Karen Orzolek
| Karen O | |
|---|---|
Karen O performing with Yeah Yeah Yeahs in 2013
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|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Karen Lee Orzolek |
| Born |
November 22, 1978 Busan, South Korea |
| Origin | Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Interscope |
| Associated acts |
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Native Korean Rock Swans |
Karen Lee Orzolek (born November 22, 1978), better known by her stage name Karen O, is a South Korean-born American singer and musician. She is the lead vocalist for American rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
She was born in Busan, South Korea, the daughter of a Korean mother and a Polish father. The family eventually moved to Englewood, New Jersey, where she grew up. About her childhood, she stated that "it's almost embarrassing how well-behaved I was, which is probably why I do things like spit water on myself on stage as an adult". She attended Oberlin College, but transferred to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
O is best known as the lead vocalist for the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She has also been noted for her sense of fashion, wearing ostentatious outfits made by her friend, fashion designer Christian Joy. In the early days of the band, she became well known for her outrageous antics during live shows. Their first ever gig was opening for The White Stripes.
Playboy made an offer for O to pose on their cover, but she stated: "I was approached but I said no. Who knows though? Maybe I'll do it in the future, but now doesn't seem to be the right time." Since then, however, Karen said in an interview with Associated Press magazine that she has changed her mind and would never do Playboy because of the audience that Playboy magazine attracts.
During a tour for the 2003 Livid Festival in Australia, at a sideshow at The Metro in Sydney, O accidentally danced off the stage and was reluctantly taken to a hospital. A few days later, at the Sydney leg of the Livid Festival, she appeared in a wheelchair pushed onstage by Angus Andrew.
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Wikipedia