Cocteau Twins
Formed in Scotland in 1979 (1979 in music) and taking their name from an early (unreleased) song by Simple Minds, the Cocteau Twins were an influential rock group from the early 1980s onwards. Robin Guthrie (guitar), Will Heggie (bass) and Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) signed to 4AD, an influential British independent label, and released Garlands (1982 in music), their debut recording.
In 1983 (1983 in music), Heggie left the group. Head Over Heels, released the same year, was critically acclaimed and helped set the duo's sound. With Simon Raymonde (bass and keyboards) - ex-Drowning Craze - the Cocteau Twins released a series of critically acclaimed albums, including The Moon and the Melodies, a collaboration with Harold Budd, a minimalist composer. While remaining a 4AD band internationally, the Cocteau Twins signed to Capitol Records in 1988 (1988 in music) for distribution in the US, which helped with their commercial success. In 1990, after their album Heaven Or Las Vegas, they broke with 4AD, tired of being categorized as a "4AD band" After signing to Fontana (but retaining Capitol Records distribution in the US), they released the 1994 album Four Calendar Cafe and in 1996 what was to be their final album Milk And Kisses. The members of Cocteau Twins came together in 1998 to record another album, but because of personality conflicts decided to break up.
The ethereal style of the Cocteau Twins inspired the shoegazing genre of the late 1980s/early 1990s, which included bands such as Lush, Pale Saints, and My Bloody Valentine.
The former members of Cocteau Twins have remained active musically in the years since the band's demise. Guthrie and Raymonde formed the record label Bella Union, and have produced releases from new bands signed to that label. Raymonde has released the solo album Blame Someone Else. Elizabeth Fraser has provided vocals for Massive Attack and the soundtrack to the film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and is rumoured to be working on a solo album.
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