The Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band from Leeds, United Kingdom, active from 1980 to the present. They are associated with gothic rock, hard rock, post-punk and rock, and become one of the best-known acts linked with the gothic rock scene.

Formation and early years

The group is founded in Leeds by Gary Marx and Andrew Eldritch. Early lineups change frequently, but by 1981 a more settled formation appears, with Craig Adams on bass and the drum machine Doktor Avalanche added, leaving Eldritch free to concentrate on vocals. The band gains an early underground following through releases such as the single "Damage Done/Watch/Home of the Hit-men", later "Body Electric" backed with "Adrenochrome", and the EP "Reptile House". Their live sets also feature cover versions such as "Sister Ray", "Ghostrider" and "Louie Louie", and recorded covers appear as B-sides, including "1969", "Gimme Shelter", "Emma" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door".

Breakthrough and recording career

Following the success of "Temple of Love" in 1983, the band signs to WEA. Its first studio album, "First and Last and Always" (1985), is recorded during a period of internal tension. After the album’s release, Gary Marx leaves and the line-up that completes the tour effectively dissolves. Eldritch then relocates to Hamburg and works with new collaborators, including Patricia Morrison.

The second album, "Floodland" (1987), marks a shift towards a more keyboard-led sound. It includes "This Corrosion", "Dominion" and "Lucretia My Reflection". During this period the band does not tour, but appears in promotional performances and videos collected on the video release "Shot". The third studio album, "Vision Thing" (1990), features Andreas Bruhn, Tony James and Tim Bricheno and returns to a more guitar-based sound. The group tours worldwide from 1990 to 1991, although a planned North American tour with Public Enemy is partly cancelled.

Line-up changes and related projects

Former members later form Ghost Dance and the Mission. After leaving the band, Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams form a new group under the name the Sisterhood, which leads to a naming dispute. Eldritch also releases material under that name, including the album "Gift" and the single "Giving Ground", after which Hussey’s group adopts the name the Mission. Eldritch is also involved in the related project the Sisterhood.

Over the years the band’s line-up changes repeatedly and includes Craig Adams, Gary Marx, Andrew Eldritch, Ben Gunn, Wayne Hussey, Patricia Morrison, Tony James, Andreas Bruhn, Dan Donovan, Tim Bricheno, Adam Pearson, Chris Sheehan, Mike Varjak, Chris Catalyst, Ben Christo, Dylan Smith and Kai. Eldritch and the drum machine Doktor Avalanche remain the only constant elements.

Later activity

Contractual problems with East West Records contribute to the band’s inactivity in the early 1990s. Although live performances continue, no new studio recordings are issued after 1993. In 1992 the band re-records "Temple of Love" to promote the compilation "Some Girls Wander By Mistake", and later releases in this period include the single "Under the Gun", the compilation "A Slight Case of Overbombing" and the video collection "Shot Rev 2.0". Eldritch describes the pause in recording as a form of protest against the label. The contractual dispute is resolved in 1997 through the delivery of unreleased SSV material, issued unofficially as "Go Figure".

The band resumes live performances in 1996 and continues as a touring act, performing both established songs and unreleased material. Reissues of the three studio albums appear in 2006. Since then the group remains active on stage, with later touring members including Chris Catalyst, Ben Christo, Dylan Smith and others. New songs such as "There's a Door", "Don't Drive on Ice", "I Will Call You", "Show Me (On the Doll)", "When I'm on Fire", "On the Beach", "But Genevieve", "She's a Monster", "Here" and "Quantum Baby" appear in live sets, but none is released in studio form.