Living Things (band)
Living Things | |
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Background information | |
Origin | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
Genres | Alternative rock, garage rock, psychobilly, punk rock, dub |
Years active | 2002–2010 |
Labels | DreamWorks, Universal, Jive |
Website | http://www.livingthingsband.com/ |
Members |
Lillian Berlin Eve Berlin Bosh Berlin Cory Becker |
Living Things were an American punk rock band from St. Louis, Missouri. The band consisted of the brothers Lillian Berlin (vocals/guitar), Eve Berlin (bass), and Bosh Berlin (drums), plus Cory Becker (guitar).
History
Brothers Lillian Berlin (born Jason Berlin Rothman), Eve Berlin (born Justin Yves Rothman and sometimes known as Yves Berlin), and Bosh Berlin (born Joshua Rothman) grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis. Future Living Things guitarist Cory Becker was a childhood friend.[1] The band self-released two early EPs produced by Steve Albini,[2] and gained the attention of several record labels. They first signed with Dreamworks Records, which released the album Black Skies in Broad Daylight in 2004, but the label then dropped the band due to their controversial, politicized concert performances. Geffen Records also spent money to develop the band but then dropped them for similar reasons. They eventually signed with Jive Records.[3]
Living Things released the critically acclaimed album Ahead of the Lions in 2005. Produced by Steve Albini, the album ranked #42 on Rolling Stone Magazine's top 50 albums of the year.[4] The single "Bom Bom Bom" reached #21 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.[5] Lillian Berlin published the book Postmortem Bliss (Apocrypha Press), describing his teenage years in which he was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and became addicted to anti-depressants.[3] The book was adapted into a short film directed by Floria Sigismondi and broadcast on Turner Classic Movies in 2006.[6]
Living Things released the album Habeas Corpus in 2009. Also in 2009, Eve Berlin participated in a photo shoot with fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and had a brief relationship with model Kate Moss.[7] In 2010 Lillian Berlin composed the original score for the film The Runaways.[8]
Living Things self-released a series of songs in 2010 and announced an upcoming triple album,[9] though that album never appeared. They released a controversial video for the song "Har Megiddo" featuring a man having sexual intercourse with his car. Lillian Berlin stated that Ray Kurzweil's philosophy on "singularity" and society's love of machines were the inspirations for the video.[10] The band has been inactive since 2011.
Members
- Lillian Berlin - vocals, guitar
- Eve Berlin - bass
- Bosh Berlin - drums
- Cory Becker - guitar
Discography
- Turn in Your Friends and Neighbors (EP, 2002)
- Resight Your Rights (EP, 2004)
- Black Skies in Broad Daylight (2004)
- Ahead of the Lions (2005)
- Habeas Corpus (2009)
References
- ↑ "Biography: Living Things". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "Steve Albini to produce Living Things' full-length debut". Paste Magazine. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- 1 2 "Living Things: Rock'n'Roll Music from the Front Line". The Independent. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records of 2005". AOTY. Album of the Year. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "Chart History: Living Things". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "Flim Article: Postmortem Bliss". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "Kate Moss Cheating Allegations". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ Hedengran, Stefan (February 2011). "Lillian Berlin of Living Things: Scoring Music for 'The Runaways' Film". Softube. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "untitled article". The New Philadelphia. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ Bronson, Kevin (10 November 2011). "Video: Living Things, 'Har Megiddo'". buzzbands.la. Retrieved 19 April 2018.