Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • TV by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • TV – A to K
      • TV – L to Z
      • TV – 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Artists - L to Z»Artists - M
    Artists - M 3 Mins Read

    Massive Attack

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    British hip-hop has always been a poor cousin to its US counterpart. Only when Brits corrupt the formula by crossing it with other styles do they come into their own. So it was in Bristol – a UK town with one of the largest and oldest black populations – in the 80s, where the Wild Bunch crew became revered for their party DJing, mixing US rap and electro with reggae soundsystem stylings, dance and new wave.

    Among their number were Grant “Daddy G” Marshall, Andrew “Mushroom” Vowles and graffiti artist Robert “3-D” Del Naja.

    As the Wild Bunch members set about their own projects – Nellee Hooper notably became a star producer – this trio coalesced into Massive Attack.

    They released the single Any Love in 1988 but it was their debut album, Blue Lines, released on 6 August 1991, which made their reputation.

    Featuring younger Bristol rapper, producer Adrian “Tricky” Thaws, and guest vocalists including reggae legend Horace Andy, the album built new songs on sampled loops of old soul and reggae tracks, creating a relaxed melancholic mood.

    The single, Unfinished Symphony – with singer Shara Nelson – in particular, became a classic chill-out track for the rave generation, and the album inspired the laid-back genre known as trip-hop.

    Massive Attack were prone to falling out and their line-up would shift over the years but Blue Lines assured their place as one of the most respected and influential groups of the 1990s. Their track Teardrop was later used as the theme tune to the high-rating US television drama series, House, starring Hugh Laurie.

    When Shara Nelson left, the group confused their fans by briefly changing their name to Massive to avoid controversy during the first Iraq war, and endured a disastrous tour of the United States.

    The surviving members returned with Protection (1994), which met with mixed reactions. While it proved that Massive Attack could produce a fine album – and hits – without Nelson, the album took a different direction that some critics did not appreciate. It was every bit as elaborate and interesting as Blue Lines but was largely instrumental.

    Among the exceptions were collaborations with Tracey Thorn from Everything But The Girl.

    Original member Tricky left for a solo career during the making of the album.

    Robert Del Naja (3-D)
    Vocals
    Horace Andy
    Vocals
    Andrew “Mushroom” Vowles

    Keyboards
    Grant “Daddy G” Marshall

    Keyboards
    Craig Armstrong
    Piano
    Chester Kamen

    Guitar
    Rob Merril

    Drums
    Shara Nelson
    Vocals
    Tracey Thorn
    Vocals
    Nicolette

    Vocals
    Adrian “Tricky” Thaws

    Vocals

    Related Posts

    • Meat Puppets
      Meat Puppets
      Curt Kirkwood was born on 10 January 1959, his brother Cris less than two years later, on 22 October 1960.…
    • Martha & The Muffins
      Martha & The Muffins
      Martha and The Muffins were a playful Canadian new wave band who had their roots in a mid-70s outfit called…
    • Members, The
      Members, The
      The Members formed in London's commuter suburb of Camberley, Surrey, in the winter of 1976. Nicky Tesco (born Nicholas Lightowlers),…
    • Malcolm McLaren
      Malcolm McLaren
      Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was born on 22 January 1946 in North London. His father left when he was two…
    • Madonna
      Madonna
      Nobody quite embodies the 1980s like the 'Material Girl' from Detroit, Madonna Louise Ciccone. Ciccone enjoyed a comfortable suburban middle-class…
    • Microdisney
      Microdisney
      Microdisney formed in Cork, Eire, in 1980 when Cathal Coughlan (vocals/keyboards) and Sean O’Hagan (guitars)  met at a party. After…
    • Manhattans, The
      Manhattans, The
      Not as successful in the UK as, say, The Stylistics or The Chi-Lites, what really set The Manhattans apart in…
    • MC Hammer
      MC Hammer
      The release of Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, the second album by an ex-Navy officer from California, proved to be a…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleMarvin Gaye
    Next Article Master’s Apprentices, The

    Comments are closed.

    A Labour of Love

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small – to help me with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Ian Paisley
      Ian Richard Kyle Paisley was born in Armagh (Northern Ireland), […]
    • Late Late Breakfast Show, The
      1 9 8 2 – 1 9 8 6 (UK) Noel Edmonds hosted this Saturday […]
    • Fiddler On The Roof (1971)
      The world of Fiddler On The Roof is the town of Anatevka, a […]
    • Jake Riviera
      Born Andrew Jakeman in February 1948, in Edgware, Middlesex, […]
    • Delinquents, The (1989)
      Featuring the movie debut of pop goddess Kylie Minogue, The […]
    • Tootsie (1982)
      Tootsie was a brilliant comedy about sexual identity, as well as […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65006801 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Terry Hall: Coventry scooter ride-out pays tribute to singer

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Hundreds of people ride through Coventry on what would have been the singer's 64th birthday.
    7 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/the-whos-roger-daltrey-thinks-theres-no-point-releasing-an-album-18434779/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Who's Roger Daltrey thinks there's 'no point' releasing another album

    metro.co.uk

    Bad luck.
    7 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64963359 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Sir Michael Caine's first Rolls Royce sells at Duxford for £120K

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Italian Job actor hired a chauffeur to drive the 1968 Silver Shadow, with its doors still intact.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Do you think she know it eas going to happen

    PlayTalk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay

    Talk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 8
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Gary Rossington had survived a 1977 air crash that killed several of his bandmates.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    What a talented man. Lucky enough to see original band in concert. BRILLIANT.

    Rest in peace Dickie Davies. An absolute giant of British sports broadcasting.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94

    www.theguardian.com

    The broadcaster became something of a cult figure after fronting the ITV show for 20 years
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Yes, one of the great presenters. R.I.P.

    For fans of the radio series Round The Horne (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty close to the edge, even by modern standards. Bona! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA

    For fans of the radio series "Round The Horne" (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty "close to the edge", even by modern standards. Bona!

    open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    For those interested, the complete “Jules and Sandy” is available on Audible…

    Bona to vada your jolly old eek. Lovely riah....

    RIP the beautiful Stella Stevens, who has died at the age of 84.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Stella Stevens: Nutty Professor and Poseidon Adventure star dies at 84

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The co-star of Elvis Presley also worked in TV on series such as Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends. 

If they only knew what lay ahead . . .

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends.

    If they only knew what lay ahead . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 18
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I always hated the Beatles, and as it happens I still do.

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Bubblegum music Canada Civil rights Cold War Computer games Crime Disc Jockeys Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Folk rock Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen James Bond JFK Kraütrock Labels Madchester Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave New Zealand Nixon Northern Soul NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Reggae Rolling Stones Scotland Ska Ska revival Skiffle Soul music Space Race Sport Surf music Video games Vietnam war
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.