Biography
Favoring turbulent bursts of guitar distortion and experimental sonic layers instead of standard song structures, the New York-based Band of Susans came together in 1986 around the central pair of singers and songwriters Robert Poss and Susan Stenger. These longtime friends reconnected only after following sharply divergent routes in music: Poss had established himself amid the N.Y.C. punk world through the Clash-inspired Tot Rocket before entering Rhys Chatham’s guitar ensemble, whereas Stenger moved to Prague to explore the ideas of John Cage. The initial lineup placed Poss on lead guitar and Stenger on bass, completed by guitarists Susan Tallman and Susan Lyall—accounting for the group’s name—and drummer Ron Spitzer; four months after assembling, the band put out its first EP, Blessing and Curse.
Band of Susans delivered its debut full-length album, Hope Against Hope, in 1988; Tallman and Lyall soon exited and were succeeded by Page Hamilton, once a pupil of Glenn Branca (a recurring touchstone for the Susans), along with Karen Haglof. After Love Agenda in 1989, Hamilton departed to establish Helmet and was succeeded by Mark Lonergan; following Haglof’s departure, Anne Husick joined for 1991’s The Word and the Flesh. That record adopted a tighter approach, marked by reduced reliance on reverb and feedback, resulting in greater accessibility.
Band of Susans then released the dense, droning Veil in 1993 with no further personnel shifts, followed two years later by Here Comes Success, a consistently powerful set of extended tracks that featured the instrumental “In the Eye of the Beholder (Song for Rhys),” honoring Poss’s mentor. The group disbanded in mid-1996, though Stenger and Poss went on to collaborate with Wire’s Bruce Gilbert in the trio GilbertPossStenger while pursuing additional endeavors.
Band of Susans delivered its debut full-length album, Hope Against Hope, in 1988; Tallman and Lyall soon exited and were succeeded by Page Hamilton, once a pupil of Glenn Branca (a recurring touchstone for the Susans), along with Karen Haglof. After Love Agenda in 1989, Hamilton departed to establish Helmet and was succeeded by Mark Lonergan; following Haglof’s departure, Anne Husick joined for 1991’s The Word and the Flesh. That record adopted a tighter approach, marked by reduced reliance on reverb and feedback, resulting in greater accessibility.
Band of Susans then released the dense, droning Veil in 1993 with no further personnel shifts, followed two years later by Here Comes Success, a consistently powerful set of extended tracks that featured the instrumental “In the Eye of the Beholder (Song for Rhys),” honoring Poss’s mentor. The group disbanded in mid-1996, though Stenger and Poss went on to collaborate with Wire’s Bruce Gilbert in the trio GilbertPossStenger while pursuing additional endeavors.
Albums
