Alison Mosshart
{{short description|American musician}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Alison Mosshart
| image = Alison Nicole Mosshart.jpg
| caption = Performing in July 2010.
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| alias = VV, Baby Ruthless
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|11|23}}
| Resides =
| origin = Vero Beach, Florida, U.S.
| partner = Damian Lewis (2022–present)
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| genre = {{hlist|Post-punk revival|alternative rock|psychedelic rock|garage rock|blues rock|indie rock}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 1995–present
| associated_acts = Discount, The Kills, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, Royal Trux, The Last Shadow Puppets, Arctic Monkeys, Placebo, Primal Scream, Carla Azar, Cage the Elephant, Mini Mansions
}}
Alison Nicole Mosshart (born November 23, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, artist, and the lead vocalist for the rock bands The Kills and The Dead Weather. She started her musical career in 1995 with the Florida punk rock band Discount which disbanded in 2000.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p211953/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Discount|last=Ankeny|first=Jason|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=13 April 2010}} She then co-founded the Kills with British guitarist Jamie Hince (formerly of Scarfo and Blyth Power) in 2000 in London.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-kills-mn0000099508/biography|title=The Kills {{!}} Biography & History|last=Phares|first=Heather|website=AllMusic|access-date=2017-01-05}}
In The Kills' first album, Mosshart was known by her stage name "VV" and Hince was known as "Hotel".
In early 2009, she joined the supergroup The Dead Weather, formed by Jack White, along with Jack Lawrence and Dean Fertita. In that band, her stage name is "Baby Ruthless".
Musical career
=Discount=
Mosshart formed pop-punk band Discount (for which she was the singer) at the age of 17 with skateboarding friends{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2110133/alison-mosshart-the-kills-anthony-bourdain-the-dead-weather/interviews/weve-got-a-file-on-you/|date=2020-12-11|title=We've Got A File On You: Alison Mosshart}} in Vero Beach, Florida. The band recorded their first album, Ataxia's Alright Tonight when the band members were still in high school, and began touring aggressively throughout the DIY punk underground in North America and Europe.{{cite web|url=http://veilsofteeth.com/alison-mosshart/ |title=Alison Mosshart (Discount) |website=Veils of Teeth |first=Greg |last=Svitil |date=1996}} As a front-person, Mosshart distinguished herself through her intense, erratic, and earnest stage presence.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-curious-transformation-of-alison-mosshart-1798216408 |title=The curious transformation of Alison Mosshart |website=AV Music |date=29 April 2009 |last=Heller |first=Jason}} Discount's subsequent album, Half Fiction, was subsequently named the 50th Greatest Pop-Punk Album of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-greatest-pop-punk-albums-w508222/discount-half-fiction-1997-w508302 |title=50 Greatest Pop-Punk Albums |date=15 November 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} The band {{failed verification span|moved from Vero Beach to Gainesville|date=May 2021}}, and released their final album, Crash Diagnostic in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/the-kills-alison-mosshart-the-discount-years-6408285 |title=The Kills' Alison Mosshart -- The Discount Years | date=3 November 2011 |first=Betsey | last=Denberg | website=New Times Broward-Palm Beach}} The album reflected a move toward more angular sounds and detached lyrics than the emotionally frank pop-punk of the previous two albums.{{cite web|url=http://www.collective-zine.co.uk/reviews/?id=3406 |title=Discount Crash Diagnostic |website=Collective Zine |date=13 June 2007 |first=Russell |last=Opie}} After touring in support of the album, the band played their last show in Gainesville in August 2000.
=The Kills=
Before the two even met, Mosshart, while on tour with Discount, overheard Hince playing music in a squat above where she and the band were staying.{{Cite web|url=https://nomajesty.com/profiles-alison-mosshart-a-woman-of-many-parts/ |title=Profiles: Alison Mosshart, a Woman of Many Parts |date=29 September 2016 |first=Dan |last=Cody |website=No Majesty }} She finally approached him, after which they started playing around with some music ideas. After she went back to Florida, she continued writing songs with Hince, by sending her ideas overseas to London where he lived. She became very exhausted and ill, so after saving money, Mosshart moved to London and the duo officially started.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} She has tattooed the date of their first concert on her left hand: 14 February 2002.
In 2003, The Kills released their first album Keep on Your Mean Side. In 2005, they released their follow-up album No Wow.
In 2008, Midnight Boom was released, and singles "U R A Fever", "Cheap and Cheerful", and "Sour Cherry" got much more exposure than the Kills' previous singles on shows and movies like House M.D., 90210, The House Bunny, Friday the 13th (2009 film), and The Losers.{{Why|date=June 2012}}
On January 11, 2011, Mosshart announced the name of the new album Blood Pressures. It was released April 5 in the U.S. and April 4 elsewhere. The album is their most commercially successful to date.
During the 'Blood Pressures' tour they celebrated their 10-year anniversary on February 11, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMawnKNmt_4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/OMawnKNmt_4 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=The kills-10 anniversary show NYC (full concert) |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2014-07-16}}{{cbignore}}
They have released a photography book called Dream & Drive of their past 9 years with the photographer Kenneth Capello.{{cite web |url=http://kills.dominorecordco.com/kills/misc/06-06-12/dream-and-drive/ |title=The Kills - Official Online Store |publisher=Kills.dominorecordco.com |access-date=2014-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821061749/http://kills.dominorecordco.com/kills/misc/06-06-12/dream-and-drive |archive-date=2018-08-21 |url-status=dead }}
On June 26, 2014, The Kills opened for Jack White in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, for White's Lazaretto tour. Mosshart joined White to perform White's song "Love Interruption", and both Mosshart and Hince joined White to perform Leadbelly's "Goodnight Irene".
On June 3, 2016, The Kills released their album Ash and Ice.
=The Dead Weather=
Image:The Dead Weather Glastonbury 2009-1.jpg, June 26, 2009.]]
Mosshart is one of the original members of the alternative rock band The Dead Weather, formed in late 2008. She had performed previously with Jack White and Jack Lawrence and The Raconteurs, prior to this band's formation. She sings lead vocals and plays rhythm guitar.
She co-wrote (with Dean Fertita) the band's first single "Hang You from the Heavens", which was released on March 11, 2009. Mosshart also wrote "So Far From Your Weapon" and co-wrote the other eight of the ten original tracks on their debut album Horehound.
In 2010, a second album - Sea of Cowards - was released. The lead single, "Die By the Drop", was written by Mosshart, Fertita, and Lawrence.
Mosshart and White jammed with Seasick Steve and John Paul Jones for the 2011 ITunes Festival.
White's Third Man Records released a book made by Mosshart for her three bandmates called Shark Infested Soda Fountain containing pictures she took during their tour.{{cite web|url=http://thirdmanrecords.com/news/view/vault-package-14-195|title=VAULT PACKAGE #14|publisher=Third Man Records|access-date=2014-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152432/http://www.thirdmanrecords.com/news/view/vault-package-14-195|archive-date=2014-07-14|url-status=dead}}
In 2014, she joined Jack White on stage for his show at Bridge School Benefit to perform "I Cut Like A Buffalo" (from Horehound) and "Love Interruption" (from White's solo album Blunderbuss) with him while Dean Fertita was playing guitar.{{cite web|url=http://jackwhiteiii.com/shows/mountain-view/ |title=Photo show |publisher=Jackwhiteiii.com |access-date=2014-07-16}}
On August 29, 2013, The Dead Weather announced that they had returned to the studio to record a follow-up to 2010's Sea of Cowards.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/08/jack-white-new-songs-dead-weather/ |title=Jack White Brewing New Songs With the Dead Weather | SPIN | Music News |publisher=SPIN |date=2013-08-30 |access-date=2014-07-16}} Announcement of their third album, Dodge and Burn, came in July 2015 for a release in September by Third Man Records. Along with four previously released tracks, remixed and remastered, the album features eight new songs.
Art
Mosshart debuted her artwork as part of ArtNowNY's collaborative exhibit, Push It, in 2014. Her primary medium is paint.
In 2015, she had first solo art show, Fire Power, at the Joseph Gross Gallery in New York.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/alison-mosshart-interview-fire-power/|title=We Talked to Alison Mosshart About Her Debut Solo Art Show: 'Fire Power'|date=18 June 2015 |access-date=2016-06-29}}
In 2016, she featured in the Impossible Project in Berlin where she exhibited photographs.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wmagazine.com/story/alison-mosshart-culture-diet|title=Alison Mosshart, Rockstar and Photographer, Prefers to Hang Out in Sports Bars|last=Eckardt|first=Stephanie|newspaper=W Magazine|access-date=2017-01-05}}
Fashion
In April 2011, Mosshart contributed to British Vogue's "Today I'm Wearing"{{Cite web |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/photo-blogs/alison-mosshart/alison-mosshart---day-1 |title=Alison Mosshart's fashion and style choices, day 1 |access-date=2012-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212030238/http://www.vogue.co.uk/photo-blogs/alison-mosshart/alison-mosshart---day-1 |archive-date=2012-02-12 |url-status=dead }} feature, sharing a picture of her outfits each day for one month.
In 2013, she teamed up with French brand Surface to Air to design her ideal leather jacket.{{cite web|url=http://www.surfacetoair.com/blog/2013/05/meet-alison-mosshart/ |title=Meet: Alison Mosshart |publisher=Surface To Air |access-date=2014-07-16}}
The model and fashion designer Alexa Chung cites Mosshart as a style idol in a 2010 British Vogue article.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/fashionandbeauty/style-icon-alexa-chung-keeps-going-from-strength-to-strength-392587.html|title=Style icon Alexa Chung keeps going from strength to strength|access-date=2017-06-28|date=April 13, 2016|publisher=Irish Examiner}}
Personal life
Mosshart grew up in Vero Beach, Florida. Mosshart maintains a residence in London, England, as well as in Nashville, Tennessee.
She has been in a relationship with actor Damian Lewis since 2022.{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=Neil |date=June 10, 2023 |title=Damian Lewis on his unlikely rock reinvention: ‘I’m aware how dangerous this is for me’ |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interviews/damian-lewis-mission-creep-album/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230610115923/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interviews/damian-lewis-mission-creep-album/ |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=July 11, 2024 |website=The Telegraph}}{{Cite web |last=Wynne |first=Kelly |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Damian Lewis Confirms Romance with Alison Mosshart After the Death of Wife Helen McCrory |url=https://people.com/tv/damian-lewis-alison-mosshart-confirm-relationship-after-death-of-his-wife-helen-mccrory/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240711112316/https://people.com/tv/damian-lewis-alison-mosshart-confirm-relationship-after-death-of-his-wife-helen-mccrory/ |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024 |website=People}}{{Cite web |last=Kirkpatrick |first=Emily |date=July 6, 2022 |title=Damian Lewis Is Dating Alison Mosshart and Her Mom Can't Wait to Meet Him |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/07/damian-lewis-new-girlfriend-alison-mosshart-mom-after-death-wife-helen-mccrory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240711112303/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/07/damian-lewis-new-girlfriend-alison-mosshart-mom-after-death-wife-helen-mccrory |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024 |website=Vanity Fair}}
Discography
{{See also|The Kills discography}}
=With Discount=
- Ataxia's Alright Tonight (1996)
- Half Fiction (1997)
- Crash Diagnostic (2000)
=With The Kills=
- Keep on Your Mean Side (2003)
- No Wow (2005)
- Midnight Boom (2008)
- Blood Pressures (2011)
- Ash & Ice (2016)
- Little Bastards (2020)
- God Games (2023)
=With The Dead Weather=
- Horehound (2009)
- Sea of Cowards (2010)
- Dodge and Burn (2015)
=Appears on=
- "State Of 6pm" and "Voice Of The Actors": vocals on Palatka album The End Of Irony (1999)
- "Meds": vocals on Placebo album Meds (2006)
- "Dolls (Sweet Rock and Roll)" and "Suicide Sally & Johnny Guitar": vocals on Primal Scream album Riot City Blues (2006)
- "Paris Summer": live performance vocals on Last Shadow Puppets CD single My Mistakes Were Made For You (2008)
- "Fire and the Thud" with Arctic Monkeys: co-wrote the song and did backing vocals on album Humbug (2009)
- "Rolling in on a Burning Tire": vocals with the Dead Weather on The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack (2010)
- "Tomorrow Never Knows": vocals with Carla Azar on soundtrack for Sucker Punch (2011)
- "What A Wonderful World": vocals with the Forest Rangers on Songs of Anarchy: Music from Sons of Anarchy Seasons 1–4 (2011)
- "The Passenger": vocals with the Forest Rangers on Sons of Anarchy Volume 2 Soundtrack (2012)
- "Unwelcome Company": vocals on Henry Wagons solo EP Expecting Company? (2012)
- "It's Just Forever": vocals on Cage the Elephant album Melophobia (2013)
- "Trying to Believe You're Mine": vocals with the Forest Rangers on Sons of Anarchy Season 7 soundtrack.
- "'Til the End Of the Night" and "Wild Love": vocals on James Williamson solo album Re-Licked (2014)
- "England's In My Bones": vocals on Gang of Four album What Happens Next (2015)
- "The Sky Is a Neighborhood", and "La Dee Da": vocals on Foo Fighters album Concrete and Gold (2017)
- "He Is": vocals on Ghost single "He Is" (2017)
- "Hey Lover": vocals on Mini Mansions single "Hey Lover" from the album Guy Walks Into a Bar... (2019)
- "El Naufragio (Salvavidas)": vocals on Diamante Eléctrico's single "El Naufragio (Salvavidas)" from the album "Buitres & Co." (2019)
- "John Wayne" vocal duet from the Billy Idol album Dream Into It (2025)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Alison Mosshart}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP3SjbC62X8 Mosshart performing "Salute Your Solution" with the Raconteurs]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQRHuuHl_Ts Mosshart performing "Steady, As She Goes" with the Raconteurs]
{{The Kills}}
{{The Dead Weather}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mosshart, Alison}}
Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:American percussionists
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:Singer-songwriters from Florida
Category:American women rock singers
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Guitarists from Florida
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:21st-century American women guitarists
Category:21st-century American guitarists
Category:Vero Beach High School alumni
Category:The Dead Weather members
Category:American women percussionists