Lady Miss Kier Explained

Lady Miss Kier
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Kierin Magenta Kirby
Alias:Lady Kier, Kier Kirby
Birth Date:15 August 1963
Birth Place:Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Instrument:Vocals
Occupation:Singer, songwriter, DJ, producer
Years Active:1986–present
Label:Elektra
Pluto Moon
Associated Acts:Deee-Lite, Brill

Kierin Magenta Kirby (born August 15, 1963), known professionally as Lady Miss Kier, is an American singer, songwriter and DJ.Lady Miss Kier was the vocalist for the band Deee-Lite. She is a social, environmental, and human rights activist.

Early life

Kirby was born in Youngstown, Ohio. As a child, she lived in Pittsburgh, Virginia Beach, and Washington, D.C. At the age of 17, she moved to New York City to study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology but she was disillusioned by the teachers and dropped out immediately. When she dropped out, she started to design and make her own eccentric disco-inspired clothes that she then sold to people she met at nightclubs.[1]

Music career

Deee-Lite

In 1982, Kirby met Ukrainian-born Dmitry Brill ("Supa DJ Dmitry") and designed, made, and sold him silver platform boots and a glitter blue spacesuit, for his band, Shazork. In 1986, she began experimenting with singing and writing music with Brill to form the band Deee-Lite.

Shortly after their first show in 1986, Brill was introduced to Towa Tei, a Japanese DJ of Korean descent. Several years later, Kirby and Brill invited him to join their band. Combining Kirby's vocal and writing talents with Brill's sampling skills and Tei's techno mixing, the three formed the band Deee-Lite. She continued to make a living as a waitress and go-go dancer[2] until the band signed a seven-album deal with Elektra Records.

Deee-Lite's sound was a mix of house music, techno and electronic dance music. Deee-Lite shot to stardom in 1990 with the release of their first album World Clique and the hit "Groove Is in the Heart". At the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, Deee-Lite was nominated for several awards, including Video of the Year and Best New Artist. Within the group, Kirby took on the larger-than-life alter-ego "Lady Miss Kier". Kirby's initial look relied on revamped and exaggerated retro style 1960s fashion. Her signature look was a zip-up catsuit, platform shoes and flipped hair-do.

In 1992, the band released their second album, Infinity Within, a politically charged work. Their third album Dewdrops in the Garden was released in 1994.[3] Neither of the two follow-up albums matched the commercial success of the debut album.

Deee-lite disbanded in 1995 after Brill and Kirby's relationship fractured.In 1996, a remix album was released. A greatest hits album was released in 2001.[4]

International DJ and songwriting solo career

In 1995, after quitting the band, Lady Miss Kier moved to London where she began touring as a disc jockey and learning the technical end of production, recording, and engineering. In the late 1990s, she collaborated on the albums of Bootsy Collins, I Kamanchi and A Guy Called Gerald. In 2002, she contributed an exclusive solo track called "I'm Not Staying at Home" to the compilation Straight Up & Dirty.[5] Since going solo, she has featured and co-written with artists such as Full Cycle, George Clinton, Walter "Junie" Morrison, A Guy Called Gerald, Apollo Heights, and several P-Funk luminaries. Outside of the studio, she showcased her live performances with new material for various music, film, and art festivals, as well as headlining several gay pride events worldwide. In 2012, she began performing a Deee-Lite tribute for various occasions, including the 2013 Paris Fashion Week for Kenzo[6] as well as a tribute to New York City disc jockey Mark Kamins at Santos Party House.[7]

She performed as a disc jockey at clubs and music festivals including Coachella Festival (2007),[8] Berlin's Berghain (2010)[9] and Sydney Mardi Gras (2012),[10] as well as radio programs such as East Village Radio[11] and Sirius XM.[12]

Live performances

In 2005, motivated by the invasion of Iraq, she began internationally performing live new unreleased music, including the DFA release covering George Clinton's anti–war song "Bullet Proof".[13] She has headlined numerous festivals and gay pride events as well as opened for James Brown's last tour at the Good Vibrations festival in Australia.[14]

Fashion recognition

Kirby has received the following recognition in the fashion industry:

Movies and books

In 2018, the Netflix series Big Mouth used her song "Groove Is In The Heart" for an abortion sequence.[30] In 1995, Lady Kier was featured in , which included live footage of her performing and a song on the soundtrack.[31] In 2001 she was included in Summer Love: The Rave-umentary.[32] In 2005, Lady Miss Kier was the featured artist on the podcast Ron-Kat-Delic Show. Her words also were shared through a number of published books, including Verbal Abuse – No 3 by Chi Chi Valenti,[33] Creative Time: The Book: 33 Years of Public Art in New York by Anne Pasternak,[34] Creative License: The Law and Culture of Digital Sampling by Kembrew McLeod and Peter DiCola[35] and All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music by Vladimir Bogdanov.[36]

Panels and appearances

Lady Miss Kier has spoken at Princeton University's "Youth Music and Youth Culture",[37] Cooper Union's multimedia presentation "Hiccup" in 1993, Apple's 1995 "Future Arts Panel" with Peter Gabriel and Electronic Frontier Foundation founder, John Perry Barlow, George Washington University's Law School Summit Future of Music Coalition in 2007[38] and New York University's "NYU Panel Nelson Sullivan: Vlogging in the 80s" in 2013.[39] In 2013 she was featured in an exhibit entitled "NYC 1993", which was presented through New York City's New Museum.[40] Beyond the installation, her voice recording was played via pay phones throughout the New York area. In 2013, Lady Miss Kier was the featured voiceover artist in The Jazz Foundation of America's animated promo for the event "A Great Night in Harlem".[41] [42]

Space Channel 5 and lawsuit

In April 2003, Kirby sued video game company Sega, claiming that the character of "Ulala" in its Dreamcast game Space Channel 5 was an unauthorized use of her likeness.[43] In July 2000, a Sega affiliate contacted Kirby to determine if she was interested in promoting the game in England utilizing the Deee-lite song "Groove Is in the Heart"; Kirby rejected the offer. Kirby alleged that the video game maker used her resemblance in the game (including the name Ulala – referencing Kirby's signature phrase "Ooh la la" in her performances). During the lawsuit, Sega showed that the game and the character had been created and released in Japan between 1997 and 1999. The developers claimed they had never heard of either Kirby, Deee-lite, or their music. The case lasted until 2006, when the judge ruled in favor of Sega and Kirby lost her appeal. The judge ruled that regardless of when the "Ulala" character was created, the character did not have a close enough resemblance to Kirby to deem misappropriation of likeness. Kirby was obliged to pay Sega's legal fees of $608,000 (reduced from $763,000 on request).[44] [45] "Groove Is in the Heart" was later licensed for use in Sega's 2008 Nintendo Wii port of Samba de Amigo, used in a section of the game where the Ulala character appears.[46]

Political views and activism

Lady Kier is a social, environmental, and human rights activist. She is also a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights and is a straight ally.[47] As such, she has been invited to be a host, performer, master of ceremonies, and disc jockey at pride parades.[48]

She is in favor of abortion rights and is a women's rights advocate, was featured in TV informercial promoting pro-abortion rights political action "The Most Exciting Women in Music" alongside Corina, Juliet Cuming, Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), MC Lyte, Kate Pierson (The B-52's), Crystal Waters, Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club) in 1991.[49] [50] [51]

In 1991, Lady Miss Kier was an award presenter at the Reebok Human Rights Awards.[52]

She is a supporter of the environmentalist movement.[28] The 1992 Deee-Lite album Infinity Within was the first CD released using eco-pak packaging, cutting the amount of plastic used by half.[53] [54] On that album, she called attention to the issue of ozone depletion with her song "I Had a Dream I Was Falling Through a Hole in the Ozone Layer".[55] Vogue Magazine has highlighted her "interest in supporting environmental causes".

She supports the anti-war movement and in 2010, she released a version of the P-Funk track "Bullet Proof" with Ray Mang; she had performed it before in 2005, during her world tour.[56]

She supports the get out the vote movement. Her music video for the song "Vote Baby Vote", which she wrote "to get people interested in voting so they could vote George Bush out",[57] was featured for MTV's "Rock The Vote" campaign in 1992 and was highlighted by Rolling Stone as one of the top "ten major moments in rock the vote history".[58]

During the 2016 United States presidential election, she supported Bernie Sanders. She hosted an art exhibit at Hole Gallery in New York City and a fundraiser called "Bernin' Up NYC" to rally Sanders supporters.[59]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Secret Style Icon: Lady Miss Kier . . September 18, 2012.
  2. Web site: Francky. Knapp. Muse du Jour: Lady Miss Kier. June 18, 2019. September 29, 2022.
  3. Web site: AllMusic Review. Heather. Phares . AllMusic.
  4. Web site: Lady Miss Kier . Andrew . Drever . . February 13, 2006.
  5. Web site: Lady Kier Discography . Discogs.
  6. News: Derek Blasberg's Paris Fashion Week Diary: Fall 2013 . Derek . Blasberg . . March 12, 2013.
  7. Web site: Augustin . Camille . "Everybody" Celebrates Mark Kamins at Santos Tribute Tonight . . April 17, 2013.
  8. Web site: Lady Miss Kier – Coachella 2007 . Coachella Recordings . April 28, 2007 . July 12, 2015 . September 5, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905071144/http://www.coachellarecordings.com/sources.cfm?bandid=561&year=2007 . dead .
  9. Web site: Berghain Berlin | Programm: 31 December 2010 . Berghain.de . December 31, 2010 . July 12, 2015.
  10. News: Showgirl returns . Steve . Dow . . February 13, 2012.
  11. Web site: Dee-Jay Lady Miss Kier . Lady Miss Kier . May 19, 2013.
  12. Web site: I'll b a guest on SiriusXM this sat. nite @ 11 pm . Lady Miss Kier . June 21, 2013.
  13. Web site: Ray Mang disco sizzler for DFA, with vocals from Deee-Lite's Lady Miss Kier – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music . Factmag.com . March 19, 2010 . July 12, 2015.
  14. Web site: Groove is still in her art . Star Observer . July 12, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713045142/http://www.starobserver.com.au/features/entertainment-features/entertainment-play/groove-is-still-in-her-art/71827 . July 13, 2015 .
  15. Lady Kier from dee-lite + Pal Joey '91 'Pucci u say love?' . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/3MqDWOIFLcU . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube.
  16. Thierry Mugler: The late fashion designer's best moments in music. Crack. 25 January 2022. 29 September 2022.
  17. Web site: Influential Women in Music – Influential Musicians . NOJAN . AMINOSHAREI . . June 1, 2010.
  18. Web site: David . Jessica . Top Influential Music Style Icons . . August 3, 2010.
  19. News: Madonna's Iconic Fluevog Platform—The Ultimate Club Shoe—Is Back and Better Than Ever . Monica . Kim . . April 20, 2018.
  20. Web site: Fluevog Shoes - About John Fluevog . Fluevog.
  21. News: Ariana. Paoletti. Experience Dee-Lite's "Holographic Mind Orgy" . . December 17, 2013.
  22. Web site: Secret Style Icon: Lady Miss Kier – Rookie . September 18, 2012.
  23. Web site: Jerome C. Rousseau Kier Iridescent Sandals . Shopbop.
  24. Web site: Lady Miss Kier . Ladygunn . December 5, 2013.
  25. Web site: Jeremy Scott at New York fashion week: 60s pop culture through an 80s prism . . Lauren . Cochrane . September 14, 2015.
  26. Web site: Essie Groove Is In the Heart . February 8, 2016 . May 20, 2020 . May 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200511032105/http://www.essieenvy.com/2016/02/essie-groove-is-in-heart.html . dead .
  27. News: Here's What Went Down at Givenchy's Insane Milan Fashion Week Party . Mau . Dhani . . September 26, 2015.
  28. News: '90s Club-Kid Icon Lady Miss Kier on Her Latest Fashion Obsessions . LAIRD . BORRELLI-PERSSON . . September 12, 2016.
  29. Web site: Dior Addict - The New Icon of Shine . YouTube. March 17, 2022.
  30. News: Nick Kroll on how a talk by Planned Parenthood led to Big Mouth's boldest episode yet. Adams. Erik. The A.V. Club. October 9, 2018. October 15, 2018.
  31. Web site: Lady Miss Kier – Touch Me With Your Sunshine – Listen and discover music at . Last.fm . November 26, 2013 . July 12, 2015.
  32. http://www.fandango.com/ladymisskier/overview/p543760 fandango.com
  33. Web site: Verbal Abuse Magazine – Dispatches From the Nightclub Literati . Mothernyc.com . February 8, 2007 . July 12, 2015.
  34. Web site: Today in Music: A look back at pop music . United Press International . June 25, 2002 . July 12, 2015.
  35. Web site: Creative License Book Release | Future of Music Coalition . Futureofmusic.org . February 26, 2011 . July 12, 2015 . September 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910134435/http://futureofmusic.org/events/creative-license-book-release . dead .
  36. Book: All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music – Vladimir Bogdanov – Google Books . 9780879306281 . July 12, 2015 . Bogdanov . Vladimir . Woodstra . Chris . Bush . John . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . 2001 . Backbeat Books .
  37. News: Powers . Ann . In Theory and Practice, Defining Youth Music . . November 24, 1992 . subscription.
  38. Web site: FMC Newsletter No. 60 | Future of Music Coalition . Futureofmusic.org . July 8, 2015 . July 12, 2015 . May 1, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150501231509/https://www.futureofmusic.org/newsletter/fmc-newsletter-60-september-6-2007 . dead .
  39. Web site: NYU Fales Library Hosts A Panel Discussion Nelson Sullivan Vlogging in the 80s. Nyu.edu. July 12, 2015.
  40. Web site: NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star . New Museum . July 12, 2015.
  41. http://jazzfoundation.org/Apollo2014
  42. Web site: A Great Night in Harlem: Animated Promo . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Yn8-WjVkpFk . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube . April 25, 2013 . July 12, 2015.
  43. Web site: Lady Kier VS Sega . Ladykier.com . December 11, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061206003216/http://ladykier.com/segacase.htm . December 6, 2006 . dead .
  44. Web site: John . September 25, 2006 . "Lady Miss Kier" Hammered With Opponent's Attorney's Fees . Legal Reader . December 11, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061018052121/http://www.legalreader.com/archives/003453.html . October 18, 2006 . live.
  45. Kirby v. Sega . Court of Appeal of California, 2nd District, Div. 8 . September 25, 2006 . August 30, 2016 . https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3191814113989354720&q=%2250+Cal.Rptr.3d+607&hl=en&as_sdt=2002 .
  46. Web site: 2008-11-07 . Review: Samba de Amigo . 2024-05-19 . The Escapist . en-US.
  47. Web site: Style Icon: Lady Miss Kier « Grown Ass Lady . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712153610/https://grownasslady.com/2014/05/27/style-icon-lady-miss-kier/ . 2018-07-12 . 2020-11-15 . grownasslady.com.
  48. Mikey Sin . Mayor Rob Ford calls Lady Miss Kier (Deee-lite) at Pride Toronto . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/pOOoB-COUsk . 2021-12-21 . live. . July 4, 2012.
  49. CheeseFoodProduct . The Most Exciting Women in Music . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/qUMLLsQozMg . 2021-12-21 . live. . November 7, 2011.
  50. News: RAISING A VOICE FOR CHOICE . . June 30, 1991.
  51. News: Today in Music: A look back at pop music . . June 25, 2002.
  52. Web site: The Reebok Human Rights Awards. Black History Magazine. March 16, 2013.
  53. News: DEEE-LITE, B-52'S TAKE A SERIOUS WRONG TURN . Greg . Kot . . July 2, 1992 . subscription.
  54. Web site: Eco-Pak – cdHistory . studio-nibble.com.
  55. Web site: Deee-Lite – I Had a Dream I Was Falling Through a Hole in the Ozone Layer . Genius.
  56. WestSavannah . Ray Mang (featuring Lady Kier) – Bulletproof . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cZFxHc_Jwco . 2021-12-21 . live. . February 2, 2010.
  57. News: It's a Good Time for the Positivity of Deee-Lite's Lady Miss Kier . Courtney . Ferguson . . June 15, 2016.
  58. News: 10 Major Moments in Rock the Vote History . Runtagh . Jordan . . July 12, 2016.
  59. News: Bernie in the Bronx: "If We Win NY We Are Going To Make It To The White House!" . Christopher . Robbins . . April 1, 2016.

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