Bis
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For the acronym BIS, see BIS
Bis was a Scottish rock band—Steven Clark (Sci-fi Steven), John Clark (John Disco), and Amanda McKinnon (Manda Rin).
The three musicians formed Bis in 1995, when Manda and John were in high school and Steven had recently graduated. About a year later, they appeared on Top of the Pops performing Kandy Pop from their Secret Vampire Soundtrack EP ahead of its release, widely reported (even to the present day) as the first such appearance by an unsigned act. Bis had a number of EPs that almost scraped into the UK top 40, including Sweet Shop Avengerz. In the late 1990s "Eurodisco" (on the CD Social Dancing) was a success.
The band's early releases were on Glasgow's legendary lo-fi Chemikal Underground label, run by The Delgados, before transferring to Wiija Records where labelmates included Cornershop. In the USA, their records appeared on the underground label K Records and on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label. They toured extensively both in the U.K. and abroad—their diverse influences reflected in the kind of acts they appeared with: Pavement, Garbage, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters and Gary Numan among them.
The United States first encountered the band during the closing credits of the Powerpuff Girls animated series. They also enjoyed a period of considerable success in Japan—selling nearly 100,000 copies of their debut album in the first week of release.
The band broke up in 2003, after playing a farewell show at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. All remain active in the local music scene. Steve and John play in Dirty Hospital and Manda DJs. Manda also is in a duo with Ryan from Discount, called the Kitchen. Also John has joined up with members of Belle and Sebastian, Pink Kross & Franz Ferdiand to start the ska band the Amphetameanies.
In 2005, they announced on the official Bis website that together they'd formed a new band, called Data Panik. One 7" single has been released so far.
They contributed a song to the game Jet Set Radio Future called "Statement Of Intent".
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Discography
Albums
- New Transister Heroes (1997, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol & Tristar/Sony)
- Social Dancing (1999, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol & V2)
- Play Some Real Songs: the Live Album (2001)
- Return To Central (2001, spinART, Apex & Tilt)
Compilations
- Icky-Poo Air Raid (1997, Rock)
- Intendo (1998, Grand Royal)
- I Love Bis (2001)
- Plastique Nouveau (2002, spinART)
EPs
- Transmissions on the Teen-C Tip! (1995, Acuarela)
- Disco Nation 45 (1995, Chemikal Underground)
- The Secret Vampire Soundtrack (1996, Chemikal Underground)
- Bis vs. the D.I.Y. Corps (1996, teen-c recordings)
- Atom-Powered Action! (1996, Wiiija)
- This Is Teen-C Power! (1996, Grand Royal)
- Techno Disco Lovers (1998, V2 & PIAS)
- Music For A Stranger World (2001, Wiiija, Lookout! & V2)
- fukd i.d. (2001, Chemikal Underground)
- Fact 2002 (2001, Optimo Singles Club and Other Related Recordings)
- Plastique 33 (2002, spinART)
Singles
- Kandy Pop/Sweet Shop Avengerz (1997, Tristar/Sony)
- Sweet Shop Avengerz (1997, Wiiija)
- Everybody Thinks That They're Going to Get Theirs (1997, Wiiija & Shock)
- Tell it to the Kids (1997, Tristar/Sony)
- Kid Cut (demo) (1997)
- Eurodisco (1998, Wiiija, Grand Royal/Capitol)
- Action & Drama (1999, Wiiija, Shock)
- Detour (1999, Wiiija & Grand Royal)
- What You're Afraid Of (2001, spinART)
- Protection (2001, Tilt)
- the End Starts Today (2002, Artful)
Splits
- Heavenly/Bis split (1996, K)
- Lugworm/Bis split (1997, Guided Missle)
- Bis/Apples in Stereo split (2000, Rhino)
V/A Compilations of Note
- Songs About Plucking (1996, Fierce Panda)
- the Smiths is Dead (1996)
- Random (1997, Beggar Banquet)
- At Home with the Groovebox (2000, Grand Royal)
- Powerpuff Girls: Heroes and Villans (2000, Rhino)
External link
Official band website (http://www.bisnation.com)