Sneaker Pimps

Sneaker Pimps
OriginHartlepool, County Durham, England
Genres
Years active
  • 1994–2005
  • 2015–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websitesneakerpimpsmusic.com

Sneaker Pimps are an English electronic music band, formed in Hartlepool in 1994.[1] They are best known for their debut album, Becoming X (1996), and its singles "6 Underground" and "Spin Spin Sugar". The band takes its name from an article the Beastie Boys published in their Grand Royal magazine about a man they hired to track down classic sneakers.[2]

The band was founded by electronic musician Liam Howe and guitarist Chris Corner. They later recruited Kelli Ali (then known as Kelli Dayton) as lead singer,[3][4] plus guitarist Joe Wilson and drummer Dave Westlake as backup musicians. After Becoming X, the band decided to replace Ali with Corner on vocals.[5] Wilson and Westlake departed in 2002. In 2016 Howe and Corner revived the group after a lengthy hiatus.[6][7] In 2021, they began releasing new music.[8]

  1. ^ "ONE LITTLE INDIAN | ARTISTS". www.indian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Sneaker Pimps hometown, lineup, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 8 January 2020.[unreliable source?]
  3. ^ "Sneaker Pimps". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. ^ "The Saturday Interview: Spreading the word on the secret fifth man - Ian Pickering; The Paul Groves Interview". Birmingham Post. 23 February 2002. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  5. ^ Ali, Kelli. "Biography: Sneaker Pimps". Kelliali.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  6. ^ "IAMX is creating Music & Visuals". Patreon. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  7. ^ "50Q'S WITH IAN PICKERING". Sneaker Pimps Legacy. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  8. ^ Pearis, Bill (21 May 2021). "Sneaker Pimps announce first record in nearly 20 years (watch a preview)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 21 May 2021.