Albums: In Name and Blood, Thelema, Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts

The Murder City Devils was a rock and roll, punk/garage rock band active between 1996 and 2001. The band's original lineup, consisting of Spencer Moody, Dann Gallucci, Derek Fudesco, Coady Willis and Nate Manny, formed in Seattle, Washington in 1996. Gabe Kerbrat was their permanent roadie, and considered a member.

Within a year, the band had released two singles "Three Natural Sixes" (Hopscotch Records #5) and "Dance Hall Music" (Empty Records MTR-354) and signed with the "Die Young Stay Pretty" label, a subsidiary of Sub Pop. The self-titled debut album was released in 1997. In 1998, the band released "Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts", its second full-length album.

This release saw a greatly increased use of electric organ, and in the same year they recruited Leslie Hardy as their full-time keyboard player. Hardy had previously played bass guitar for Hole on the 1993 single "Beautiful Son." The Murder City Devils then embarked on a year-long tour of North America to support the record. After a short break, the band released "In Name and Blood" in 2000, with photos in the liner notes notoriously depicting every member as a murder victim.

They also appeared as both individual actors as well as a band in David Larson's independent film "The Edge of Quarrel". The band released the "Thelema" EP in 2001 before breaking up later that year due to circumstances surrounding Hardy's departure from the band. The band's final concert on Halloween was recorded and released by Sub Pop in 2003, titled "R.I.P." Notably, R.I.P. includes two previously unrecorded songs.

It was also released on DVD in 2005. In 2006 the band announced they were reuniting for a July show in Seattle with all original members. The band performed on July 29th at the Capitol Hill Block Party closing the two day music festival on Saturday night.

The day following the Block Party performance the band played a secret unannounced show with The Blood Brothers at The Showbox in downtown Seattle, the same venue where "R.I.P." was recorded. Another reunion show was played at the 2007 Fun Fun Fun Fest, on November 3-4, 2007 in Austin, TX. The band is planning on more live shows during the Summer and Fall of 2008, the only date that's been officially released so far is September 6, 2008 in Portland as part of Willamette Week's MusicFestNW.

A 2009 tour of the U.S. West Coast begins in February.

Similar to 0 things you like: