Amanda Palmer | |
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Palmer in 2011
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Background information | |
Birth name | Amanda MacKinnon Palmer |
Also known as | Amanda Fucking Palmer |
Born |
New York City, New York, U.S. |
April 30, 1976
Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Genres | Alternative rock, punk cabaret, dark cabaret |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, performance artist |
Instruments | Vocals, keyboard, piano, ukulele, harmonica, drums |
Years active | 1989–present |
Labels |
Cooking Vinyl, 8ft. Records Formerly with Roadrunner Records (until April 2010) |
Associated acts | The Dresden Dolls, Evelyn Evelyn, 8in8, Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra |
Website | AmandaPalmer.net |
Cooking Vinyl, 8ft. Records
Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer (born April 30, 1976), sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American singer-songwriter who is the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist of the duo The Dresden Dolls. She performs as a solo artist, and was also one-half of the duo Evelyn Evelyn, and the lead singer and songwriter of Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra.
Palmer was born Amanda MacKinnon Palmer in New York City's Mount Sinai Hospital, and grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts. Her parents divorced when she was one year old, and she rarely saw her father as a child.
She attended Lexington High School, where she was involved in the drama department, and attended Wesleyan University where she was a member of the Eclectic Society. She staged performances based on work by the Legendary Pink Dots, an early influence, and was involved in the Legendary Pink Dots electronic mailing list, Cloud Zero. She then formed the Shadowbox Collective, devoted to street theatre and putting on theatrical shows (such as the 2002 play, Hotel Blanc, which she directed). Another early influence is Judy Blume, an author of children's books.
With an interest in the performing arts, both in music and in theatre, Palmer spent time busking as a living statue called "The Eight Foot Bride" in Harvard Square, Cambridge; Edinburgh, Scotland; Australia (where she met Jason Webley); as well as many other locations. She refers to this line of work on The Dresden Dolls' self-titled CD, with the song "The Perfect Fit":