biography
This loose UK collective, comprising
rapper 3D (b. Robert Del Naja), Daddy G (b. Grant Marshall) and Mushroom (b.
Andrew Vowles, Knowle West, Bristol, England), emerged from Bristol's
experimental music scene. The trio spent several years working on various mobile
sound systems, as well as releasing records as part of the Wild Bunch ("Fucking
Me Up", "Tearing Down The Avenue"). Nellee Hooper, a former member of the Wild
Bunch, left to work with Soul II Soul and subsequently became one of the leading
producers and remixers of the 90s. Another original member, Milo Johnson, began
work in Japan. Liaisons with Neneh Cherry eventually led to a meeting with
Cameron McVey, who produced Massive Attack's 1991 debut. The resultant Blue
Lines boasted three hit singles; "Daydreaming", "Unfinished Sympathy" (which
featured an orchestral score) and "Safe From Harm". The blend of rap, deep
reggae and soul was provocative and rich in texture, and featured singing from
Cherry and Shara Nelson. An outstanding achievement, it had taken eight months
to create, "with breaks for Christmas and the World Cup". "Unfinished Sympathy"
was particularly well received. Melody Maker magazine ranked it as the best
single of 1991, and it remains a perennial club favourite.
One minor hiccup occurred when they were forced, somewhat hysterically, to
change their name during the Gulf War in order to maintain airplay. It was duly
shortened to Massive. Their philosophy singled them out as dance music's new
sophisticates: "We don't ever make direct dance music. You've got to be able to
listen and then dance." That status was confirmed when U2 asked them to remix
their single "Mysterious Ways". Despite Blue Lines being widely acclaimed, the
band disappeared shortly afterwards. Shara Nelson pursued a solo career, with
Massive Attack put on hold until the mid-90s. Another early contributor, Tricky,
launched himself to considerable fanfare. Protection finally arrived in 1994,
with former collaborator Nellee Hooper returning as producer. The featured
singers this time included Tricky, Nigerian-born Nicolette, Everything But The
Girl's Tracey Thorn and Horace Andy (who had also contributed to the debut) on a
selection of tracks that sadly failed to recapture the magic of Blue Lines. Many
critics suggested that others had now run so far with the baton handed them by
the collective that the instigators themselves were yet to catch up. Apart from
a dub remix of Protection recorded with the Mad Professor, little was heard from
Massive Attack until "Risingson" was released in autumn 1997. The single's
menacing atmosphere was a taster for the downbeat grooves of Mezzanine, which
was released to widespread critical acclaim in April 1998, and also became their
first UK chart-topper. Guest vocalists included Andy, newcomer Sara Jay, and
Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, the latter featuring on the wondrous "Teardrop",
which deservedly broke into the UK Top 10 in May 1998, aided by a stunning video.
Rumours of personality clashes were confirmed when Mushroom left to pursue solo
interests the following year.
discography
100th Window
Mezzanine
Label: Virgin
Released: 05.12.98
Protection
Label: Virgin
Released: 01.24.95
Blue Lines
Label: Virgin
Released: 08.06.91
links