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.
It could just be because this band is called “The Sisters of Mercy” that I think, front man, Andrew Eldritch looks rather androgynous amongst the rest of the band. This band, who had their breakthrough in the mid 80’s and stayed in the limelight for the next ten years, have released three studio albums to date. This evening they open with the song “This Corrosion”, which was a huge hit for the band in 1987, when it reached number 7 in the UK charts, 6 in Ireland and 17 in Germany. Eldritch’s bass-baritone voice is the glue that holds this song together. This audience is made up of die-hard fans that have been there from the beginning pumping their fists to the huge mammoth beat of this song. Leading into the next song, “More” which was also a hit single for the band, the audience sings every single word, sounding like they are about to go to battle. It is probably the one single moment that Eldritch breaks a smile throughout the performance, as he maintains his dark exterior.
The set is closed with “Temple of Love” which was the bands biggest song released in 1992 and making it to number 3 in the UK charts and becoming a top 20 hit in 5 countries altogether. It feels like 1992 right now as they perform this single to their adoring fans.
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