Mary Hansen Alternative singer, former member of the Beatan group "Stereolab" Date of Birth: 01.11.1966 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Mary Hansen

Mary Hansen, an alternative singer and former member of the British band "Stereolab," was born on November 1, 1966, in Maryborough, near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She grew up in a family of seven children, with music always being her passion. Her mother, an opera singer, taught her children how to sing. In her childhood, Mary became a winner of the regular competition "Queensland Eisteddfords." At the age of 17, she graduated from a local school and went on to continue her education in Brisbane. Soon, Mary started working at a bank to save money for her move to England. In 1988, Mary Hansen moved to London and joined the Essex-based band "Wolfhounds."

In 1992, she met Tim Gane and Laetitia Sadier from the band "Stereolab." She began performing with them as a vocalist. In addition to her vocal abilities, Mary Hansen also excelled at playing multiple instruments. She could replace any member of the band, playing the guitar, drums, or keyboard. "Stereolab" became like a large family for Mary, as her own family remained in Australia. Together with the band, she experienced both difficulties and triumphs. Her calm backing vocals beautifully complemented Laetitia Sadier's French lead vocals, and her musical talents made Mary indispensable to the group. The band combined disco melodies of the 60s with aesthetic art rock, becoming one of the iconic alternative bands of the 1990s.

For a period of ten years, Mary Hansen participated in all the touring and studio work of "Stereolab." They released a total of eight albums, with their last one, "Sound-Dust," coming out in 2001. The release immediately entered the "Billboard's Heatseekers Chart" at the eleventh position. Mary Hansen was an open and sociable girl who used her own music to overcome any troubles. While in London, she bought a house and even purchased a plot of land in Maryborough, dreaming of returning home. However, not all of her dreams came true. On December 9, 2002, in London, Mary Hansen was hit by a car while crossing the road on her bicycle. She was 36 years old at the time. Hansen was buried in her hometown of Maryborough, Australia. After her death, "Stereolab" ceased performing for several years.