Robots in Disguise
{{short description|English electropunk band}}
{{About|the UK electropunk band|similar uses|Transformers: Robots in Disguise (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Sue Denim|the writer who formerly used this pseudonym|Dav Pilkey}}
{{Lead too short|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Robots in Disguise
| image = Sue_denim_&_dee_plume_2014-01-25_02-05.jpg
| caption = Sue Denim & Dee Plume
| image_size = 200px
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Liverpool, England
| genre = Electropunk
| years_active = 2000–2011, 2019–present
| label = Recall (2001–2005)
President (2006–present)
| associated_acts = Sue & The Unicorn
IAMX
Psycho Delia
| website = {{URL|http://www.robotsindisguise.co.uk}}
| current_members = Sue Denim
Dee Plume
}}
Robots in Disguise are an English electropunk band composed of Dee Plume (vocals and guitar), Sue Denim (vocals and bass) and a changing line-up of backing musicians. The group released four studio albums between 2000 and 2011.
History
= Formation and early years (2000) =
Plume (Delia Gaitskell) and Denim (Suzanne Powell) met and formed the band when they were both students at the University of Liverpool.{{cite web|url=http://www.kassnermusic.com/writers-artists/featured-writers/10?SUE-DENIM-&-DEE-PLUME|title=Sue Denim & Dee Plume|publisher=KassnerMusic.com}} They recorded and released their first EP entitled Mix Up Words and Sounds through Splinter, produced by Chris Corner.
= ''Robots in Disguise'' and ''Get RID!'' (2001–2005) =
The band's eponymous début studio album was released through Recall in 2001, produced by Chris Corner. Robots in Disguise featured the single "Boys". The cover for "Boys" featured a mimic of Roxy Music's Country Life. Robots in Disguise's second studio album, Get RID! was released in 2005 through Recall and Ben Prime. It featured the singles "Turn It Up" and "The DJ's Got a Gun".
= ''We're in the Music Biz'' (2006–2008) =
The band's third studio album, We're in the Music Biz, was released through President in 2008, and was again produced by Chris Corner. It featured the single "The Sex Has Made Me Stupid", as well as new single "The Tears". We're in the Music Biz has a deceivingly innocent looking album cover, with the girls appearing to wear shirts and ties when in fact they are topless and the "clothes" are simply body paint.{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3284940.ece|title=Robots in Disguise: We're in the Music Biz review|newspaper=The Sunday Times}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
= ''Wake Up!'' and ''Happiness v Sadness'' (2009–present) =
The band recorded their fourth studio album in London in late 2009, but ran out of money before its completion. The band relied on fan pledges to financially support the project,{{cite web|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/260|title=Robots in Disguise: Album 4!!!|publisher=PledgeMusic}} and released the single "Wake Up" on 3 May 2010, which included a remix by Electrosexual & Scream Club.
"Wake Up!" was inspired by Barry M cosmetics, who financed a music video-cum-ad featuring "Robot Blue" lipstick and costuming.{{cite web|url=http://www.barrym.com/fun/robots-in-disguise.asp|title=Barry M – Robots in Disguise|publisher=Barry M.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227042002/http://www.barrym.com/fun/robots-in-disguise.asp|archivedate=27 December 2010}}
With 138% of their pledge goal met by fans, the studio album was released on 11 July 2011.
= Reunion =
In 2019, they announced their reunion and an upcoming album.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/sue__denim/status/1204384855481565184|title=Me and @dee__plume are getting together soon to start writing the long awaited (ha) 5TH ROBOTS IN DISGUISE ALBUM!!!|publisher=Twitter.com|date=10 December 2019}}
''The Mighty Boosh''
Dee and Sue appeared several times in the British Television series The Mighty Boosh as electro band members and goth girls. Dee Plume was dating Boosh co-creator Noel Fielding at that time. Robots in Disguise toured with The Mighty Boosh Live for their 2008–09 tour, performing in the after-shows. They also appeared at The Mighty Boosh festival on Saturday 5 July 2008 at the Hop Farm in Kent.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
Discography
=Albums=
- Robots in Disguise (2001)
- Get RID! (2005)
- We're in the Music Biz (2008) #24 UK Indie Albums{{Cite web |date=2006-06-17 |title=ROBOTS IN DISGUISE |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/9774/robots-in-disguise/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}
- Happiness V Sadness (2011){{cite web|url=http://thevelvetonion.com/2011/05/10/the-not-so-old-queen-robots/|title=The Not So Old Queen Robots|publisher=The Velvet Onion.com|date=10 May 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629010232/http://thevelvetonion.com/2011/05/10/the-not-so-old-queen-robots/|archivedate=29 June 2011}}
=Singles=
- "Boys" (2001)
- "Arguments" (2002)
- "Bed Scenes" (2002)
- "Turn It Up" (2004) #141 UK Singles{{Cite web |title=Robots in Disguise Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Rock VF, Rock music hits charts |url=https://www.rockvf.com/Robots+in+Disguise.art |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=www.rockvf.com}} #14 UK Indie Singles #75 UK Physical Singles
- "Girl" (2005)
- "DJ's Got a Gun" (2005)
- "We're in the Music Biz" (2008) #70 UK Physical Singles
- "The Sex Has Made Me Stupid" (2008) #9 UK Indie Singles
- "The Tears" (2008)
- "Wake Up" (2010) #20 UK Indie Breakers{{Cite web |title=Official Independent Singles Breakers Chart Top 20 {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-breakers-chart/20100425/254/ |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=www.officialcharts.com |language=en}}
- "Chains" (2011)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.robotsindisguise.co.uk Robotsindisguise.co.uk], official site
- [http://www.myspace.com/sueandtheunicorn Sue And The Unicorn] at Myspace, Sue Denim's solo project
{{Robots in Disguise}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robots in Disguise}}
Category:English pop punk groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2000
Category:British electronic music duos
Category:English electronic music groups
Category:English women in electronic music
Category:Electropunk musical groups
Category:English all-female bands