Monica Vivienne Richards (born May 24, 1965) is an American singer, songwriter, artist and author. A graduate of the American University with honors in literature and a minor in

anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavi ...

, she is considered to be an icon of the goth subculture and has been the frontwoman of numerous bands including Madhouse, Strange Boutique,

Faith and the Muse Faith and the Muse is an American rock band composed of Monica Richards and William Faith. Their music encompasses many genres, from folk music to dark wave, drawing on many sources and influences, notably Dead Can Dance. Richards is the prima ...

and

The Eden House The Eden House is a collaborative musical project, initiated by Stephen Carey (formerly of This Burning Effigy and Adoration) and involving a collection of guest musicians and vocalists; later joined by Tony Pettitt (formerly of Fields of the ...

as well as being a solo artist.

Biography

Richards started singing when she was in her teens and was one of the earliest female singers in the harDCore scene. Hate From Ignorance, Madhouse, Strange Boutique and

are among the bands she has fronted. She performed at the same time as other bands including

Bad Brains Bad Brains are an American rock band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1976. Originally a jazz fusion band under the name Mind Power, they are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this ...

Minor Threat Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C. by vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson. MacKaye and Nelson had played in several other bands together, and recruited bassist Brian Baker and guitaris ...

, and

State of Alert State of Alert (often abbreviated to S.O.A.) was an American hardcore punk group formed in Washington, D.C. in October 1980, and active till July 1981. S.O.A. was fronted by Henry Rollins, then using his original surname Garfield. History S.O. ...

(

Henry Rollins Henry Lawrence Garfield (born February 13, 1961), known professionally as Henry Rollins, is an American singer, writer, spoken word artist, actor, and presenter. After performing in the short-lived hardcore punk band State of Alert in 1980, Roll ...

' first band). Richards works in a number of different media for her visual art. In her early days as an artist she designed punk rock flyers, album covers and local business logos, among other things. Her work now ranges from painting to graphic art. Richards' first book, a compilation of art, poetry, essays, and re-writings of Welsh-Celtic tales called ''The Book of Annwyn'', was released in early 1998. She is currently working on a graphic novel based on her short stories called 'Anafae'. Richards celebrated her Welsh ancestry by headlining the 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod: Welsh Festival of Arts.

Albums

* 2007: ''InfraWarrior'' * 2012: ''Naiades'' * 2013: ''Kindred''

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Monica 1965 births Living people American rock songwriters American punk rock singers Women punk rock singers Gothic rock musicians American women singer-songwriters American University alumni American women poets American people of Welsh descent 21st-century American poets 21st-century American women

Biography

Albums

See also

References

External links