Burning Brides

Burning Brides
The band in 2009: Dimitri Coats (left) and Melanie Coates (right), with drummer Pete Beeman behind
Background information
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal, stoner rock
Years active	1999–present
Labels	V2, Caroline, Cobraside, File 13
Associated acts	Hot Snakes, Off!
Members	Dimitri Coats Melanie Coates
Past members	Mike Ambs Jason Kourkounis Pete Beeman

Burning Brides is an American hard rock band. They are partially known for their live performances, such as in 2000 playing selected dates as the opening band for The White Stripes. In 2002 they toured with …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and Queens of the Stone Age, in 2003 with Audioslave, in 2004 with A Perfect Circle, in 2005 with Mastodon, and in 2006 with Eagles of Death Metal and Peaches (musician). Also, they have opened for both Melvins and Marilyn Manson in their home town of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Burning Brides formed in Philadelphia in early 1999. Dimitri Coats and future wife and musical partner Melanie Coats joined together after Melanie graduated from The Juilliard School for modern dance. Dimitri dropped out of the acting program two years earlier to pursue music. They spent several years traveling the country together, living in Portland, Oregon and Boston before settling in Philadelphia.

The couple soon found drummer Mike Ambs and headlined their first concert May 11, 1999 at The Khyber in Philadelphia. The Brides saw popularity from their local live performances, and record companies began scouting them in order to sign them to a label. They first signed with File Thirteen Records, a local independent label. Burning Brides then took U.S. tours with such acts as Mike Watt, J. Mascis, Royal Trux, and The White Stripes. The band began to build a steady fan base from their energetic live shows.