Mary Hansen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Hansen
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Hansen in 1996
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mary Therese Hansen |
| Born | 1 November 1966 Maryborough, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 9 December 2002 (aged 36) London, England |
| Genres | Experimental pop, indie pop, experimental rock, psychedelic rock |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboards |
| Years active | 1986–2002 |
Mary Therese Hansen (born 1 November 1966 – died 9 December 2002) was a singer and guitarist from Australia. She moved to London and joined the band Stereolab in 1992.
With Stereolab, Mary helped create six studio albums. These included Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements (1993) and Sound-Dust (2001). She also started her own band, Schema, in 1999. Sadly, Mary Hansen passed away in London in 2002.
About Mary Hansen
Her Early Life
Mary Therese Hansen was born on 1 November 1966 in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. Her father, Brendan Percival Hansen, was a trade union leader and a politician. This means he worked to help people get fair pay and conditions, and he was part of the government. Her mother, Moira Ann Hansen, was a light opera singer. She also helped a lot with art and music in Maryborough.
Mary's family had roots in Ireland and Denmark. She was one of eight children. Her mother taught her to sing, and Mary entered singing competitions called eisteddfodau. These are events where people compete in music, poetry, and other arts. Mary left high school at age 17 and worked at a bank.
Her Music Career
By 1988, Mary Hansen had moved to London. She worked different jobs before becoming a backing singer for an indie band called The Wolfhounds. While performing with them, she met a guitarist named Tim Gane.
Tim Gane later formed a new band called Stereolab in 1990 with Lætitia Sadier. Mary joined Stereolab in 1992. She became their second singer and also played guitar. She sometimes played percussion and keyboards too. As a member of Stereolab, Mary helped record six studio albums. These included Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements (1993) and Sound-Dust (2001).
Mary also sang on albums for other bands like The High Llamas and Mouse on Mars. She also produced music and played keyboards and sang for a group called Chicano.
In late 1999, Mary started a new band called Schema. She teamed up with members of a band called Hovercraft from Seattle. Their first album, Schema, came out in 2000. Music critics described their sound as "space rock" and "psychedelic rock" with Mary's "ethereal female vocals."
Her Legacy
On 9 December 2002, Mary Hansen was riding her bicycle in London when she was hit by a truck. She passed away from her injuries. Before her death, she had bought some land in Maryborough, Australia, where she often visited her family.
Stereolab's next album, Margerine Eclipse (2004), was dedicated to Mary. One song on the album, 'Feel and Triple', was a special tribute to her. In 2004, an album of some of Mary's own music, called Hybird, was released after she passed away. It included her artwork and some songs that had been released in small numbers before. The last song on the album was finished by Andy Ramsay from Stereolab.
See also
In Spanish: Mary Hansen para niños
