Black Tape for a Blue Girl

Black Tape for a Blue Girl
Black Tape for a Blue Girl with their 2009/2010 lineup. From left to right, Valerie Gentile, Athan Maroulis and Sam Rosenthal
Background information
Origin	United States
Genres	Dark wave, dark cabaret, dark ambient
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Projekt, Trisol
Associated acts	Spahn Ranch
Website	blacktapeforabluegirl.com
Members	Sam Rosenthal Brian Viglione Athan Maroulis Laurie Reade Nicki Jaine
Past members	Julia Kent Elysabeth Grant Bret Helm Lisa Feuer Michael Laird Oscar Herrera Lucian Casselman

Black Tape for a Blue Girl (often stylized as black tape for a blue girl) is an American dark wave band formed in 1986 by Projekt Records' founder Sam Rosenthal. Their music takes on elements of dark wave, ethereal, ambient, neoclassical, and dark cabaret music. Director David Lynch is one of their more well-known fans. Their 11th album, These Fleeting Moments, was released on August 12, 2016. on Metropolis Records.

Begun in California, Black Tape for a Blue Girl is based around Projekt Records founder Sam Rosenthal, the songwriter, lyricist and producer for the band. The band released seven albums in their first 13 years, covering the mid-80s through late-90s. Black Tape for a Blue Girl released their debut album The Rope in 1986. The band's lineup consisted of a core of Sam Rosenthal, Allan Kraut (on multiple instruments, including drums and guitars) and vocalist and guitarist Oscar Herrera (of Florida's early 80s batcave-tinged The Sleep of Reason). Guests included Kim Prior (as vocals), Adam Buhler (on guitar), Candy Sherlock and Lara Radford (as violinists).

Their second album, Mesmerized by the Sirens, was released a year later, followed by Ashes in the Brittle Air in 1989, A Chaos of Desire in 1991 and This Lush Garden Within in 1993. The core members through this period were Rosenthal and Oscar Herrera, with a variety of guests musicians based on friends Sam chose to work with. Julianna Towns, of the band Skinner Box, provided vocals, flute, and guitar on Chaos.

Recording of Remnants of a Deeper Purity began in 1995 in Los Angeles and was concluded in 1996 after Rosenthal's move to Chicago. This was the second album to feature Lucian Casselman on vocals and Vicki Richards on violin. It also featured Mera Roberts on cello. Remnants went on to become Black Tape for a Blue Girl's best selling release, and was the basis for the band's first live performance, Tuesday June 25, 1996 at Projektfest'96 in Chicago, Illinois.

In 1999, the band released As One Aflame Laid Bare by Desire, with Oscar Herrera singing two songs on the album as a parting favor to Rosenthal. The album owes some artistic inspiration to Marcel Duchamp. Towns returned for female vocals and also provided guitar arrangements. After a 15 city tour in July 1998 in preparation for the album's release, she was ejected from the band. Elysabeth Grant joined the band as violist, but Rosenthal quickly discovered her vocal talents. Grant was the singer for a 14 city tour of the album in February 1999, also featuring Lisa Feuer on flute and backing vocals.