The Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy performing on the main stage of Spirit of Burgas, Bulgaria, August 2008
The Sisters of Mercy performing on the main stage of Spirit of Burgas, Bulgaria, August 2008
Background information
OriginLeeds, West Yorkshire, England
Genres
Years active
  • 1980–1985
  • 1987–present
Labels
Spinoffs
  • The Sisterhood
  • the Mission
  • SSV
  • Ghost Dance
Members
  • Andrew Eldritch
  • Ben Christo
  • Kai
  • Chris Catalyst
Past member(s)(see members)
Websitewww.the-sisters-of-mercy.com

The Sisters of Mercy are an English gothic rock band that started in Leeds in 1980.[1]

They released their first album First and Last and Always in 1985,[2][3][4] In 1987, they released their second album Floodland,[2] In 1990, they released their third and final album Vision Thing.[2]

In 1990, they stopped making songs and albums because of disputes with their record label East West Records, from 1990 to the present day they perform new songs live.

Musical style

The Sisters of Mercy have been described as gothic rock,[5] post-punk,[6][7] dark wave[8] and industrial rock.[9]

Discography

  • First and Last and Always (1985)
  • Floodland (1987)
  • Vision Thing (1990)

Personnel

Members

Current members
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming (1980–1985, 1987–present), drums (1980)[10]
  • Ben Christo – guitars, backing vocals, bass (2006–present)
  • Kai – guitars, backing vocals (2023–present)
  • Chris Catalyst – guitars, backing vocals (2005–2019),[11] Doktor Avalanche operator (2023–present)
Former members
  • Gary Marx – guitars (1980–1985), vocals (1980)[12]
  • Keith Fuller – vocals (1980)[12]
  • Claire Shearsby – keyboards (1980)[12]
  • Jon Langford – keyboards (1980)[10]
  • Dave Humphrey – guitars (1981)[13]
  • Tom Ashton – guitars (1981)[13]
  • Craig Adams – bass (1981–1985)
  • Ben Gunn – guitars (1981–1983)
  • Wayne Hussey – guitars, backing vocals (1983–1985)
  • Patricia Morrison – bass, backing vocals (1987–1989)
  • Andreas Bruhn – guitars (1989–1993)
  • Tony James – bass (1989–1991)
  • Tim Bricheno – guitars (1990–1992)
  • Adam Pearson – guitars, backing vocals, bass (1993–2006)
  • Chris Sheehan – guitars, backing vocals (1996, 2000–2005)
  • Mike Varjak – guitars (1997–2000)
  • Dylan Smith – guitars, bass, backing vocals (2019–2023)
Former touring musicians
  • Dan Donovan – keyboards (1990–1991)
  • Simon Denbigh – Doktor Avalanche operator (1996–2012)
  • Ravey Davey – Doktor Avalanche operator (1996; 2008; 2012–2023)

Timeline

Line-ups

1980–1981 1981 1981–1983
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drums
  • Gary Marx – guitars, vocals
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, guitars, drum programming
  • Gary Marx – guitars
  • Craig Adams – bass
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, guitars, drum programming
  • Gary Marx – guitars
  • Craig Adams – bass
  • Ben Gunn – guitars
1983–1985 1985 1985–1987
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, guitars, drum programming
  • Gary Marx – guitars
  • Craig Adams – bass
  • Wayne Hussey – guitars, backing vocals
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, guitars, drum programming
  • Craig Adams – bass
  • Wayne Hussey – guitars, backing vocals

Disbanded

1987–1989 1989 1989–1990
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Patricia Morrison – bass
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Andreas Bruhn – guitars
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Andreas Bruhn – guitars
  • Tony James – bass
1990–1991 1991–1992 1993
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Andreas Bruhn – guitars
  • Tony James – bass
  • Tim Bricheno – guitars
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Andreas Bruhn – guitars
  • Tim Bricheno – guitars
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Andreas Bruhn – guitars
  • Adam Pearson – guitars, backing vocals, bass
1993–1996 1996 1997–2000
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Adam Pearson – guitars, backing vocals, bass
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Adam Pearson – guitars, backing vocals, bass
  • Chris Sheehan – guitars, backing vocals
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Adam Pearson – guitars, backing vocals, bass
  • Mike Varjak – guitars
2000–2005 2005–2006 2006–2019
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Adam Pearson – guitars, backing vocals, bass
  • Chris Sheehan – guitars, backing vocals
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Adam Pearson – guitars, backing vocals, bass
  • Chris Catalyst – guitars, backing vocals
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Chris Catalyst – guitars, backing vocals
  • Ben Christo – guitars, backing vocals, bass
2019–2023 2023–present
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Ben Christo – guitars, backing vocals, bass
  • Dylan Smith - guitars, backing vocals
  • Andrew Eldritch – vocals, keyboards, guitars, drum programming
  • Ben Christo – guitars, backing vocals, bass
  • Kai – guitars, backing vocals

References

  1. ↑ Huey, Steve. "The Sisters of Mercy | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 58. CMJ Network, Inc. 19 April 1999. p. 29.
  3. ↑ Sfetcu, Nicolae (7 May 2014). The Music Sound.
  4. ↑ Groom, Nick (27 September 2012). The Gothic: A Very Short Introduction. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-164239-5.
  5. ↑ Huey, Steve. Sisters of Mercy Archived 23 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2015
  6. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958.
  7. ↑ Campbell, Michael (2012). Popular Music in America:The Beat Goes On. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0840029768.
  8. ↑ Weir, Mat (30 April 2024). "The Mission UK in San Jose". Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  9. ↑ Ayo, Alan (1 March 2011). "Local Music 'Mericans: Chad Lovell Helped Spur Course of Empire; Now He's Working Hard To Make Your Band Sound Better and Get Heard". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  10. 1 2 LIPEZ, ZACH (14 November 2016). "The Mekons' Jon Langford on His Brief Sisters of Mercy Stint". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "Sisters Of Mercy guitarist Chris Catalyst leaves the band". Side-line.com. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 Andrews, Mark (17 November 2016). "Life Before Alice: Andrew Eldritch, Leeds & The Birth of The Sisters of Mercy". The Quietus. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  13. 1 2 Andrews, Mark (30 August 2017). "Shine Like Thunder: The First Golden Age of The Sisters of Mercy". The Quietus. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

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