Margaret Fiedler
Encyclopedia
Margaret Fiedler McGinnis (born Margaret Fiedler in Chicago
, Illinois
) is a London-based American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist
and noted guitarist
. She is best known as a founding member of UK indie groups Moonshake
and Laika
and as live guitarist with PJ Harvey
and Wire
.
McGinnis grew up in Winnetka
, Illinois
and later in Connecticut
. As a child, she was trained as a cellist, and was later educated at Sarah Lawrence College
and at Trinity College in Dublin
.
and was in an early incarnation of Ultra Vivid Scene
with Kurt Ralske
.
After a move to London, England she formed Moonshake
in 1991 with David Callahan, formerly of The Wolfhounds
. She and Callahan shared vocals, guitar, sampling and songwriting duties, and the band was augmented by John Frenett
(bass) and Mig Morland (drums, percussion). Moonshake were signed to Alan McGee's
Creation Records
for their debut First EP released in Spring 1991. The group then moved to Too Pure Records
, and released the Secondhand Clothes EP and the Eva Luna LP in 1992, and the mini-album Big Good Angel in 1993.
In 1993 McGinnis formed Laika
with John Frenett
, renowned engineer and producer Guy Fixsen
, flautist Louise Elliott and drummers Lou Ciccotelli and Rob Ellis. The band produced four albums and five singles for Too Pure between 1994 and 2003. Fixsen has said the band is "taking a break" with about half an album already in the works.
In 2000, she joined PJ Harvey
to play lead guitar, cello, keyboards and percussion on the band's "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea" world tour.
In 2008, McGinnis joined post-punk pioneers Wire
replacing Bruce Gilbert
on guitar for an ongoing world-wide tour.
where she received a post-graduate law qualification. After graduation, she went to work at the BBC
.
In addition, she is a candle maker and instructor, who uses vintage teacups and environmentally friendly materials. She is an animal-rights supporter.
In 2007, she married music publisher David McGinnis.
Margaret had attended grade school in Winnetka with Liz Phair
. She has performed in session as a member of Moonshake, Laika, and PJ Harvey plus a guest spot with God Is My Co-Pilot
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) is a London-based American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
and noted guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. She is best known as a founding member of UK indie groups Moonshake
Moonshake
Moonshake was a UK-based experimental rock/post-rock band existing between 1991 and 1997. The only consistent member was singer/sampler player/occasional guitarist David Callahan, who initially co-led the project with Margaret Fiedler...
and Laika
Laika (band)
Laika is a British alternative rock band founded in 1993 by ex-Moonshake members Margaret Fiedler and John Frenett, and producer/engineer Guy Fixsen. The band was named after the first animal to orbit the earth, the Russian dog Laika.-Sound:...
and as live guitarist with PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
and Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
.
McGinnis grew up in Winnetka
Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka is an affluent North Shore village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka was featured on the list of America's 25 top-earning towns and "one of the best places to live" by CNN Money in 2011...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and later in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. As a child, she was trained as a cellist, and was later educated at Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
and at Trinity College in Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
.
Musical career
McGinnis was involved with various bands in high school in Connecticut and in college in New York. She formed Child's Play with MobyMoby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
and was in an early incarnation of Ultra Vivid Scene
Ultra Vivid Scene
Ultra Vivid Scene was an American alternative rock band, started by Kurt Ralske.Former Nothing But Happiness and Crash guitarist Ralske started Ultra Vivid Scene in 1987, was signed to 4AD Records in 1988, and released his first UVS EP, She Screamed, in 1988...
with Kurt Ralske
Kurt Ralske
Kurt Ralske is an American visual artist and musician. He is the former singer and guitarist in alternative rock band Ultra Vivid Scene.-Biography:During the mid-eighties, Ralske was a guitarist in the bands Nothing But Happiness and Crash....
.
After a move to London, England she formed Moonshake
Moonshake
Moonshake was a UK-based experimental rock/post-rock band existing between 1991 and 1997. The only consistent member was singer/sampler player/occasional guitarist David Callahan, who initially co-led the project with Margaret Fiedler...
in 1991 with David Callahan, formerly of The Wolfhounds
The Wolfhounds
The Wolfhounds were an indie rock band formed in Romford, Havering, England in 1985 by Dave Callahan, Paul Clark, Andy Golding, Andy Bolton and Frank Stebbing. They began as a slightly askew pop/rock band, and signed to the Pink label in 1986. First EP Cut The Cake was well enough received for...
. She and Callahan shared vocals, guitar, sampling and songwriting duties, and the band was augmented by John Frenett
John Frenett
John Frenett is an English bassist, best known for his slippery dub-style playing in the bands Moonshake and Laika in the 1990s.He had formed The Hangovers with former The Raincoats member Gina Birch, and played bass and guitar on their debut album, Slow Dirty Tears released in 1998...
(bass) and Mig Morland (drums, percussion). Moonshake were signed to Alan McGee's
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
for their debut First EP released in Spring 1991. The group then moved to Too Pure Records
Too Pure
Too Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, and released the Secondhand Clothes EP and the Eva Luna LP in 1992, and the mini-album Big Good Angel in 1993.
In 1993 McGinnis formed Laika
Laika (band)
Laika is a British alternative rock band founded in 1993 by ex-Moonshake members Margaret Fiedler and John Frenett, and producer/engineer Guy Fixsen. The band was named after the first animal to orbit the earth, the Russian dog Laika.-Sound:...
with John Frenett
John Frenett
John Frenett is an English bassist, best known for his slippery dub-style playing in the bands Moonshake and Laika in the 1990s.He had formed The Hangovers with former The Raincoats member Gina Birch, and played bass and guitar on their debut album, Slow Dirty Tears released in 1998...
, renowned engineer and producer Guy Fixsen
Guy Fixsen
Guy Fixsen is a producer/engineer/musician based in London. He is best-known for his producing/engineering work with various indie rock, shoegazer, and experimental rock bands, and for forming the band Laika....
, flautist Louise Elliott and drummers Lou Ciccotelli and Rob Ellis. The band produced four albums and five singles for Too Pure between 1994 and 2003. Fixsen has said the band is "taking a break" with about half an album already in the works.
In 2000, she joined PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
to play lead guitar, cello, keyboards and percussion on the band's "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea" world tour.
In 2008, McGinnis joined post-punk pioneers Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
replacing Bruce Gilbert
Bruce Gilbert
Bruce Gilbert is an English musician. One of the founding members of the influential and experimental art-punk band Wire, Gilbert branched out into electronic music, performance art, music production, and DJing during the band's extended periods of inactivity...
on guitar for an ongoing world-wide tour.
Personal life
Following Laika's last album in 2003, McGinnis studied at the College of LawThe College of Law
The College of Law of England and Wales is a private educational institution in England and a registered charity which provides legal education for students and professionals.-20th century:...
where she received a post-graduate law qualification. After graduation, she went to work at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
In addition, she is a candle maker and instructor, who uses vintage teacups and environmentally friendly materials. She is an animal-rights supporter.
In 2007, she married music publisher David McGinnis.
Margaret had attended grade school in Winnetka with Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
. She has performed in session as a member of Moonshake, Laika, and PJ Harvey plus a guest spot with God Is My Co-Pilot
God Is My Co-Pilot (band)
God Is My Co-Pilot is a queercore band from New York City that's been recording and playing music since 1991. The two main members of God is My Co-Pilot are vocalist Sharon Topper and guitarist Craig Flanagin...
.