Auf Der Maur Website Links For
Melissa
 

Information About

Auf Der Maur




  Background solo_singer
  Born <br/> Montreal , Canada
  Genre Alternative Rock
  Occupation Musician
  Instrument Vocals <br/> Guitar <br/> Bass
  Label Capitol
  Associated Acts The Smashing Pumpkins <br/> Hole <br/> Hand Of Doom
  URL Official Site


Melissa Gaboriau Auf der Maur (born March 17 , 1972 ) is a Canadian rock musician of Franco-Swiss ancestry, who currently resides in Montreal, Quebec . She is also a published photographer. The name "Maur", pronounced to rhyme with "power", is derived from the German word for wall ''(Mauer)'', thus her full surname can be literally translated as "On the Wall".


EARLY LIFE

Auf der Maur was born to journalist and politician Nick Auf Der Maur and literary translator Linda Gaboriau . She once observed that she had been known her whole life primarily as Nick's daughter, until she became the bassist for Hole , whereupon he became known primarily as Melissa's father.

Her primary language throughout childhood was English . She later learned French and Spanish . She spent some of her early childhood in Kenya with her mother, but after several bouts with Malaria returned to Montreal, where she attended FACE , a Performing Arts High School , and then Concordia University as a photography major.


MUSICAL CAREER


Hole

Auf der Maur became friends with Billy Corgan after apologizing for a friend who had thrown a beer bottle at the band during one of The Smashing Pumpkins ' first Canadian concert dates at Montreal nightclub Foufounes Électriques . Her band, Tinker, opened for The Smashing Pumpkins in Montreal in 1993. In 1994, when Hole was in need of a new bassist following the death of Kristen Pfaff , Corgan recommended Auf der Maur to Courtney Love . Auf der Maur initially turned the job down, but later reconsidered. She joined Hole two weeks before the Reading Festival , and stayed through the album '' Celebrity Skin '', leaving on October 20 , 1999 .


The Smashing Pumpkins

Not long thereafter, she toured with The Smashing Pumpkins, just after the band had finished the recording of '' Machina/The Machines Of God '', and the departure of original bassist D'Arcy Wretzky . She played with the band on their farewell tour, which was in support of the ''Machina'' album.


Other collaborations

She also collaborated with the French group Indochine on the song "Le grand secret", jointly singing vocals and appearing in the video with Nicola Sirkis , and toured with Ric Ocasek of The Cars in 1997. Auf der Maur also contributed bass and backing vocals to childhood friend Rufus Wainwright 's 2001 album '' Poses '' on the song "Evil Angel".


Hand of Doom and The Chelsea

After The Smashing Pumpkins' breakup, Auf der Maur fronted a short-lived Black Sabbath Cover Band called Hand Of Doom in order to practice being a Lead Singer . In 2002, Auf der Maur and drummer Samantha Maloney (formerly of Mötley Crüe , Hole , Peaches ), Paz Lenchantin ( A Perfect Circle , Zwan ), and Radio Sloan (Peaches, The Need , The Courtney Love Band ) created a new band called The Chelsea . They performed original songs and played one show in Los Angeles, California .


Auf der Maur

In 2004, her band Auf der Maur released its Self Titled Debut Album , garnering significant airplay on Modern Rock radio stations for the singles "Followed the Waves", "Real A Lie" and "Taste You". The same year, she appeared on the CBC television program '' The Greatest Canadian '', as David Suzuki 's celebrity advocate. Auf der Maur was part of the November 2004 Love Metal tour also featuring HIM and 2004's Curiosa . She was also the Opening Act for Matthew Good 's Put Out Your Lights Tour in 2004. She contributed backing vocals on the track "Do Miss America" which appears on Ryan Adams 's "Rock N Roll" album (2003).


Currently

On , 2007 , The Globe And Mail reported that Auf Der Maur would not be rejoining the Smashing Pumpkins. The Globe and Mail

In 2006, Auf Der Maur was included in '' Blender '' magazine's hottest women of rock alongside Joan Jett , Liz Phair , and fellow Hole member Courtney Love . Hottest Women of... Rock!


Second Album

In a recent interview with the Visions Of Rock website, Melissa announced that she had finished her second solo album which would go hand in hand with a graphic novel and a concept film which should be released in late 2007/early 2008. The website for this project has been launched in August 2007 and can be found at xmadmx.com .


PHOTOGRAPHY

Auf der Maur is also an experienced Photographer . She was a photography major specializing in Self-portraiture at Concordia University when she was invited to join Hole. Her photos have been published in Nylon , Bust , Mastermind, and Harper's Bazaar , among other magazines. Her photos were also in the exhibition 'The Kids are Alright' at Sotheby's in New York City along with photos by Yelena Yemchuk . A book of photos entitled ''Channels'' has been in the works for a few years.


DISCOGRAPHY



SINGLES



REFERENCES



NOTES

  • 1"http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2295&src=blender_ed

  • 2"http://www.opentomusic.co.uk/2004/04/14/auf-der-maur-mean-fiddler-london-13-april-2004/



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EXTERNAL LINKS