Melora Creager | |
|---|---|
) Sarah Bowman, Melora Creager and Jonathon Tebeest. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | March 25, 1966 Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician, cellist |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts |
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Melora Creager (born March 25, 1966) is an American cellist, singer-songwriter, performing artist and founder of the cello rock group Rasputina.[1]
In the late 1980s Creager played with the New York indie rock band Ultra Vivid Scene.[2] In 1991, Creager founded alternative cello ensemble Rasputina by writing a manifesto and placing a want-ad in the Village Voice stating "electric cellists wanted". Cellist/composer Julia Kent was the first respondent. Rasputina performed regularly at NYC venues such as CBGB's Gallery, Brownie's and Fez before being signed to Columbia Records in 1996, for whom they subsequently made two albums. With varying members, Creager has made five more albums as Rasputina, and multiple shorter releases.
Creager also played cello for Nirvana on the European leg of the In Utero world tour (including the band's final show in Munich).[3]
Creager designed all the Rasputina album covers, except for Lost & Found which was designed by artist Ryan Obermeyer and included in the 44th Annual Society of Illustrators Exhibition in New York, 2002. From 1988 to 1996, Creager was employed as a jewelry designer for Erickson Beamon, creating costume jewelry for Anna Sui, Donna Karan, Barney's New York, and Vogue magazine. She continues her relationship with Anna Sui, occasionally designing fashion show invitations and T-shirts.
Through more than seven albums and frequent touring, Creager through Rasputina has been an originator of and influence on such movements as freak folk[4] and steampunk.[5]
Creager makes unique use of historical events and figures in her lyrics and themes. Inspirations include the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, Howard Hughes, Rose Kennedy, victims of Josef Mengele, Emily Dickinson, Pitcairn Island, Columbia County, New York. Combining history and humor in song-form and spoken-word pieces, Creager is also unique in exploring women's history through pop music.[6]
Discography
- Solo albums
- Perplexions - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2006
- Fa La La - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2015
- with Rasputina
- Transylvanian Concubine/The Vaulted Eel, Lesson #6 - Oculus Records, 1993
- Three (3) (promo) - 1994
- Thanks for the Ether - Columbia Records, 1996
- Three Lil' Nothin's (promo) - 1996
- Transylvanian Regurgitations (EP) - Columbia Records, 1997
- How We Quit the Forest - Columbia Records, 1998
- The Olde HeadBoard (EP) - Columbia Records, 1998
- The Lost & Found (self-released limited edition EP) - 2001
- Cabin Fever! - Instinct Records, 2002
- My Fever Broke (EP) - Instinct Records, 2002
- The Lost & Found (second edition EP) - Instinct Records, 2003
- Frustration Plantation - Instinct Records, 2004
- A Radical Recital (live) - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2005
- Oh Perilous World (Vinyl LP, CD & Limited edition CD) - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., June 26, 2007
- Repo! The Genetic Opera (As part of orchestra), 2008
- Melora a la Basilica (Limited Edition Live EP), 2008
- The Willow Tree Triptych (Limited Edition EP), 2009
- Ancient Cross-Dressing Songs - A Special Recording For Brooklyn (Limited Edition EP), 2009
- Sister Kinderhook - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2010
- Great American Gingerbread - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2011
with Nirvana
- With the Lights Out, appears only on the song "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam", 2004
References
- ^ Creager, Melora. "Rasputina history". Rasputina. Archived from the original on 2007-06-29.
- ^ Kiffel, Jamie. "Rasputina: An Interview with cellist/singer Melora Creager". Lollipop Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ [1] Nirvana Fanpage. Accessed 19-07-2008.
- ^ Fusilli, Jim. "Melora Creager Pulls the Strings". Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Gluckstern, Nicole. "Cello Rock!". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Polacheck, Angeliska. "Melora Creager: Sweet Sister Temperance". Coilhouse. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
External links
- Official Rasputina Website
- Melora Creager at IMDb
- Melora Creager at AllMusic
- Melora Creager discography at Discogs
- Melora Creager discography at MusicBrainz
- Interview with Melora Creager on Sepiachord.com
- on The Jekyll and Hyde Show, 106FM Jerusalem. October 2010
Creager has two daughters, Hollis and Ivy.