Melora Creager (born March 25, 1966) is an American cellist, singer-songwriter, performing artist and founder of the cello rock group Rasputina.In 1991, Creager founded alternative cello ensemble Rasputina by writing a manifesto and placing a want-ad in the Village Voice stating "electric cellists wanted". Cellist/composer Julia Kent was the first respondent. Rasputina performed regularly at NYC venues such as CBGB's Gallery, Brownie's and Fez before being signed to Columbia Records in 1996, for whom they subsequently made two albums. With varying members, Creager has made five more albums as Rasputina, and multiple shorter releases.Creager also played cello for Nirvana on the European leg of the In Utero world tour (including the band's final show in Munich).Creager designed all the Rasputina album covers excepting one- Lost & Found, which was designed by artist Ryan Obermeyer and included in the 44th Annual Society of Illustrators Exhibition in New York, 2002. From 1988- 1996, Creager was employed as a jewelry designer for Erickson Beamon, creating costume jewelry for Anna Sui, Donna Karan, Barney's New York, and Vogue magazine. She continues her relationship with Anna Sui, occasionally designing fashion show invitations and t-shirts.Through more than seven albums and frequent touring, Creager through Rasputina has been an originator of and influence on such movements as Freak folk and Steampunk.Creager makes unique use of historical events and figures in her lyrics and themes. Inspirations include the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, Howard Hughes, Rose Kennedy, victims of Josef Mengele, Emily Dickinson, Pitcairn Island, Columbia County, NY. Combining history and humor in song-form and spoken-word pieces, Creager is also unique in exploring women's history through pop music.DiscographyTransylvanian Concubine/The Vaulted Eel, Lesson #6 - Oculus Records, 1993Three (3) (promo) - 1994Thanks for the Ether - Columbia Records, 1996Three Lil' Nothin's (promo) - 1996Transylvanian Regurgitations (EP) - Columbia Records, 1997How We Quit the Forest - Columbia Records, 1998The Olde HeadBoard (EP) - Columbia Records, 1998The Lost & Found (self-released limited edition EP) - 2001Cabin Fever! - Instinct Records, 2002My Fever Broke (EP) - Instinct Records, 2002The Lost & Found (second edition EP) - Instinct Records, 2003Frustration Plantation - Instinct Records, 2004A Radical Recital (live) - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2005Perplexions (solo recording) - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2006Oh Perilous World! (Vinyl LP, CD & Limited edition CD) - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., June 26, 2007Repo! The Genetic Opera (As part of orchestra), 2008Melora a la Basilica (Limited Edition Live EP), 2008The Willow Tree Triptych (Limited Edition EP), 2009Ancient Cross-Dressing Songs - A Special Recording For Brooklyn (Limited Edition EP), 2009Sister Kinderhook - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2010Great American Gingerbread - Filthy Bonnet Recording Co., 2011
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