Queenadreena
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in London, England |
| Founder | KatieJane Garside, Crispin Gray |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Studio albums, live albums |
Queenadreena was an alternative rock ensemble from England, established in London in 1998 by vocalist KatieJane Garside and guitarist Crispin Gray. The duo had previously worked together in the notable but brief-lived band Daisy Chainsaw. Building on their intense songwriting approach developed with Daisy Chainsaw, Garside and Gray integrated blues rock influences into Queenadreena’s foundational noise rock sound.
Over the span from 2000 to 2008, Queenadreena produced four studio albums, beginning with the well-received Taxidermy released in 2000. Their sophomore effort, Drink Me (2002), was issued under Rough Trade Records, though they parted ways with the label afterward and later signed with the independent One Little Indian. Additionally, they released a live recording titled Live at the ICA, captured at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. The band dissolved in 2009, after which Garside pursued solo ventures such as Ruby Throat.
Origins and Taxidermy: 1998–2001
The inception of Queenadreena occurred in 1998 when guitarist Crispin Gray reunited with vocalist KatieJane Garside, their previous collaboration dating back to 1989 with Daisy Chainsaw. Following her departure from Daisy Chainsaw after two years, Garside withdrew from the public eye, residing in the Lake District at the historic artist retreat known as Rigg Beck. It was during this period she began composing and recording her own material. Reflecting on her exit from the music scene, Garside remarked: "Had I not stepped away, it would have destroyed me... Since I didn’t write the songs [in Daisy Chainsaw], I could never fully express myself... I couldn’t pour out words, only emotion through performance."
Upon returning to London in 1998, Garside settled in Belsize Park, where Gray also lived, leading to their reunion and formation of the new band. The name Queenadreena originated from a character conceived by Garside: "Princess Adreena," a warrior figure who amputated her left breast to better wield a bow and arrow and was eventually crowned Queen Adreena.
The lineup included drummer Billy Freedom and bassist Orson Wajih alongside Gray and Garside. Their debut single, "X-ing Off the Days" / "Heavenly Surrender," was released on 25 October 1999. Early in 2000, their first studio album, Taxidermy, came out through Blanco y Negro Records. Several songs, including "X-ing Off the Days," were penned solely by Gray following his time with Daisy Chainsaw. The album received praise from NME for evolving beyond Daisy Chainsaw’s sound, described as akin to "listening in on psychotherapy," drawing comparisons to artists like Björk and PJ Harvey.
To promote Taxidermy, Queenadreena embarked on a UK tour supporting Nine Inch Nails and appeared at the 2000 Reading and Leeds Festivals. During this era, the band’s name was stylized as Queenadreena. They also released a split single featuring renditions of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and the traditional ballad "Pretty Polly."
Lineup changes, The Butcher and the Butterfly: 2002–2006
In 2002, Pete Howard, previously associated with The Clash, replaced drummer Billy Freedom. The group secured a deal with Rough Trade and issued their sophomore album, Drink Me. This release included the track "Pretty Like Drugs", which garnered considerable attention from rock media outlets. Critical reception was favorable, with Drowned in Sound awarding it a 7/10 and the French publication Les inrockuptibles commending its gothic and dark atmosphere.
Not long after the release of Drink Me, Rough Trade ended their contract with the band, and bassist Wajih departed amid a tour supporting Garbage. Janie Jarvis from Radiator briefly filled in on bass before Richard Adams, formerly of Daisy Chainsaw, took over; however, Adams soon exited. Queenadreena also appeared at the 2003 Castle Donington Download Festival.
By 2004, the band had signed with One Little Indian Records, releasing The Butcher and the Butterfly, which featured KatieJane's sister Melanie Garside on bass. Melanie left shortly thereafter, succeeded by Paul Jackson. On 22 March 2005, Queenadreena recorded a live performance at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts, later released in September as Live at the ICA.
Djin and disbandment: 2007–present
In 2007, Queenadreena independently issued Ride a Cock Horse, a compilation of early demo tracks. The lineup continued to evolve with Nomi Leonard joining on bass and Stephen Gilchrist replacing Pete Howard on drums toward the end of 2008.
Their fourth studio album, Djin, debuted on 8 October 2008 exclusively in Japan through Imperial Records, followed by a UK release in September 2009 without active promotion as the band entered an indefinite hiatus. The album embraced stronger blues rock elements and was described by Allmusic as "[Queenadreena's] masterpiece," emphasizing the band's artistic growth.
In 2011, Crispin Gray hinted at potential reunion shows but expressed skepticism about new Queenadreena recordings due to lack of communication with KatieJane Garside. By 2020, Garside conveyed a clear unwillingness to collaborate further with Gray or produce additional Queenadreena work.
On 16 April 2021, Cadiz Entertainment reissued Djin as a limited edition neon pink double vinyl that included six extra demos plus an unreleased track titled "Heaven Doesn't Wait," co-written with the late Andy Gill of Gang of Four. In May 2021, Gray provided an in-depth interview reflecting on Queenadreena's journey and his other musical endeavors.
Members
- KatieJane Garside – vocals (1998–2009)
- Crispin Gray – guitar, backing vocals (1998–2009)
- Pete Howard – drums (2002–2008)
- Nomi Leonard – bass (2006–2009)
- Former members
- Orson Wajih – bass (1999–2002; participated in Taxidermy tour and recorded on Drink Me)
- Billy Freedom – drums (1999–2002; featured on Taxidermy)
- Melanie Garside – bass (autumn 2003–early 2005; contributed to The Butcher and the Butterfly, co-writing multiple tracks and performing live)
- Paul Jackson – bass (2005–06; live performances)
- Michael Vakalis – bass (May/June 2003; French tour)
- Bambi – drums (2008–09)
- Janne Jarvis – bass (autumn 2002; toured for Drink Me)
- Richard Adams – bass (December 2002–spring 2003; early 2003 tours, co-writer of 'Pull Me Under')
- Dom Bouffard – bass (summer/autumn 2003; UK tour)
Discography
- Taxidermy (2000)
- Drink Me (2002)
- The Butcher and the Butterfly (2005)
- Ride A Cock Horse (2008)
- Djin (2008)