Bis (band)

Bis (/bɪs/ biss) are a Scottish indie pop band composed of Steven Clark (Sci-fi Steven), John Clark (John Disco), and Amanda MacKinnon (Manda Rin), formed in 1994.^[2] The band's name, rhyming with 'this', derives from "black iron skyline", a lyric from the song "Twilight of a Champion" by The The. The band broke up in 2003, but re-formed briefly in 2007 for a series of concerts. In 2009 they re-formed again, and released a new album in 2014.

History

The three musicians formed Bis in late 1994 while Rin and Disco were in secondary school and Steven had recently finished there. After releasing their first singles the following year, they appeared on BBC Television's Top of the Pops in 1996 performing "Kandy Pop" from their Secret Vampire Soundtrack EP^[2] ahead of its release. Much was made at the time about them being the first 'unsigned' band to do so, when in reality dozens of bands — especially in the late 1970s and in the cases of 'novelty' acts — had appeared on the show with singles released on labels they either had no formal contract with other than as a distributor or, as with Bis, agreements signed on a single by single basis.

Bis released a number of EPs, three of which entered the UK Singles Chart in 1996, followed by several singles between 1997 and 1999.^[3] "Eurodisco", from second album Social Dancing, became a minor success for the band in Australia as well as the UK.

Rise to fame

Two of the band's early releases were on Glasgow's Chemikal Underground label, run by The Delgados,^[4] before they transferred to Wiiija where labelmates included Cornershop. In the United States, their records appeared on the underground label K Records, and on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label.^[2] They toured extensively both in the UK and abroad, their diverse influences reflected in the kinds of acts they appeared with; Foo Fighters, Garbage, Luscious Jackson, Gary Numan, and Pavement amongst them.

The group became a favourite of the likes of Blur, John Peel^[5] and Green Day, despite a particularly hostile review by Steven Wells in the New Musical Express entitled "The Sinking of the Bis-Lark".

The band had gained American popularity during the closing credits of The Powerpuff Girls. Their song "Detour" was also given some radio airplay in the U.S. They enjoyed a period of success in Japan, selling nearly 100,000 copies of their debut album in its first week of release, but future releases failed to be anywhere near as successful.

Split and future projects

The band broke up in 2003,^[2] after playing a farewell show at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. All remained active in the local music scene. Steven and John Disco played in Dirty Hospital and Rin acted as a DJ. Rin was also in a band called The Kitchen, whilst Disco joined the ska band, The Amphetameanies, which included members of Belle & Sebastian, Franz Ferdinand and Pink Kross.

In 2005, they announced on the official Bis website that together they had formed a new band called Data Panik, with Stuart Memo on bass and drummer Graham Christie. After releasing two 7" singles, however, this band split up.

Bis contributed an old song to the game Jet Set Radio Future called "Statement of Intent". In 2005, Bis performed in animated form on the CBBC children's cartoon BB3B.

As of 2006 Rin was working on solo material.^[6] In 2007 she teamed up with the Scottish electro-pop outfit, Juno!, and has collaborated on their independently released singles, "Smoke & Mirrors" and "These Boys Are Athletes", as well as regularly appearing live with the band, most recently at the Rock Ness 2008 Festival.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the release of their debut album The New Transistor Heroes, Bis re-formed in April 2007 for three shows in Glasgow, Manchester, and London. A greatest hits compilation, titled We Are Bis from Glasgow, Scotland, was released on compact disc to coincide with these shows.

In August 2008, Rin released the solo single "DNA", which she followed up with the release of her debut album, My DNA with This Is Fake DIY in September 2008.

More recently, singer Manda Rin provided the artwork for an iPhone game called "All Fridges Are Psychotic".^[7] She has also made two guest appearances on the BBC music quiz programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks (on 18 November 2010 and 19 January 2011). She also teamed up with Hyperbubble on a track for their 2011 album Drastic Cinematic.

Reunion

In November 2009, Rin announced that the band would re-form to play at the Primavera Festival in May 2010, returning this time with a bassist and drummer, former Data Panik members, Stuart Memo and Graham Christie, respectively.

In February 2014, the band announced they would release their fourth album, Data Panik Etcetera, on 15 May on Rough Trade Records.^[8] The album was made available for streaming at NME on 28 April.^[9]

The same year, the band's first three albums were re-released as double CD deluxe editions by the Do Yourself In label.^[10]

Members

• Manda Rin - vocals, keyboards
• Sci-Fi Steven - vocals, guitar, synthesizer
• Disco John - vocals, guitar, bass guitar

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

• Play Some Real Songs: A Bis Live CD (2001, only sold through the Bis website)

Compilation albums

• Icky-Poo Air Raid (1997, Rock)
• Intendo (1998, Grand Royal)
• I Love Bis (2001, Micro Inc.)
• Plastique Nouveau (2002, spinART)
• We Are Bis from Glasgow, Scotland (2007, Cherry Red)
• The Anthology - 20 Years of Antiseptic Poetry (2014, Do Yourself In Records)

Extended plays

• Transmissions on the Teen-C Tip! (1995, Acuarela)
• Disco Nation 45 (1995, Chemikal Underground)
• The Secret Vampire Soundtrack (1996, Chemikal Underground) UK No. 25,^[11] SCO No. 16^[14]
• Bis vs. the D.I.Y. Corps (1996, teen-c recordings) UK No. 45,^[11] SCO No. 47^[15]
• Atom-Powered Action! (1996, Wiiija) UK No. 54,^[11] SCO No. 29^[16]
• This Is Teen-C Power! (1996, Grand Royal)
• Techno Disco Lovers (1998, V2 & PIAS)
• Music for a Stranger World (2000, Wiiija, Lookout! & V2)
• fukd ID No. 5 (2001, Chemikal Underground)
• Fact 2002 (2001, Optimo Singles Club and Other Related Recordings)
• Plastique 33 (2002, spinART)
• Mechanical Love (2014, Do Yourself In Records)

Singles

• "Sweet Shop Avengerz" (1997, Tristar/Sony) – (1997, Wiiija) UK No. 46,^[11] SCO No. 37^[17]
• "Everybody Thinks That They're Going To Get Theirs" (1997, Wiiija & Shock) – (1997, Tristar/Sony) UK No. 64,^[11] SCO No. 56^[18]
• "Tell It to the Kids" (1997, Sony Japan)
• "Kid Cut (Demo Version)" (1997) (One-sided 7" single given out at gigs in Glasgow and London)
• "Eurodisco" (1998, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol) UK No. 37,^[11] AUS No. 54,^[19] BE No. 41,^[20] SCO No. 27^[21]
• "Action and Drama" (1999, Wiiija, Shock) UK No. 50,^[11] SCO No. 45^[22]
• "Detour" (1999, Wiiija & Grand Royal) UK No. 80,^[11] SCO No. 72^[23]
• "What You're Afraid Of" (2001, spinART)
• "Protection" (2001, Tilt)
• "The End Starts Today" (2002, Artful)
• "Rulers and the States" (2014, Rough Trade)
• "Keep Your Darkness" (2014, Do Yourself In Records)
• "Minimum Wage" (2014, Do Yourself In Records)
• "Twilight Cafe" (2014, Do Yourself In Records)

Splits

• "Trophy Girlfriend" b/w "Keroleen" – Heavenly/Bis split (1996, K)
• "Pop Song" / "Clockwork Punk" b/w "Rococo Neggro" / "Harrap Ageing Fast" – Bis/Lugworm split (1997, Guided Missile)
• "Signal in the Sky (Let's Go)" b/w "The Powerpuff Girls (End Theme)" – The Apples in Stereo/Bis split (2000, Kid Rhino)
• "Minimum Wage" b/w "Hair Metal Shame" - Bis/Ghosts Of Dead Airplanes split (2014, Do Yourself In Records)

Various artist compilations

• Songs About Plucking (1996, Fierce Panda) – "Super James"
• The Smiths Is Dead (1996, Small Records) – "The Boy with a Thorn in His Side"
• Casper: A Spirited Beginning: The Soundtrack (1997, EMI-Capitol) - "Kandy Pop"
• Random (1997, Beggar Banquet) – "We Are So Fragile"
• At Home with the Groovebox (2000, Grand Royal) – "Oh My"
• The Powerpuff Girls – Heroes and Villains (2000, Rhino Entertainment) – "Fight the Power" and "The Powerpuff Girls (End Theme)"
• The Powerpuff Girls – The City of Soundsville (2001, Rhino Entertainment) – "Super Secret City of Soundsville Song"
• The Powerpuff Girls – Power Pop (2003, Rhino Entertainment) – "Powerpunk End Theme"

Music videos

• "Kandy Pop" (1996)
• "This Is Fake D.I.Y" (1996)
• "Starbright Boy" (1997)
• "Sweet Shop Avengerz" (1997)
• "Tell it to the Kids" (1997)
• "Everybody Thinks They're Going To Get Theirs" (1997)
• "Eurodisco" (1998)
• "Action and Drama" (1999)
• "Detour" (1999)
• "The End Starts Today (Single Edit)" (2001)

References

External links

• Bis Nation (official website)
• Planet Manda (official Manda Rin website)
• Muuma 2008 interview (English and Spanish) with Manda Rin
• Audiojunkies Interview with Manda Rin
• Bis interview, July 1997
• Flag Hippo All Fridges Are Psychotic website
• Interview with BIS on Radio23 and Primavera Sound live set