band Discount, while Hince, a British guitarist, had been in the band Scarfo. After those groups ended, the two begin writing together after Mosshart hears Hince practising in the hotel room above hers. They initially exchange songs on work tapes sent across the Atlantic before Mosshart moves to London to continue the project in person.

They treat the new collaboration as a fresh start, using the names VV and Hotel and writing sparse, minimal songs with a drum machine. In 2001 they present the material on a demo tape that receives a positive response. They also reject interest from major labels and record as VV and Hotel for the compilation track “Restaurant Blouse,” which appears on If the Twenty-First Century Did Not Exist, It Would Be Necessary to Invent It.

Recordings and releases

Their debut EP, Black Rooster, is released on Domino in the UK and distributed in the United States by Dim Mak Records. After touring internationally, they record their first album, Keep on Your Mean Side, at Toe Rag Studios, mostly on 8-track, over two weeks.

Their second album, No Wow, is released by Domino in 2005. It moves toward a more art-rock direction with New Wave and post-punk influences, and the single “The Good Ones” reaches number 23 in the UK singles chart. Their third album, Midnight Boom, follows in 2008. Mosshart also sings on Placebo’s 2006 album Meds on the track “Meds.”

Style and influence

The Kills’ stripped-back approach, use of a male/female vocal partnership, and minimal arrangements place them within the early-2000s garage rock and indie rock revival. The duo’s format and sound also become a reference point for later acts, including the xx, who identify The Kills as a major influence on their own male/female lead-singer setup.