The Twilight Singers

The Twilight Singers

The Twilight Singers is an American alternative rock group from New Orleans, Louisiana. It begins in 1997 as a side project for Greg Dulli, best known as the leader of The Afghan Whigs, and later develops into his main artistic vehicle after The Afghan Whigs disband. The group remains active and its line-up includes Greg Dulli, Happy Chichester, Rick G Nelson, John Nooney, David Rosser and Shawn Smith.

History and formation

Dulli starts the project while working between Afghan Whigs releases and during a dispute with that band’s record label. In New Orleans, he records early demos with collaborators Shawn Smith and Harold “Happy” Chichester. These recordings have a dark, tense sound with a strong New Orleans influence. The demo material circulates widely in trading circles, and there is debate about whether it is leaked. After the Afghan Whigs settle their label dispute and release 1965 in 1998, Columbia takes interest in the Twilight Singers recordings but chooses to release a new Afghan Whigs album instead.

Dulli revives the project in 2000 and reworks the original material with dance production duo Fila Brazillia. The result is Twilight as Played by the Twilight Singers, released by Columbia. For touring, the group includes musicians from Howlin’ Maggie and former Afghan Whigs drummer Michael Horrigan on bass. After a short tour, Dulli pauses the project and later returns to work on a follow-up tentatively titled Amber Headlights.

Albums and later work

After the death of Dulli’s friend Ted Demme in 2002, the follow-up is set aside. Dulli then begins writing the concept album that becomes Blackberry Belle, influenced in part by reading Jack London’s Martin Eden and by experiencing an earthquake. The album features a large cast of performers, including Apollonia and Mark Lanegan. It is independently financed and released through One Little Indian in 2003.

The group then tours in a second line-up with Jon Skibic on guitars, Scott Ford on bass and Bobby Macintyre on drums, playing dates in the United States and Europe in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, the band releases She Loves You, a covers album drawing on songs by artists including Fleetwood Mac, Mary J. Blige and George Gershwin. Dulli later releases the shelved Amber Headlights as a solo album on his Infernal Recordings label.

The Twilight Singers go on to release Powder Burns in 2006, supporting it with United States and European tours. A third touring version of the band includes Dave Rosser, Scott Ford, singer-songwriter Jeff Klein and Bobby Macintyre, and appears at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival to debut material from the album. In 2007 the group makes its television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing “Forty Dollars” with Joseph Arthur. In 2011 it releases Dynamite Steps.

Related projects and collaborators

Greg Dulli also works with Mark Lanegan in The Gutter Twins, who release Saturnalia. Across The Twilight Singers’ recordings and tours, the project draws in a changing cast of collaborators and players, including Shawn Smith, Happy Chichester, Michael Horrigan, Jon Skibic, Scott Ford, Bobby Macintyre, Dave Rosser, Jeff Klein, Apollonia, Mark Lanegan and Joseph Arthur.