Swans

**Swans** is the largest and most widely recognized music project created and led by Michael Gira. The band's musical style has evolved considerably since its inception, from noisy, industrial no wave to gothic neo-folk to extended post rock ballads, with each era evolving what came before it. Swans began primarily under the sole creative direction of Gira until the induction of Jarboe in 1985 and her increasingly crucial role in the band's sound. Upon the band's reformation in 2010, Gira returned to being the lead songwriter and has maintained the position since.

Swans was formed in New York City, New York, circa 1982, and has since released fifteen studio albums, nearly a dozen live albums, as well as a multitude of singles, EPs, and compilations. Gira's lyrics largely vary in topic from the deepest pits of mankind's evils to transcendence beyond the human condition, and everything in between.

## Swans

### Genres

Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, No Wave, Gothic Rock, Industrial Rock, Neo-Folk

### Labels

Young God Records, Labor, Neutral, K.422, Caroline, Homestead, MCA, Mute

### Current Members

Michael Gira, Kristof Hahn, Christopher Pravdica, Phil Puleo, Larry Mullins, Dana Schechter, Ben Frost

### Notable Past Members

Norman Westberg, Jarboe, Algis Kizys, Roli Mosimann, Thurston Moore, Bill Rieflin,

### Related Groups

Circus Mort, Skin, Angels Of Light, The Body Lovers/Haters

## History

### Birth, Debut EP, and Filth (1982-83)

Michael Gira and Jonathan Kane created Swans the same night of the demise of their first New York outfit, Circus Mort. The group's first proper lineup after a number of failed auditions also included guitarist Sue Hanel. The trio played with Sonic Youth and recorded their early shows and rehearsals to showcase the direction the band wanted to go in, some of which appear on the *Body to Body, Job to Job* compilation. Early live shows proved that even in the band's infancy, Swans were a powerful force.

Before the end of 1982, the line up changed again, including Gira, Kane, guitarist Bob Pezzola, and Daniel Galli-Duani on saxophone. This group would be the first to record material in a studio and released the band's debut self-titled EP.

The lineup changed again for the band's intense full length debut, Filth, issued in 1983 on Germany's Zensor imprint. It included Gira, Kane, guitarist Norman Westberg, bassist Harry Crosby, and drummer/percussionist Roli Mosimann.

## Discography

### Studio Albums

* *Filth* (1983)
* *Cop* (1984)
* *Greed* (1986)
* *Holy Money* (1986)
* *Children Of God* (1987)
* *The Burning World* (1989)
* *White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity* (1991)
* *Love Of Life* (1992)
* *The Great Annihilator* (1995)
* *Soundtracks For The Blind* (1996)
* *My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky* (2010)
* *The Seer* (2012)
* *To Be Kind* (2014)
* *The Glowing Man* (2016)
* *Leaving Meaning* (2019)
* *The Beggar* (2023)

### Live Releases

* *Public Castration Is A Good Idea* (1986)
* A Long Slow Screw (1986)
* *Real Love* (1986)
* *Feel Good Now* (1987)
* *Anonymous Bodies In An Empty Room* (1990)
* *Omniscience* (1992)
* *Kill The Child* (1995)
* *Swans Are Dead* (1998)
* *Live at Primavera Sound May 28th, 2011* (2011)
* *We Rose From Our Bed With The Sun In Our Head* (2011/2012)
* *Deliquescence* (2017)

### Extended Plays and Singles

* *Swans* (1982)
* *Young God* (1984)
* *A Screw* (1986)
* *Time Is Money (Bastard)* (1986)
* *New Mind* (1987)
* *Love Will Tear Us Apart* (1988)
* *Saved* (1989)
* *Love Of Life / Amnesia* (1992)
* *Celebrity Lifestyle* (1995)
* *Die Tür Ist Zu* (1996)
* *Oxygen* (2014)

### Compilations

* Body to Body, Job to Job (1991)
* Various Failures (1999)
* Forever Burned (2003)

### Music Videos

* A Screw (1985)
* New Mind (1987)
* Love Will Tear Us Apart (1988)
* Saved (1989)
* Love Of Life (1992)

## Members

### Current

Michael Gira (1982–1997, 2010–present)

* Lead & backing vocals, bass guitar, guitar, tape loops, keyboards, lyrics, production

Kristof Hahn (aka Christoph Hahn) (1988–1991, 2010–2017, 2019–present)

* Guitar, lap steel guitar

Christopher Pravdica (2010–2017, 2019–present)

* Bass guitar

Phil Puleo (1997, 2010–2017, 2019–present)

* Drums, percussion, dulcimer

Larry Mullins (1995–1996, 2019–present)

* Drums, Mellotron, percussion, vibes, vocals

Ben Frost (2019–present)

* Synthesizer, mellotron, guitar

Dana Schechter (2020–present)

* Bass guitar, lap steel guitar, keyboards

### Former

#### Most Constant Members

Norman Westberg (1983–1991, 1993-1995, 2010–2017, 2019)

* Guitar, vocals

Jarboe (1984–1997, 2012)

* Keyboards, lead & backing vocals, piano

Ted Parsons (1985–1987, 1991-1995)

* Drums

Algis Kizys (1986-1988, 1991-1995)

* Bass guitar

Clint Steele (1990–1997)

* Guitar

Bill Rieflin (1993–1996; guest 2010–2017)

* Drums, additional instruments

Thor Harris (2010–2016, 2017, 2019)

* Drums, percussion, vibraphone, hammered dulcimer, keyboards

#### Less Constant Members

Dan Braun – bass guitar (1982)

Thurston Moore – bass guitar (1982)

Daniel Galli-Duani – saxophone (1982)

Mojo – percussion, tape loops (1982)

Jon Tessler – bass guitar, percussion, tape loops (1982)

Sue Hanel – guitar (1982)

Jonathan Kane – drums (1982–1983)

Bob Pezzola – drums (1982–1983)

Roli Mosimann – drums (1982–1984)

Ivan Nahem – drums (1982, 1986)

Harry Crosby – bass guitar (1983–1986)

John Hood – drums (1984)

Ronaldo Gonzalez – drums (1985–1987)

Sami Kumpulainen – bass guitar (1988)

Virgil Moorefield – drums (1989)

Vinnie Signorelli – drums, percussion (1989–1992)

Jenny Wade – bass guitar (1991)

Anton Fier – drums (1991)

Bill Bronson – bass guitar (1995–1997)

Joe Goldring – bass guitar (1995–1997)

Paul Wallfisch – keyboards (2016–2017, 2019)

Yoyo Röhm – bass guitar, double bass, keyboards, vocals (2019)