Named after the Leonard Cohen song “Sisters of Mercy”, which members heard in the 1971 film “McCabe & Mrs. Miller”, the band was formed by Gary Marx and Andrew Eldritch in 1977. The band’s debut output was the single “Damage Done/Watch/Home of the Hit-men”, following which Sisters of Mercy invited bassist Craig Adams and replaced Eldritch’s drumming with a drum machine. The move allowed Eldritch to focus on his vocal and songwriting responsibilities, which were showcased at the band's second ever live gig at Vanbrugh College in York. A second guitarist Ben Gunn was subsequently added to the lineup and played on Sisters of Mercy’s 1983 single “Temple of Love”.
Due to the success of the single the band signed with WEA Records, however citing an inability to work with Eldritch, Gunn left the band prior to the release of their debut. Wayne Hussey proved his more than capable replacement and recorded on Sister of Mercy’s debut full-length “First and Last and Always” released in 1985. The record was well received and the supporting tour raised the band’s profile to cult status. However, following the Black October Tour Marx left to form the group Ghost Dance and Adams and Hussey departed and formed The Mission.
Utilising musicians Patricia Morrison and Jim Steinman, Eldritch’s Sisters of Mercy released the full-length “Floodland” in November 1987. Led by the single “This Corrosion”, the album was very much the solo vehicle of Andrew Eldritch’s interests with Morrison and Steinman’s influence limited. In November 1990 the band issued its third full-length album “Vision Things” to popular reviews. Spawning the singles “More” and “Doctor Jeep”, the band has refused to released any subsequent material due to disputes with their record label.
Log in to your account
