LENE LOVICH BIOGRAPHY:
Born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 30, 1949, Lili-Marlene Premilovich, later known as Lene Lovich, became one of the most relevant figures of the New Wave and Post Punk movement during the late 1970’s- Lovich moved to England when she was 13 and in 1978 she released her most popular album “Stateless” that produced the hit “Lucky Number”, her signature song. Side by side with German artist Nina Hagen, she became one of the earliest female singers to embrace the alternative side of the Punk culture. Lene Lovich remains active, touring and with several side projects and bands.
Preceding Lene Lovich’s emergence onto the music scene, with her 1979 hit new wave single “Lucky Number”, her existence was already engulfed by her insatiable appetite for the visual and performing arts. In autumn 1968, with her partner– Les Chappell, she went to London to attend art school. From there, Lovich attended several art schools and lingered through the London Underground; she also performed in cabaret clubs as an “Oriental” dancer and journeyed to Spain where she visited Salvador Dalí in his home. She continued to grab at any artistic opportunity that came her way, such as recording screams for horror films and writing lyrics for French disco star Cerrone (including the sci-fi dance smash “Supernature”, which Lovich later recorded). She also worked with various theater groups and a few short-lived musical acts, such as the funk group the Diversions, and an all-girl cabaret trio the Sensations. Alas, the new wave music genre disappeared as did Lovich but her distinctive persona continues to prevail as it has impacted several musicians and musical groups, such as Siouxsie And The Banshees, Gwen Stefani, Karen O, Björk, PJ Harvey, and The Dresden Dolls
Her hit single “New Toy” was written by Thomas Dolby. Dolby penned the song specifically for Lovich, after seeing her perform live.
In 1989, after an absence of several years, she recorded the album, ‘March’ which was only moderately successful and was not released until nearly a year after the album’s single “Wonderland” had been issued and become an American dance hit. Lovich continues to perform in much the same style she did back in the 1970s and 1980s, with Les Chappell at her side. In 2005 she appeared on Hawkwind’s Take Me to Your Leader CD, as well as appearing occasionally on stage with them.Lovich’s first album since March, entitled ‘Shadows and Dust’ received a limited release on Mike Thorne’s Stereo Society label on September 13, 2005.
She played at the Royal Festival Hall in London for the Meltdown festival, curated by Yoko Ono. The same year, she established her own publishing label, Flex Music, and released a re-mastered versions of all her previous albums in a limited edition box set. She made a guest appearance with The Dresden Dolls at The Roundhouse which is featured as an extra on their DVD Live at the Roundhouse. and contributed to the opera ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (1991) by Peter Hammill and Judge Smith, singing the part of Madeline Usher.
Lene Lovich appeared on Hawkwind’s Take Me to Your Leader CD, as well as appearing occasionally on stage with them. Lovich’s first album since March, entitled Shadows and Dust, received a limited release on the Stereo Society label on 13 September 2005. She played for the first time in many years with a full band at the Drop Dead Festival in 2006.
In 2007, MVD Visual released Lene Lovich: Live from New York, a DVD featuring a performance Lovich gave at Studio 54 in 1981. In late 2007, both Lovich and Chappell produced a new edge recording of their hit “Lucky Number”. The version was performed by rock group Eastroad, and was used by the BBC for its coverage of the 2008 World Snooker Championship.
In 2011, Lovich sang the part of Eurydice in the songstory Orfeas by Judge Smith. In 2013 she sang on the albums Zoot Suit by Judge Smith and Gridlock by Mr Averell.
In 2012, Lovich began performing with a new band comprising Subterraneans frontman Jude Rawlins on guitar, bassist Lydia Fischer, keyboard player Kirsten Morrison, and Morgan King on drums. The band made their live debut at London’s famous 12 Bar Club on 29 October that year. In 2013 the band undertook their first high-profile tour, concluding with major sell-out shows in London and Berlin, and was the 5th act to be announced for Rebellion Festival 2013.
Lene Lovich is now working with her current line up and is continuing to play festivals and shows as demand is ever increasing for this much loved iconic performer!
Lene Lovich – Vocals
Stan Greenwood – Guitar
Val Gwyther – Bass
Morgan King – Drums
Black Marine – Keyboards
Venue
Sheffield City Centre
Sheffield S1 4JU
UK