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My Bloody Valentine (band)

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My Bloody Valentine
Company typeGroup or band
IndustryMusic
Founded1983 in Dublin, Ireland
FounderKevin Shields, Colm Ó Cíosóig
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
ProductsMusic albums, EPs

My Bloody Valentine is a rock group originating from Ireland and England, established in Dublin in 1983. The founding lineup included Kevin Shields (vocals, guitar, sampler) and Colm Ó Cíosóig (drums, sampler), joined by Bilinda Butcher (vocals, guitar) and Debbie Googe (bass). Their signature sound features heavily distorted guitar layers, soft androgynous singing, and groundbreaking production methods, which positioned them as trailblazers within the shoegaze movement.

Following initial personnel shifts and modest achievements, the band secured a deal with Creation Records in 1988. They issued several influential EPs along with two major albums: Isn't Anything (1988) and Loveless (1991), the latter widely considered their definitive work. Despite receiving critical praise, Creation Records dropped them due to the excessive costs associated with producing Loveless. In 1992, the group transitioned to Island Records, where they created unreleased material but remained mostly inactive.

By 1995, Googe and Ó Cíosóig had exited the band, followed by Butcher in 1997. Shields encountered difficulties completing a successor to Loveless, resulting in an extended break. The band reassembled in 2007 for a global tour and released the compilation EP's 1988–1991 in 2012. Their much-anticipated third studio album was released in 2013 to widespread acclaim, accompanied by additional touring.

1978–1985: Formation

In 1978, Kevin Shields and Colm Ó Cíosóig met at a South Dublin karate competition and quickly formed a friendship. Together with Liam Ó Maonlaí, they founded the punk band The Complex; however, it dissolved when Ó Maonlaí left to create Hothouse Flowers. Subsequently, Shields and Ó Cíosóig formed A Life in the Day, a post-punk trio that achieved limited recognition.

Early in 1983, Shields and Ó Cíosóig established My Bloody Valentine alongside bassist Mark Loughlin and lead singer David Conway. Initially performing under the name Burning Peacocks, they soon adopted My Bloody Valentine. During this time, second guitarist Stephen Ivers joined the ensemble.

The band underwent multiple lineup adjustments during its early phase. Loughlin departed in December 1983 and was succeeded by Paul Murtagh, who left in early 1984. In March 1984, Shields, Ivers, and Conway recorded the group's first demo at Shields's parents' residence; bass and drum parts were subsequently added at Litton Lane Studios. This demo led to a contract with Tycoon Records.

After Ivers left, Conway's partner Tina Durkin joined as keyboardist. Seeking guidance from Gavin Friday of post-punk group Virgin Prunes, Conway was advised to leave Dublin due to limited prospects. The band relocated to the Netherlands where they performed and supported R.E.M. in April 1984. Encountering difficulties including visa issues, they moved to West Berlin later that year and recorded their debut mini-album This Is Your Bloody Valentine, released in 1985. The album attracted minimal attention, motivating their return to the Netherlands before ultimately settling in London that same year.

1985–1986: Independent releases

After moving to London in 1985, My Bloody Valentine briefly lost touch, and keyboardist Tina Durkin exited the group due to concerns about her abilities. The remaining members held auditions for bassists and brought on Debbie Googe, who managed to juggle rehearsals alongside her regular employment. Practice sessions occurred at Salem Studios, affiliated with the independent label Fever Records, which agreed to issue an EP provided the band covered the recording expenses. The December 1985 release of Geek! did not achieve commercial success, yet the band started gaining recognition on the London live music scene, performing alongside groups like Eight Living Legs and the Sting-rays.

With progress stagnating, Shields contemplated relocating to New York City. Nevertheless, Joe Foster from Creation Records convinced them to produce an EP for his newly established label Kaleidoscope Sound. Released in October 1986, The New Record by My Bloody Valentine climbed to number 22 on the UK Indie Chart, expanding their live appearances beyond London and leading to support slots for bands such as the Membranes.

1987: Lazy Records and Butcher's addition

At the beginning of 1987, My Bloody Valentine inked a deal with Lazy Records, a label founded by indie pop group the Primitives and their manager Wayne Morris. Their initial release under this label was the single "Sunny Sundae Smile" in February 1987, which reached number 6 on the UK Indie Singles Chart. After several UK shows and opening for the Soup Dragons, lead singer David Conway left in March due to illness and disenchantment.

Finding a replacement vocalist proved challenging; Shields described the auditions as "disastrous," partly because mentioning the Smiths attracted unsuitable candidates. The band then experimented with vocalists Bilinda Butcher and Joe Byfield before ultimately selecting Butcher based on a recommendation and her audition performance. Once onboard, Butcher shared lead vocal duties with Shields, who had previously refrained from singing but contributed melodies during rehearsals. Although there were intentions to change their name, they decided to keep My Bloody Valentine.

Under pressure from Lazy Records to produce a full album, the band compromised by delivering a single and a mini-album instead. The three-track single "Strawberry Wine" released in November 1987 and December’s Ecstasy received moderate praise, reaching numbers 13 and 12 respectively on indie charts. However, Ecstasy faced production shortcomings and was criticized for inadequate funding; the band financed its recording themselves while Lazy handled promotion. After parting ways with Lazy—who later reissued these releases without permission—My Bloody Valentine declined an offer from Rough Trade Records to finance a full-length album.

1988–1991: Creation Records era and Loveless

In January 1988, after opening for Biff Bang Pow!—led by Creation Records founder Alan McGee—the band was invited to record a single for Creation following an impressive live set. They swiftly recorded five tracks in East London, issuing the You Made Me Realise EP in August 1988. Garnering critical acclaim, this EP debuted at number 2 on the UK Indie Chart and highlighted their signature guitar textures.[1] Their first full album, Isn't Anything, released in November 1988 and recorded in rural Wales, earned critical praise, topped the UK Indie Chart, and influenced many shoegaze acts.[2]

Recording sessions for their sophomore album began at Blackwing Studios in London in February 1989. Originally planned to last five days, these sessions extended over several months across 19 studios with engineers including Alan Moulder. To maintain momentum during this period, they released the Glider EP in April 1990 featuring the track "Soon," which peaked at number 2 on the UK Indie Chart.[3] A supporting tour followed that summer.[4] While still working on their second album in February 1991, they released Tremolo, which reached number one on the UK Indie Chart.[5]

Their landmark album Loveless, released in November 1991, reportedly cost over £250,000 to produce—a figure Shields disputes—but nearly caused Creation Records financial ruin.[6] Despite widespread critical acclaim, it peaked only at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and failed to chart internationally.[7] Following interpersonal tensions and a protracted recording process, McGee dropped them from Creation Records.[8] Nonetheless, Loveless has exerted enduring influence on artists including Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Mogwai, and Nine Inch Nails.[9]

1992–1997: Island Records Era and Disbandment

In October 1992, My Bloody Valentine entered into a contract with Island Records, reportedly worth £250,000. This advance enabled the creation of a home studio located in Streatham, South London, which was completed by April 1993. However, the studio encountered technical difficulties that contributed to what was described as a "semi-meltdown," and Kevin Shields reportedly suffered from writer’s block during this period. The group was largely inactive but issued two cover tracks between 1993 and 1996: Louis Armstrong's "We Have All the Time in the World" for the Peace Together compilation and Wire's "Map Ref. 41°N 93°W" for the tribute album Whore: Tribute to Wire.

By 1995, Debbie Googe and Colm Ó Cíosóig departed from the band. Googe went on to establish the indie rock supergroup Snowpony alongside Katharine Gifford, while Ó Cíosóig relocated to the United States to form Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions. Shields and Butcher attempted to produce a third studio album, initially planned for release in 1998; however, Shields withdrew from the project due to mental health challenges reminiscent of those faced by Brian Wilson and Syd Barrett. Subsequently, Shields toured with Primal Scream and collaborated with artists such as Yo La Tengo and Dinosaur Jr., also contributing to the soundtrack of Lost in Translation.

There were rumors that a full album’s worth of material had been recorded but never released before the band’s split. In 1999, Shields reportedly handed over approximately 60 hours of recordings to Island Records; Butcher confirmed that there were enough tracks for two albums. Nevertheless, Shields later admitted that he abandoned at least one unfinished album because it lacked energy and enthusiasm.

2007–2013: Reunion and Release of m b v

In August 2007, news emerged suggesting My Bloody Valentine would reunite for the 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival held in Indio, California. Prior to this, in 2003, Shields, Butcher, and Ó Cíosóig had reportedly re-recorded five tracks from Glider for inclusion in a box set. Additionally, in 2007, the band was rumored to be performing at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin. Shields later confirmed their reunion and revealed that work on their third studio album—begun back in 1996—was nearing completion. Three UK concerts were announced in November 2007,[10]

The band embarked on an extensive international tour throughout summer and autumn of 2008, appearing at prominent European festivals such as Denmark’s Roskilde Festival, Norway’s Øyafestivalen, and Ireland’s Electric Picnic, as well as Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival. Between 19 and 21 September, they curated and performed at the 2008 edition of All Tomorrow's Parties in New York before continuing with a North American tour including stops in Chicago, Toronto, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. This tour marked their first major investment in equipment since supporting Loveless in 1992, involving an expenditure of £200,000.

Following additional touring activities in 2009, the band concentrated on finalizing their third album. Speculation about a box set reemerged after an HMV Japan listing appeared in April 2008. In March 2012, Sony Music Ireland announced the release of EP's 1988–1991, a compilation featuring Creation Records EPs, singles, and unreleased material. This collection was issued on 4 May 2012 alongside remastered editions of Isn't Anything and Loveless.

In November 2012, Kevin Shields revealed intentions to release their third album online before year-end. By December, it was confirmed that the album had been completed and mastered. On 27 January 2013, during a warm-up performance at London’s Electric Brixton, Shields indicated that the album "might be out in two or three days." The record titled , was officially released through the band’s website on 2 February 2013; high demand caused the site to crash shortly after launch. The album received widespread critical acclaim according to Metacritic, and the band proceeded with an international tour following its release.<ref>

2013–present

In 2013, Shields revealed intentions to release a new My Bloody Valentine EP featuring fresh tracks, followed by a fourth full-length album. Reports in 2017 indicated he was developing an album anticipated for release in 2018. By 2018, expectations shifted toward two EPs slated for 2019; however, these projected dates were not fulfilled.

On 29 March 2021, My Bloody Valentine unveiled a teaser video signaling upcoming activity. Two days later, on 31 March 2021, the band inked a deal with Domino Recording Company, enabling their complete catalog from 1988 through 2013 to become accessible on streaming services globally for the first time. This was accompanied by plans for CD and vinyl reissues set for 21 May. While promoting these reissues, Shields confirmed ongoing work on new compositions, aiming to finalize both a melodic, song-driven album and a separate experimental project.

On November 25, 2024, the group announced a singular live performance—their first in seven years—scheduled for November 22, 2025 at Dublin’s 3Arena. Subsequently, on March 28, 2025, three additional concerts were revealed across the UK in Manchester, London, and Glasgow. Later, on April 22, 2025, dates in Osaka and Tokyo were added. On September 25, 2025, My Bloody Valentine was confirmed as part of the Primavera Sound Barcelona '26 festival lineup, planned for June 3–7, 2026.

Influences

Throughout their career, My Bloody Valentine’s sound underwent notable transformation. Early influences included post-punk bands such as the Birthday Party, the Cramps, and Joy Division, though author Mike McGonial observed that the band initially incorporated what he considered the "least compelling aspects" of these inspirations. They also drew from experimental dark post-punk groups like Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Cure, and Killing Joke. Their first mini-album, This Is Your Bloody Valentine (1985), exhibited a gothic rock style described by AllMusic as "unfocused and derivative." However, with The New Record by My Bloody Valentine (1986), they began blending in pop-oriented melodies—a significant shift influenced primarily by the Jesus and Mary Chain. Later releases such as "Strawberry Wine" and Ecstasy (1987) embraced a more polished sound featuring pop-inflected Byrdsian rock elements. Both Isn't Anything and earlier works showed traces of American noise rock bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth, alongside British dream pop pioneers A.R. Kane, during which Shields honed his distinctive guitar style.

The band further incorporated aspects of dance music genres, especially hip hop—a style Shields admired for its innovative qualities. His exploration of guitar tones was shaped by the sampled sounds utilized by Public Enemy and their producers the Bomb Squad, characterized as "partially obscured or muted," evoking decay and repurposing. Around the period of the Glider EP, MBV began employing samplers to manipulate guitar feedback and vocal textures; by the time of the Tremolo EP, they had acquired an Akai sampler unit. In the mid-1990s, Shields along with Colm Ó Cíosóig integrated influences from the UK's underground jungle and drum and bass scenes into their recordings.

Sound

A defining characteristic of My Bloody Valentine is Kevin Shields' electric guitar tone, which prioritizes texture rather than technical precision to craft immersive auditory landscapes. In the late 1980s, Shields modified the tremolo systems on his Fender Jaguars and Jazzmasters by lengthening the tremolo arm, allowing for enhanced pitch modulation. By combining alternative and open tunings with this tremolo manipulation, he produced a "warping effect" that causes the music to ebb and flow in clarity. His trademark sound involves reverse digital reverb generated by Alesis Midiverb II or Yamaha SPX90 units. This effect, paired with distortion, laid the foundation for his distinctive "glide guitar" method.

Shields’ pedalboard features over 30 effects pedals, primarily distortion units, graphic equalizers, and tone-shaping devices, all routed through several amplifiers often cranked to full volume to sustain notes longer. During live shows, the band includes an extended noise segment within "You Made Me Realise" that can last as long as thirty minutes and reach volumes up to 130 decibels. Shields has remarked that this intense loudness induces a sensory deprivation experience, visibly affecting audience members.

Bilinda Butcher’s vocal style also defines the band’s sonic identity. For the recording of Isn't Anything and Loveless, she was occasionally recorded shortly after waking, resulting in vocals described as "dreamy and sleepy." Typically mixed low to serve as an additional instrumental layer, her voice is often characterized by critics as androgynous.

Lyrics

Kevin Shields is primarily responsible for writing My Bloody Valentine’s lyrics, with Bilinda Butcher contributing roughly one-third of the material on both Isn't Anything and Loveless. Simon Reynolds of Spin observed that their lyrics frequently intertwine themes of sexuality with a contrasting blend of intensity and gentleness. Butcher has described much of the lyrical content as spontaneous "nonsense," created without deliberate planning. She sometimes interpreted Shields’ rough vocal ideas, transforming vague sounds into coherent words. Both Shields and Butcher dedicated long hours—often eight to ten per night—to lyric writing, emphasizing its importance over the musical composition. Shields noted that poor lyrics detract from a song’s impact, highlighting their commitment to crafting meaningful words.

Legacy

My Bloody Valentine are widely acknowledged as trailblazers of shoegaze, an alternative rock subgenre named in the 1990s after bands’ typically motionless stage presence. Their output on Creation Records played a pivotal role in shaping shoegaze peers such as Slowdive, Ride, and Lush, helping these groups gain wider recognition. Despite being poised for mainstream success following Loveless (1991), My Bloody Valentine never achieved significant commercial breakthroughs. Nevertheless, their influence on 1990s alternative rock remains profound; a 2017 AllMusic analysis ranked them as the 26th most cited source of inspiration among artists.

Several prominent alternative rock musicians have acknowledged My Bloody Valentine’s impact. Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins credited Isn't Anything as a key influence on their debut album Gish (1991), particularly noting the track "Daydream" as heavily inspired by them. This influence extended into subsequent albums like Siamese Dream (1993) and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995). Courtney Love also cited My Bloody Valentine’s effect on Hole’s third album, Celebrity Skin (1998).

Additional artists who have mentioned My Bloody Valentine include Mogwai, Oneohtrix Point Never, Thursday, Naked Giants, Quicksand, and ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. Actor Michael Imperioli has expressed admiration for the band, describing their live shows as intensely physical and emotionally powerful experiences.

Present lineup

Touring personnel

  • Anna Quimby – flute (1991–1992)
  • Jen Macro – keyboards, guitar (2013–present)

Former members

  • David Conway – lead vocals (1983–1987)
  • Mark Loughlin – bass guitar (1983)
  • Stephen Ivers – guitar (1983–1984)
  • Paul Murtagh – bass guitar (1983–1984)
  • Tina Durkin – keyboards (1984–1985)

Discography

Bibliography

External links

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  10. ↑ and on 13 June 2008, My Bloody Valentine played publicly for the first time in sixteen years with rehearsals at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts.
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