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Amanda MacKinnon PalmerAmerican performer
Date of Birth: 30.04.1976
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Amanda MacKinnon Palmer: Biography
- The Dresden Dolls
- Solo Career
- Other Projects and Controversies
- Personal Life
Amanda MacKinnon Palmer: Biography
Amanda MacKinnon Palmer, also known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, was born on April 30, 1976, in New York City. She grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, where she attended middle school and participated in a drama club. Palmer attended Wesleyan University, where she was greatly influenced by her involvement in the stage shows of the experimental rock group Legendary Pink Dots.
The Dresden Dolls
In 2000, at a Halloween party, Palmer met drummer Brian Viglione and together they formed the musical duo The Dresden Dolls. Describing their style as "Brechtian punk cabaret," The Dresden Dolls gained their first taste of fame as Palmer showcased her talents as a vocalist, pianist, composer, and lyricist. To further their performances, Palmer began inviting students from Lexington High School to help create theatrical numbers for their live shows. The seasonal and new artists' troupe, The Dirty Business Brigade, frequently performed alongside The Dresden Dolls, incorporating costumes, human-sized dolls, living statues, and other underground artifacts to create a unique and immersive experience for their audiences.
Solo Career
After achieving cult status, The Dresden Dolls released their self-titled debut album in 2002. Palmer went on to publish a songbook, The Dresden Dolls Companion, in 2006, which delved into the history of the album and the duo, with personal anecdotes from Palmer herself. The book included song lyrics, sheet music, and notes for each song, as well as a DVD featuring a 20-minute interview about the creation of the songbook.
In 2008, Palmer released her solo album, "Who Killed Amanda Palmer," which was a play on the title of the book "Twin Peaks: Who Killed Laura Palmer." She performed three sold-out concerts in Boston, Hoboken, and New York City, collaborating with the alternative rock band Aberdeen City in the Boston show.
Other Projects and Controversies
In 2009, Palmer returned to her alma mater, Lexington High School, to collaborate with her former director Steven Bogart on the play "With The Needle That Sings In Her Heart," inspired by the album "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel and the book "Diary of a Young Girl." One of Palmer's songs and its accompanying music video, called "Oasis," sparked controversy as it depicted the rape of an Oasis fan resulting in an abortion. The video was banned by British broadcasters. Palmer has been vocal about her bisexuality and has shared personal experiences of having an abortion at 17 and being sexually assaulted at 20 in her blog. She has also mentioned her vegetarianism in her videos and blog posts.
