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Drugstore are a London based alternative 'late-night' rock band, led by Brazilian born songwriter Isabel Monteiro.
Often hard to pin-down and wrongly bundled along their 90's contemporaries, Drugstore have always quietly stood
away from the pack, carving their own distinctive micro-universe, populated by lost lovers, misfits and wine-whisperers,
all
under the glittering Drugstore sky.
Had
anyone actually thought about it, Drugstore should have been branded
Alt-indie-country - as Isabel’s smoky vocals
and pitch-dark lyrical subject matter, coupled with the band’s minimalist, melancholic guitar and string arrangements,
stick them firmly in the lovelorn, caustic company of Low, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.
and pitch-dark lyrical subject matter, coupled with the band’s minimalist, melancholic guitar and string arrangements,
stick them firmly in the lovelorn, caustic company of Low, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.
Drugstore’s
music nimbly hops over the ages, from 1920s Berlin cabaret through the French chanson
tradition,
via The Velvet Underground’s woozy melodic charm and Tom Waits’ bar-room badinage, across PJ Harvey’s earnest
intellect and The Bad Seeds’ angry melancholia, creating an intoxicating mix of heartfelt sadness, longing and hope.
via The Velvet Underground’s woozy melodic charm and Tom Waits’ bar-room badinage, across PJ Harvey’s earnest
intellect and The Bad Seeds’ angry melancholia, creating an intoxicating mix of heartfelt sadness, longing and hope.
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The band
was formed in 1993 when Isabel Monteiro and american drummer Mike Chylinski shared a flat in East London.
As a
rhythm session, they played for about a year or so in a succession of
going-nowhere small-time bands,
but soon Monteiro started writing songs and decided to put their own band together.
but soon Monteiro started writing songs and decided to put their own band together.
Singers
were auditioned, but it became clear that with songs this personal, it would
make sense for Isabel to
have a go at singing them herself.
have a go at singing them herself.
They were
soon joined by another american stranded in London, guitarist Dave Hunter, and so the trio was formed.
The band quickly recorded their self-financed debut 7" vinyl single, featuring a couple of Monteiro's
songs, 'Alive', backed by 'Gravity', and released it on their own label Honey, pressing only 500 copies.
The band quickly recorded their self-financed debut 7" vinyl single, featuring a couple of Monteiro's
songs, 'Alive', backed by 'Gravity', and released it on their own label Honey, pressing only 500 copies.
After the release, with a pregnant girlfriend, guitarist Dave Hunter had to go back to the US,
he was replaced by londoner Daron Robinson, who decided to join the band on the spot, having just
watched one of their early gigs at the Powerhouse, a trendy London venue where he was a booker.
he was replaced by londoner Daron Robinson, who decided to join the band on the spot, having just
watched one of their early gigs at the Powerhouse, a trendy London venue where he was a booker.
The humble homemade single 'Alive' immediately drew an unprecedented amount of attention, going way beyond the
trio's expectations, and earning their first of many 'Single of the Week' in Melody Maker, Music Week and Q magazine.
Isabel Monteiro was quickly offered a publishing deal with Complete Music (Universal) and a major recording contract
with maverick label GoDiscs!, (home of Portishead and Paul Weller), whose owner Andy Macdonald
happened to be at one of the band's earliest gigs in London.
trio's expectations, and earning their first of many 'Single of the Week' in Melody Maker, Music Week and Q magazine.
Isabel Monteiro was quickly offered a publishing deal with Complete Music (Universal) and a major recording contract
with maverick label GoDiscs!, (home of Portishead and Paul Weller), whose owner Andy Macdonald
happened to be at one of the band's earliest gigs in London.
The band
then spent a couple of months recording their 1st album at Chipping Norton Studios.
The studio near Oxford was chosen for its renowned NEVE desk, coincidentally, it was where Radiohead
had recorded Creep.
The 1st album, simply called 'Drugstore', entered the UK charts at #31 and it was widely well-received by the
press, both in the UK, Europe and the US, making into most top 'albums of the year' lists.
The single 'Solitary Party Groover' also did well in the student dance floors and was a college radio hit.
The studio near Oxford was chosen for its renowned NEVE desk, coincidentally, it was where Radiohead
had recorded Creep.
The 1st album, simply called 'Drugstore', entered the UK charts at #31 and it was widely well-received by the
press, both in the UK, Europe and the US, making into most top 'albums of the year' lists.
The single 'Solitary Party Groover' also did well in the student dance floors and was a college radio hit.
The
following 3 years were spent on the road, with non-stop tours, headlining and
supporting a number of great bands,
like the Tindersticks, the Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and playing at all the major festivals in Europe
and America: Glastonbury, Reading, T-inThe-Park, Lilith Fair, La Route du Rock, Les Eurockéennes, Roskilde,
Benicassim, Phoenix and many others.
like the Tindersticks, the Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and playing at all the major festivals in Europe
and America: Glastonbury, Reading, T-inThe-Park, Lilith Fair, La Route du Rock, Les Eurockéennes, Roskilde,
Benicassim, Phoenix and many others.
Their 2nd
album, 'White Magic for Lovers' was recorded at El Cortijo studio in Spain, run by Trevor Morais, Bjork's
drummer. The label brought a producer in for the 1st time, Clive Martin, hoping to capture some of the excitement of
the band's live performances.
drummer. The label brought a producer in for the 1st time, Clive Martin, hoping to capture some of the excitement of
the band's live performances.
The album
landed the band a top 20 hit in the UK, with the single 'El President' - a duet with
Radiohead's Thom Yorke.
The song is a tribute to former socialist Chilean President Salvador Allende - whose nationalistic pro-people policies
prompted the CIA-backed military coup that forced him out-of-office and installed the brutal dictatorship of Pinochet.
The single was also number 1 in Belgium, top 10 both in France and Germany, charting all over Europe and also
doing well in the US college stations.
The band carried on touring, travelling as far afield as Tromsø in the Arctic Pole, the spa of Baden-Baden,
to deep in the heart of Texas.
The song is a tribute to former socialist Chilean President Salvador Allende - whose nationalistic pro-people policies
prompted the CIA-backed military coup that forced him out-of-office and installed the brutal dictatorship of Pinochet.
The single was also number 1 in Belgium, top 10 both in France and Germany, charting all over Europe and also
doing well in the US college stations.
The band carried on touring, travelling as far afield as Tromsø in the Arctic Pole, the spa of Baden-Baden,
to deep in the heart of Texas.
Their 3rd
album, 'Songs for the Jetset'- recorded at Battery studios in London under 2 weeks, was released by UK
label GlobalWarming Records in 2001. The track "Baby Don't Hurt Yourself" features Paul Niehauss, from american
cult band Lambchop, on pedal steel.
label GlobalWarming Records in 2001. The track "Baby Don't Hurt Yourself" features Paul Niehauss, from american
cult band Lambchop, on pedal steel.
With
sparse, low-key arrangements, creating an atmospheric and seductive vibe,
perfect for the intimate smoky vocals
of Isabel Monteiro, the album was once again well received by the press, with great reviews from sources as wide as
Marie Claire Magazine to The Times newspaper, even getting a glowing review in the NME, who would, as per tradition,
go against whatever had been championed by their mega rivals, the Melody Maker, who had always been big Drugstore
supporters from the every beginning.
of Isabel Monteiro, the album was once again well received by the press, with great reviews from sources as wide as
Marie Claire Magazine to The Times newspaper, even getting a glowing review in the NME, who would, as per tradition,
go against whatever had been championed by their mega rivals, the Melody Maker, who had always been big Drugstore
supporters from the every beginning.
In the
summer of 2001, while the band were in the middle of promoting the 'Songs for
the Jetset' album, to the surprise
of band members and much to the dismay of the Record Company, Isabel suddenly decided to 'walk away from it all'
and the band, unexpectedly, stopped existing and pretty much disappeared from the planet.
of band members and much to the dismay of the Record Company, Isabel suddenly decided to 'walk away from it all'
and the band, unexpectedly, stopped existing and pretty much disappeared from the planet.
8 years
later, In September 2009 the band re-appeared out of nowhere with a sold-out
reunion gig at london
Dingwalls.
Fuelled
by the positive response of the reunion gig and a new guitar donated by a
fan, Isabel started the 'Anatomy
blog', candidly relating the harsh years spent in rock-wilderness and writing material for a new album.
blog', candidly relating the harsh years spent in rock-wilderness and writing material for a new album.
Early in
2010, realising it would be difficult to run the band with
original members now living abroad,
Monteiro announced a new line-up, featuring long-time collaborator Peter Allinson, with a sold-out gig at the Institute of
Contemporary Arts ICA in London, followed by a performance at Glastonbury Festival for the charity 'Attitude is Everything'
and at the Secret Garden Party in Huntingdon.
Monteiro announced a new line-up, featuring long-time collaborator Peter Allinson, with a sold-out gig at the Institute of
Contemporary Arts ICA in London, followed by a performance at Glastonbury Festival for the charity 'Attitude is Everything'
and at the Secret Garden Party in Huntingdon.
In
October 2010 they signed a one-off record deal with London based indie label RocketGirl.
In
January 2011 the band spent 3 weeks at a remote small studio in Platts Eyot, an
isolated island in the middle of the
river Thames, recording the new album, which was released later that summer.
river Thames, recording the new album, which was released later that summer.
'Anatomy',
Drugstore's quietest record yet, with its melancholic, strip-down tones,
reflects the songwriter’s sense of
isolation and loss.
isolation and loss.
The album
was well-received by the press, and was 'Album of the Month' in
HotPress and DrownedinSound.
In 2012
the band performed outside of London for the
first time in over a decade, with packed shows at the Trades Club,
in Hebden Bridge, and at the Norwich Arts Centre.
in Hebden Bridge, and at the Norwich Arts Centre.
The band
returned in Jan 2013 with a sold-out gig at St Pancras Old church in London.
March
2013 the band was invited by london
based label Cherry Red Records to release a 'Best of'
compilation.
The album features 20 tracks selected by the band, spanning the band's career, from their humble indie beginnings,
the more mature cello-laden arrangements, to the sparse melancholia of their latest work, giving listeners
old and new, an opportunity to re-discover the exquisite beauty of Drugstore.
For the launch of 'The Best of Drugstore', Isabel chose the notorious nightclub Madame Jojo's, an old hang-out
for all mischievous and colourful types of downtown Soho, in London, making a statement that at the Drugstore temple,
everyone is welcomed, thus ending the band's adventure in Europe, with its heart wide-open to humanity.
In 2015 Isabel returned to Brazil and teamed up with brazilian musicians, drummer Ricardo Cifas and guitarist David
Ferreira, and in late August performed 2 sold-out gigs at hip São Paulo venue 'Casa do Mancha' andThe album features 20 tracks selected by the band, spanning the band's career, from their humble indie beginnings,
the more mature cello-laden arrangements, to the sparse melancholia of their latest work, giving listeners
old and new, an opportunity to re-discover the exquisite beauty of Drugstore.
For the launch of 'The Best of Drugstore', Isabel chose the notorious nightclub Madame Jojo's, an old hang-out
for all mischievous and colourful types of downtown Soho, in London, making a statement that at the Drugstore temple,
everyone is welcomed, thus ending the band's adventure in Europe, with its heart wide-open to humanity.
In 2015 Isabel returned to Brazil and teamed up with brazilian musicians, drummer Ricardo Cifas and guitarist David
recorded a session for CCSP, São Paulo's prime arts venue
Monteiro has since moved to the small fishing village of Boiçucanga, in the coast of São Paulo state,
where she lives in semi-seclusion, spending much of her time on political activism on Twitter as @GringaBrazilien
and watching the sea waves break.
* band intro
originally written by charlie ivens / edited by tina beckman
.........................................................................
Original
Line-up:
Isabel Monteiro (bass, guitar, vox)
Isabel Monteiro (bass, guitar, vox)
Mike
Chylinski (drums)
Daron
Robinson (guitar, piano)
also
played with the band:
Ian
Burdge (cello)
Matt
Aulich (guitar)
Peter
Allinson (piano, keys)
Dave
Hunter (guitar)
Nils Eyre
(guitar, pedal-steel)
Steve
Dixon (drums, samples)
Ricardo Cifas (drums, brazil)
David Ferreira (guitar, brazil)
Ricardo Cifas (drums, brazil)
David Ferreira (guitar, brazil)
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DID YOU
KNOW?
Drugs
bust-up w/ the Jesus&Mary Chain:
First
night on tour, the Reid briothers walked into our dressing room:
'So,
wher's the drugs then?'
'Er...,
well, we haven't got any drugs, but we've got loads of booze instead, do y'a
fancy a glass of wine?'
'Wot?! No
foking drugs?! Yr call yerselves Drugstore and you aint got any drugs on you?
Wot a joke....
Who
booked this foking band?!'
and with
that, they both walked away.
Drugstore
rejects Thom Yorke vocals? Nah...
But I'm
affraid we did - please Lord forgive - but we kinda had to:
Thom
comes into the studio to put his vocals down on El President - but he does it
an octave lower than
what we were hoping for - but no one dared say a word - so he goes home thinking: 'job done'.
what we were hoping for - but no one dared say a word - so he goes home thinking: 'job done'.
But later
on that evening, I just couldn't stop thinking about it, how the song was
begging for him to sing it
an octave higher - so I took a deep breath and decided to make a pretty tough call:
an octave higher - so I took a deep breath and decided to make a pretty tough call:
'Er,
Thom, er, you know, like, er, your voice, er, is like..., you know.., pretty
amazing right?
I was just wondering if we could try it an octave higher, like a crazed-up piercing angel, humanity squeal
kinda thing? wot d'ya reckon?'
I was just wondering if we could try it an octave higher, like a crazed-up piercing angel, humanity squeal
kinda thing? wot d'ya reckon?'
He was
totally cool about it:
'Yeah
sure, I'll pop back in the studio tomorrow and have a go - no problem.'
a real
star.
And we
are so grateful he did.
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Drugstore's
music has been featured on four movie soundtracks -
'Superglider'
is used on All Over Me, and also on House of America.
'Fader'
is featured on the film Cherry
Falls.
'Old
Shoes', originally written by Tom Waits, from the album Step Right Up - the
songs of Tom Waits,
is used in the film East of Sunset.
is used in the film East of Sunset.
The
band's music was also featured throughtout the BBC series This LIfe, whose
music producer was none
other than Ricky Gervais, who was a fan of the band.
It also appears on the MTV series Daria, and more recently on the Channel-4 series Teachers.
other than Ricky Gervais, who was a fan of the band.
It also appears on the MTV series Daria, and more recently on the Channel-4 series Teachers.
.........................................................................
Both
original members Daron Robinson and Mike Chylinski got married and have a
variety of household
pets and babies. Daron runs a successful cake-baking business in London and Mike lives in Los Angeles
with his wife and a few cats.
pets and babies. Daron runs a successful cake-baking business in London and Mike lives in Los Angeles
with his wife and a few cats.
Isabel
remains the ever untamable mare, having returned to Brazil in 2015, she now lives at the seaside
village of Boiçucanga, some 2 hours away from her native São Paulo city, where she spends much of
her time engaged in pro-democracy political activism under the moniker of @GringaBrazilien and the
super rare Drugstore outing.
village of Boiçucanga, some 2 hours away from her native São Paulo city, where she spends much of
her time engaged in pro-democracy political activism under the moniker of @GringaBrazilien and the
super rare Drugstore outing.
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