Letters to Cleo were an alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts (although they originally started out as a ska band). The band was made up of members Michael Eisenstein, Kay Hanley, Stacy Jones, Greg McKenna, Scott Riebling, and Tom Polce. Their name came from the fact that Hanley had a pen pal named Cleo when she was younger, although the letters she wrote would often be returned. Hanley kept them in a box under her bed marked "Letters to Cleo", and happened across the box as the band was attempting to think of a name for itself. Boston redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Alternative music redirects here. ... For other uses, see SKA (disambiguation). ... Post-grunge is a very diverse subgenre of alternative rock music that emerged in the mid-1990s immediately following the downfall of grunge music as an offshoot. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... CherryDisc Records was a Boston based independent record label in the mid-1990s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Kay Hanley (born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on September 11, 1968) is an alternative rock musician. ... Stacy Jones (born December 19, 1970 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the band American Hi-Fi. ... Alternative music redirects here. ... Boston redirects here. ... For other uses, see SKA (disambiguation). ... Kay Hanley (born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on September 11, 1968) is an alternative rock musician. ... Stacy Jones (born December 19, 1970 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the band American Hi-Fi. ...

Band history

The band was formed in 1990 by Greg Mckenna and Kay Hanley, from ashes of their former band, Rebbecca Lula. After numerous member changes, the classic Letters to Cleo line-up was solidified. They included Hanley and Mckenna, Mike Eisenstein on guitar, Stacy Jones on drums and Scott Riebling on bass. After years of playing Boston club circuit, including TT The Bears Place and The Rathskellar, Letters released their first full length record, Aurora Gory Alice on CherryDisc in 1993. Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Rathskeller (known as The Rat for short) was a Kenmore Square live music venue in Boston, Massachusetts that opened in 1974. ... Aurora Gory Alice is the first album by Letters To Cleo, released in 1993 on the record label CherryDisc Records and re-released in 1994 on Giant Records. ... CherryDisc Records was a Boston based independent record label in the mid- to late-1990s. ...

The album received extensive airplay around the region and after a much hyped show at South by Southwest in Austin, Letters to Cleo signed a major label record deal with Giant Records and Aurora Gory Alice was re-released worldwide. Downtown Austin, Texas, where SXSW is held each spring Bloc Party performing at Stubbs BBQ in 2007 Carrie Rodriguez, a SXSW 2007 performer Morrissey at SXSW 2006 South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that have taken place every spring in... Giant Records was launched as a joint-venture with Warner Bros. ...

They had their first big hit single with "Here & Now" and the song would later appear on the Melrose Place soundtrack, where it got most of its exposure. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart. Appearances on Conan O'Brien and Jon Stewart followed. Melrose Place is an American primetime soap opera that ran between 1992 and 1999, created by Darren Star for the FOX network. ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ... Conan Christopher OBrien (born April 18, 1963)[1] is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer and television personality best known as host of NBCs late-night talk/variety show Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... Not to be confused with John Stewart ,Jon Alan Stewart or John Stuart. ...

In 1995, Wholesale Meats and Fish was released and followed by extensive tours with Our Lady Peace, Sponge, Neds Atomic Dustbin and others. The single "Awake" was released and achieved moderate rotation on alternative radio. The band also recorded a cover of The Cars song "The Dangerous Type" for the major motion picture, The Craft. Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Our Lady Peace, abbreviated as OLP, is a Canadian alternative rock band consisting of Raine Maida (vocals), Duncan Coutts (bass), Jeremy Taggart (drums), and Steve Mazur (guitar). ... For other uses, see Sponge (disambiguation). ... Neds Atomic Dustbin is a British Grebo rock band that formed in Stourbridge in West Midlands, England in November 1987. ... The Cars were an American rock band, fronted by Ric Ocasek, that emerged from the early punk scene in the late 1970s. ... The Craft can refer to several things: The Craft is the ancient and traditional name of Freemasonry. ...

In 1997, Stacy Jones left the band to join Veruca Salt and was replaced by Tom Polce. That same year, LTC's third album "Go" was released. After a short tour, Polce left the band and was replaced by drummer Jason Sutter. In late 1997, Letters to Cleo parted ways with their record label Giant/Revolution. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Veruca Salt is an alternative rock group of the 1990s and 2000s. ... Jason Sutter is an American rock drummer. ...

1998 saw the release of some early demos and B-sides in the form of the "Sister" EP on Wicked Disc. Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

Letters to Cleo appeared in the film 10 Things I Hate about You in 1999 (one of the characters considers them a favorite band). They contributed three songs to the soundtrack for the film, including one original track, "Come On", a Cheap Trick cover (I Want You to Want Me), Sunshine On My Window (a cover of the Spiderbait song Calypso) and a Nick Lowe cover (Cruel to Be Kind). Whereas the covers appeared on the film's sountrack, "Come On" did not but was released as an MP3 download on the Band's website. During that same year, LTC opened for Cheap Trick at The Paradise club in Boston. 10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American romantic comedy film that is considered by most parents as innapropriate and immature. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... I Want You to Want Me is a song by Cheap Trick, originally recorded in 1977 for their album In Color, though the version from the bands 1978 album At Budokan subsequently became better known than the original. ... Spiderbait are an Australian rock band who have had two top ten albums and another three albums reach the Australian top 40. ... Bowi EP sleeve (1977). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The band played its last show on May 4, 2000, a benefit for their friend and longtime local supporter, Mikey D. They announced their disbandment in the Boston Globe the following month. Most of the band members are now involved in solo careers. Most notable is Kay Hanley's career, which produced the album Cherry Marmalade in 2002 and the EP The Babydoll EP in 2004. is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... The Boston Globe is the most widely-circulated daily newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts and in the greater New England region. ... Cherry Marmalade is the first album by Kay Hanley, released in 2002. ...

Former drummer Stacy Jones went on to form American Hi-Fi with fellow Boston musicians Drew Parsons, Jamie Arentzen and Brian Nolan. American Hi-Fi is a power pop/alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for their 2001 hit Flavor of the Weak. To date they have released three studio albums, as well as a live album released only in Japan. ...

Scott Riebling went into the production side of music and is now a highly sought after producer and engineer.

Co-founding member Greg Mckenna is currently finishing work on his solo project, Murder Capitol of the World. The debut album is due in 2007.

Members

• Kay Hanley - vocals
• Greg McKenna - guitar, backing vocals
• Michael Eisenstein - guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
• Scott Riebling - bass, backing vocals
• Stacy Jones - drums
• Tom Polce - drums

For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... Bass drum made from wood, rope, and cowskin A drum is a musical instrument in the percussion group that can be large, technically classified as a membranophone. ...

Discography

Albums

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ... Billboard magazine chart, see Top Heatseekers. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Aurora Gory Alice is the first album by Letters To Cleo, released in 1993 on the record label CherryDisc Records and re-released in 1994 on Giant Records. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Wholesale Meats and Fish is the second album by the alternative rock band Letters To Cleo. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... For other uses, see Go. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Sister is the fourth and final album by the band Letters to Cleo. ...

Singles

Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the main singles chart used by Billboard magazine. ... The Hot 100 Airplay is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. ... The Hot 100 Singles Sales (also known as Singles Sales) is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. ... Top 40 Mainstream (often also called Mainstream Top 40) is an airplay format from Billboard Magazine. ...

Trivia

• The Giant Records re-release of "Aurora Gory Alice" contains different versions of the songs "Here & Now" and "Rim Shak" than the original CherryDisc release.
• Greg and Kay's previous band had many rotating members, including Abe Laboriel Jr., who is now drumming for Paul McCartney.
• Matthew Sweet stepped in as guest bass player for LTC during the recording of the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack.
• Letters to Cleo recorded the theme song and music for the short lived animated series Generation O.
• Their video of "Here and Now" was featured in the Beavis and Butt-head cartoon "Beavis, Can You Spare A Dime" on MTV in 1995.
• "Josie & The Pussycats" Original Soundtrack-Play-Tone/Epic/Sony Music Soundtrax EK 85683 Voice of Josie: Kay Hanley on the 11 Josie & The Pussycat's songs (2001)
• Scott Riebling played bass for Weezer on the single version of "Pink Triangle." [1]
• Insane Clown Posse occasionally made reference to Kay Hanley in their songs from the past as "that girl from Letters to Cleo".

Giant Records was launched as a joint-venture in 1990 between Warner Bros. ... Abe Laboriel Jr. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... Sidney Matthew Sweet (born c. ... 10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American romantic comedy film that is considered by most parents as innapropriate and immature. ... Generation O! (also called by fans) was an animated childrens television series made by YTV, a subcompany of Corus Entertainment) & Sony. ... Beavis and Butt-head was an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. ... For the albums, see Weezer (1994 album) and Weezer (2001 album). ... Insane Clown Posse (commonly known as ICP) is an American rap duo originally from Wayne, Michigan but formed in the Detroit neighborhood of Delray. ...

See also

• 1990s music groups
• List of alternative music artists

This is a list of alternative music artists. ...

References

• Dillon, Charlotte. "Letters to Cleo". All Music Guide. Retrieved March 28, 2004.

The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ...

External links

• Letters to Cleo's official web site