Annie Hardy
Encyclopedia
Annie-Summer Hardy is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the American
rock
act Giant Drag
.
Previously signed to Interscope Records
, she was voted one of NME
s "50 Coolest People," and has received major news coverage in NME
, Spin
, MTV News
and Rolling Stone
, among others.
She is known for her quick-witted stage persona and retorts to insults (Hardy has said, "As long as I get the last laugh, I'm fine"), and for the explicit titles of some of her songs, such as "You Fuck Like My Dad" (which was shortened to "YFLMD") and "My Dick Sux" (though the lyrical content of the actual songs is not as blatantly explicit).
, a city in Orange County, California
. Her mother is Molly Hardy, a part-time playwright and director. When Hardy was younger, she acted in one of her mother's plays. She got her first guitar when she was in the sixth grade, but attempts at getting lessons failed.
In the tenth grade, Hardy went to a boarding school in Ojai
of which she says, "There was nothing to do there. I was acting there and I was in the choir." It was there that she met another girl who also had a guitar. According to Hardy, "Her Dad was teaching her Beatles songs. So we learned how to play together. I learned a lot by studying piano books that had chord charts. I bought some rock books. Around then I learned how to play and sing at the same time."
After high school, Hardy did extra work for money and pursued a musical career. In 1998, she moved to Los Angeles. At some point, Hardy worked as a DJ at Beauty Bar. Hardy continued looking for band members and was involved in many potential bands, including Mein Coif, with friends Mike Felix (now drummer of Toys That Kill) and Max Humphrey (bassist of The Adored
).
"Who's Crying Now" and the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows."
According to Hardy, "One day I said, 'Hey dude, you know all my songs. Why don't you be my drummer?' He agreed." They considered looking for a bass player, until Calabrese began playing bass parts on a synthesizer with his left hand while playing drums with his right as a joke. Hardy and Calabrese decided that Calabrese would continue to do this from that point on.
Giant Drag's first show was on June 4, 2003, at the Scene in Los Angeles, one month after they decided to be a band. They went on to play venues like The Troubadour, Silverlake Lounge, The Fold and The Derby.
On January 25, 2005, Giant Drag released the EP Lemona on Wichita Recordings
. This was followed on September 13, 2005 by their first full-length release, Hearts and Unicorns
, on Kickball Records.
In December 2008, NME announced that she was suffering from muscle disorder fibromyalgia
. According to College News, her condition was later referenced in Paul Avion
's (of Par Avion
)'s song "Fibromyalgia".
Celebrity fans include Daniel Radcliffe
.
The Swan Song EP was released on February 16, 2010.
.
Hardy provided guest vocals on the song "Pink Cellphone" from the 2006 Deftones
album Saturday Night Wrist
. On 26 April 2007 Hardy performed the song "Just Like Honey" onstage with The Jesus and Mary Chain
for their reunion show the day before Coachella.
"GTFU" radio show with Jeremy Weiss and Aaron Farley.
On January 4, 2007, Hardy announced on Giant Drag's official website that she will be recording a cover of Madonna's
"Oh Father" for a charity/tribute Madonna album that will benefit AIDS in Africa tentatively titled "Through The Wilderness."
Giant Drag's cover of "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaac is currently the commercial for the upcoming season of Nip/Tuck
on the FX Network. Giant Drag originals have been featured on television shows including The L-Word, Jericho and the movie A Love Song For Bobby Long starring Scarlett Johanson and John Travolta.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
act Giant Drag
Giant Drag
Giant Drag is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formerly a duo, the band was founded in 2003 by Annie Hardy who continues to be the band's sole singer and songwriter....
.
Previously signed to Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, she was voted one of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
s "50 Coolest People," and has received major news coverage in NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
and Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, among others.
She is known for her quick-witted stage persona and retorts to insults (Hardy has said, "As long as I get the last laugh, I'm fine"), and for the explicit titles of some of her songs, such as "You Fuck Like My Dad" (which was shortened to "YFLMD") and "My Dick Sux" (though the lyrical content of the actual songs is not as blatantly explicit).
Early life
Hardy grew up mostly in San ClementeSan Clemente, California
San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
, a city in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. Her mother is Molly Hardy, a part-time playwright and director. When Hardy was younger, she acted in one of her mother's plays. She got her first guitar when she was in the sixth grade, but attempts at getting lessons failed.
In the tenth grade, Hardy went to a boarding school in Ojai
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
of which she says, "There was nothing to do there. I was acting there and I was in the choir." It was there that she met another girl who also had a guitar. According to Hardy, "Her Dad was teaching her Beatles songs. So we learned how to play together. I learned a lot by studying piano books that had chord charts. I bought some rock books. Around then I learned how to play and sing at the same time."
After high school, Hardy did extra work for money and pursued a musical career. In 1998, she moved to Los Angeles. At some point, Hardy worked as a DJ at Beauty Bar. Hardy continued looking for band members and was involved in many potential bands, including Mein Coif, with friends Mike Felix (now drummer of Toys That Kill) and Max Humphrey (bassist of The Adored
The Adored
The Adored is a power pop band based in Los Angeles, California. Until 2007, they were signed to V2 Records in North America ....
).
Giant Drag
In May 2003, Hardy and Micah Calabrese formed Giant Drag. Hardy's mother, who had worked with Calabrese, had initially attempted to get Hardy and Calabrese to meet, but the two eventually met through mutual friends. They began recording music together, including covers of Journey'sJourney (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
"Who's Crying Now" and the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows."
According to Hardy, "One day I said, 'Hey dude, you know all my songs. Why don't you be my drummer?' He agreed." They considered looking for a bass player, until Calabrese began playing bass parts on a synthesizer with his left hand while playing drums with his right as a joke. Hardy and Calabrese decided that Calabrese would continue to do this from that point on.
Giant Drag's first show was on June 4, 2003, at the Scene in Los Angeles, one month after they decided to be a band. They went on to play venues like The Troubadour, Silverlake Lounge, The Fold and The Derby.
On January 25, 2005, Giant Drag released the EP Lemona on Wichita Recordings
Wichita Recordings
Wichita Recordings is an independent record label located in London, founded in 2000 by Mark Bowen and Dick Green. Its most notable signees are Bloc Party, The Cribs, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Her Space Holiday, Los Campesinos! and Peter Bjorn and John...
. This was followed on September 13, 2005 by their first full-length release, Hearts and Unicorns
Hearts and Unicorns
Hearts and Unicorns is the first full-length release by California indie-rock band Giant Drag. It was released September 13, 2005 in the U.S...
, on Kickball Records.
In December 2008, NME announced that she was suffering from muscle disorder fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion...
. According to College News, her condition was later referenced in Paul Avion
Paul Avion
Paul Avion is a musician from Los Angeles, CA. In 2009, he was chosen by SPIN.com as an Artist to Watch, and he is also known for living and working in the slums of Africa for SPIN Earth....
's (of Par Avion
Par Avion (band)
Par Avion is a SPIN.com pick band currently consisting of singer/guitarist/composer Paul Avion, bassist/composer Zachary Ginder, keyboardist/composer Zandro Urbiztondo and drummer Andrew Rivera.-History:...
)'s song "Fibromyalgia".
Celebrity fans include Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
.
The Swan Song EP was released on February 16, 2010.
Collaborations
In February 2010, she made her screen debut in a short film by Spike JonzeSpike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
.
Hardy provided guest vocals on the song "Pink Cellphone" from the 2006 Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
album Saturday Night Wrist
Saturday Night Wrist
Saturday Night Wrist is the fifth studio album by American metal band Deftones. It was released on Maverick Records on October 31, 2006. Despite early contributions that were later scrapped, Saturday Night Wrist marks the departure of mainstay Deftones producer Terry Date.The band's fifth album...
. On 26 April 2007 Hardy performed the song "Just Like Honey" onstage with The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
for their reunion show the day before Coachella.
Other works
Annie Hardy frequently co-hosts the Get The Fuck UpGet The Fuck Up Radio
Get the Fuck Up Radio is an internet-based radio program located in Los Angeles. The program was started in 2000 by Aaron Farley and Jeremy Weiss as an excuse for two friends to get together and drink beer and play music and showcase their friends bands. A couple years later Annie Hardy was added...
"GTFU" radio show with Jeremy Weiss and Aaron Farley.
On January 4, 2007, Hardy announced on Giant Drag's official website that she will be recording a cover of Madonna's
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
"Oh Father" for a charity/tribute Madonna album that will benefit AIDS in Africa tentatively titled "Through The Wilderness."
Giant Drag's cover of "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaac is currently the commercial for the upcoming season of Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
on the FX Network. Giant Drag originals have been featured on television shows including The L-Word, Jericho and the movie A Love Song For Bobby Long starring Scarlett Johanson and John Travolta.