Melissa Auf der Maur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melissa Auf der Maur
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Auf der Maur performing in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 17, 1972 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, photographer, actress |
| Instruments | Vocals, bass, guitar |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Capitol, PHI–MAdM |
| Parents |
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Melissa Gaboriau Auf der Maur (born March 17, 1972) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. She is also known for her work as a photographer and actress.
Melissa started her music journey in 1993 with her own indie rock band called Tinker. She later became the bassist for the famous American alternative rock band Hole in 1994. She played on their successful album Celebrity Skin (1998). After leaving Hole in 1999, Melissa briefly joined The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour.
She then started her solo music career. Her first album, Auf der Maur, came out in 2004. Her second album, Out of Our Minds, was released in 2010 on her own record label. Melissa has also worked with other artists like Indochine and Rufus Wainwright.
Outside of music, Melissa is a talented photographer. Her photos have been shown in magazines like National Geographic. She has also acted in a few films. With her husband, filmmaker Tony Stone, she runs Basilica Hudson. This is an arts and performance center in Hudson, New York. In 2007, VH1 ranked Melissa at number 68 on its list of 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll.
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Early life and education
Melissa Auf der Maur was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her father, Nick Auf der Maur, was a journalist and politician. Her mother, Linda Gaboriau, was a journalist and translator. Melissa's family background is a mix of Swiss-German and European-American. Because her mother was born in the United States, Melissa has dual Canadian and American citizenship. Her last name, "Auf der Maur," means "on the wall" in English.
Melissa's parents married when she was six years old, but they divorced a year later. After the divorce, Melissa traveled around the world with her mother. She lived in different places, including a circus caravan in Wales and a hut in Kenya. She returned to Montreal after getting sick a few times.
In Montreal, Melissa went to special schools that focused on arts and new ways of learning. She sang in a classical choir and became friends with Leonard Cohen's daughter, Lorca, and musician Rufus Wainwright. She became very interested in photography. In 1994, she earned a degree in photography from Concordia University. While at Concordia, she also worked as a DJ at a rock club. There, she met many musicians, including Steve Durand.
Music career highlights
1993–1994: Starting with Tinker
While working as a DJ, Melissa met Steve Durand, a fellow student. In November 1993, they formed the band Tinker. Melissa started playing bass guitar on a Fender Precision Bass her father gave her for her 21st birthday. The band played shows in Montreal.
Melissa had become friends with Billy Corgan, the singer and guitarist for The Smashing Pumpkins. She asked him if Tinker could open for his band in Montreal. Billy Corgan agreed. On November 30, 1993, Tinker played their biggest show, opening for The Smashing Pumpkins to 2,500 people. Melissa remembered Billy telling her, "You're a really good bass player. You're going to be in my band one day."
Tinker released two singles in 1994. The band broke up in the summer of 1994. This happened because Melissa was invited to join the band Hole.
1994–1999: Joining Hole
In the summer of 1994, the band Hole needed a new bassist. Melissa was asked to join. She first said no because it seemed like a sad situation. But after meeting Hole's singer, Courtney Love, and drummer, Patty Schemel, Melissa felt it was her destiny and accepted. She finished her degree and joined Hole just two weeks before a big performance at the 1994 Reading Festival.
From 1994 to 1995, Melissa toured worldwide with Hole. They were supporting their album Live Through This. During the tour, Melissa became good friends with Patty Schemel. They even started a small side project together.
Melissa played bass on Hole's third album, Celebrity Skin (1998). She also helped write five of the songs. Celebrity Skin was a huge success. It reached number 9 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in the U.S. and Canada. After the tour for this album, Melissa left Hole in October 1999. Her five-year contract ended, and she wanted to explore new things.
In 2012, Hole reunited for a special one-time performance. Melissa, Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson, and Patty Schemel played together again.
1999–2000: Touring with The Smashing Pumpkins
In September 1999, the original bassist for The Smashing Pumpkins, D'arcy Wretzky, left the band. Melissa was asked to replace her by Billy Corgan, who she was still friends with. Melissa said it felt like the "stars had aligned."
Melissa did not play on The Smashing Pumpkins' albums. But she toured with them from December 1999 to December 2000. The tour went through North America, Japan, Europe, and South Africa. Melissa described the tour as "very ambitious" and "intense work." She performed at many shows, including the band's final TV performance and their last show in Chicago. The Smashing Pumpkins broke up at the end of 2000.
2002–2003: The Chelsea and Hand of Doom
In 2002, Melissa formed a short-lived band called The Chelsea. The band was named after the Hotel Chelsea in New York, where Melissa had lived. They played one show in Los Angeles, performing original songs and cover versions.
Later that year, Melissa formed Hand of Doom. This was a Black Sabbath cover band, and Melissa sang lead vocals. The band played several shows in Los Angeles and released a live album called Live in Los Angeles (2002). The album received good reviews. Hand of Doom played more shows in North America before breaking up in 2003.
2004–2010: Solo career
After leaving The Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa returned to Montreal in 2001. She wasn't sure if she wanted to continue her music career. But then she found old demo recordings she had made. She realized she had enough material for an entire album.
Melissa recorded her first solo album, Auf der Maur, from 2001 to 2003. It was released in February 2004 on Capitol Records. Melissa paid for the recording herself. The album received positive reviews. Its singles, "Followed the Waves", "Real a Lie", and "Taste You", were successful in the United Kingdom. By 2010, the album had sold 200,000 copies worldwide.
In 2007, Melissa announced she had finished recording her second album. It would be part of a bigger project that included a film and a graphic novel. After some delays, Melissa left Capitol Records. She wanted to release her music on her own terms.
In late 2009, Melissa released a single, "Out of Our Minds", and an EP called OOOM. She released these on her own record label, PHI–MAdM Music Inc. Her second album, also titled Out of Our Minds, came out in March 2010. In January 2011, Out of Our Minds won the Best Indie/Alternative/Hard Rock Album at the Independent Music Awards. Melissa took a break from music in late 2011 to focus on her family.
Other music projects
Melissa has worked with many other musicians. She toured with Ric Ocasek (from The Cars) in 1997. She sang a duet in French with Nicola Sirkis for the French band Indochine. She also contributed to albums by her childhood friend Rufus Wainwright and Neverending White Lights. She has also worked with artists like Ryan Adams and Fountains of Wayne.
Photography work
Melissa studied photography at Concordia University. She focused on taking pictures of herself. Her photographs have been featured in popular magazines like Nylon and National Geographic. Her work has also been shown in art exhibitions, including one at Sotheby's in New York City.
In 2001, Melissa had her own photography exhibition called Channels. It showed photos of her life while touring, often with a theme of TV screens. The exhibition was shown again in Montreal in 2006.
Supporting Canadian figures
In 2004, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation created a TV series called The Greatest Canadian. This show aimed to find the "Greatest Canadian" through nominations and public voting. Melissa appeared on the show as an advocate for environmentalist David Suzuki. He ended up finishing fifth in the competition.
Television appearances
On December 5, 2023, Paramount+ released a video series called "Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too?". Melissa Auf der Maur was featured in one of the four episodes. In the show, Geddy Lee, a famous bassist, visits and talks with other bass players.
Other projects
In 2010, Melissa co-founded Basilica Hudson with her husband, filmmaker Tony Stone. Basilica Hudson is a historic building in Hudson, New York, that they turned into an arts and performance center.
Personal life
Melissa Auf der Maur is married to indie filmmaker Tony Stone. They have one daughter, who was born in October 2011. The couple lives in Hudson, New York, and they own and run Basilica Hudson together.
Discography
- Auf der Maur (2004)
- Out of Our Minds (2010)
Images for kids
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Auf der Maur performing in 2010
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Auf der Maur (left) performing with Hole in Brooklyn, New York, in April 2012
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The Hotel Chelsea in New York
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Auf der Maur in 2004
