Ann Robie Bandes (born c. 1961), better known as Little Annie, Annie Anxiety or Annie Anxiety Bandez, is a New York-born singer, songwriter, painter, poet, writer, performing and recording artist, pastor and stage actor.

Career

Early career: New York and London

Little Annie began singing at the age of 16 with her band 'Annie and the Asexuals', formed in 1977.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , pp. 204–5Leggett, Steve
Little Annie Biography
,

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

. Retrieved December 16, 2018 Upon moving to the UK in 1981 at the invitation of

Steve Ignorant Steve Ignorant (born Steven Williams in 1957) is a singer and artist. Career Steve Ignorant was born in Stoke-on-Trent but grew up in Dagenham, East London. He later lived at Dial House, which since 1967 has been a self-sustaining anarchist- ...

, she began working with

Penny Rimbaud Penny Lapsang Rimbaud (born Jeremy John Ratter, 1943) is a writer, poet, philosopher, painter, musician and activist. He was a member of the performance art groups EXIT and Ceres Confusion, and in 1972 was co-founder of the Stonehenge Free Fes ...

and

Crass Crass were an English art collective and punk rock band formed in Epping, Essex in 1977, who promoted anarchism as a political ideology, a way of life, and a resistance movement. Crass popularised the anarcho-punk movement of the punk s ...

.Siebert, Valerie (2012)
Yonkers Honk: Annie Bandez Interviewed
,

The Quietus ''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics. Content ''The Quiet ...

, December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2018 She then went on to become the house chanteuse for

Adrian Sherwood Adrian Maxwell Sherwood (born 20 January 1958, London, England) is an English record producer specialising in the genre of dub music. He has created a distinctive production style based on the application of dub effects and dub mixing technique ...

On-U Sound Records On-U Sound Records is an English record label known for releasing its own unique flavour of dub music since the 1980s. The label was founded by Adrian Sherwood in 1979/1980 and is home to acts such as Tackhead, Dub Syndicate, African Head Char ...

, including the recording of three solo albums ''Soul Possession'', ''Short & Sweet'', and ''Jackamo''. During this time she also recorded with

The Wolfgang Press The Wolfgang Press was an English post-punk band, active from 1983 to 1995, recording for the 4AD label. The core of the band was Michael Allen (vocals, bass), Mark Cox (keyboards), and Andrew Gray (guitar). The group is best known for its 1 ...

Current 93 Current 93 are an English experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet, who has been Current 93's only constant member. Background Tibet has been the only const ...

, Coil, Nurse With Wound,

Lee 'Scratch' Perry Lee may refer to: Name Given name * Lee (given name), a given name in English Surname * Chinese surnames romanized as Li or Lee: ** Li (surname 李) or Lee (Hanzi ), a common Chinese surname ** Li (surname 利) or Lee (Hanzi ), a Chinese s ...

Bim Sherman , children = Chantelle Vincent, Rasiah Vincent Jarret Lloyd Vincent (12 February 1950 – 17 November 2000), better known by one of his stage aliases Bim Sherman (others include Jarrett Tomlinson, Jarrett Vincent, Lloyd Vincent, J. L. ...

, CL Stealers,

Swans Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometim ...

Kid Congo Powers Brian Tristan (born March 27, 1959), better known by his stage name Kid Congo Powers,Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 25, 41, 359 is an American rock guitarist, singer, and actor best known as a member of ...

Fini Tribe Finitribe were a Scottish electronic music group. The group was originally referred to as Fini Tribe. The name was taken from ''finny tribe'', a term used by the Rosicrucians to describe the fishes. History The band formed in Edinburgh, Scotlan ...

, and wrote for the late

Paul Oakenfold Paul Mark Oakenfold (born 30 August 1963), formerly known mononymously as Oakenfold, is an English record producer, remixer and trance DJ. He has provided over 100 remixes for over 100 artists including U2, Moby, Madonna, Britney Spears, Mass ...

Gary Clail Gary Clail (born 1956) is an English singer and record producer, and the founder of the Gary Clail Sound System. He was part of On-U Sound Records (and also the On-U Sound System) and led Gary Clail's Tackhead Sound System. They had a big hit in ...

, and

Living Color Living Colour is an American rock music, rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band currently consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish (who replaced Muzz Skillings ...

Return to America: acting, painting, writing and performance

With the exception of recording and appearing with close friend

and New York duo Sister Boy, Annie started a hiatus from music in 1990. Being in her words 'driven insane by the hues' during a period of living in Mexico, the New Yorker returned home determined to teach herself painting, something which she had dabbled in previously, by devoting a full year of average 16-hour days. Employing every medium with the exception of oils, her work has been described as having a "naive style", which is "figurative, metaphorical and surrealistic, with a strong emphasis on color; often combining tortuous, expressionistic cityscapes with Biblical imagery". ''God and Science'', was inspired by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. She first exhibited as part of a group show curated by artist the late Louis Laurita, who provided her much encouragement and guidance. Annie had her first solo gallery show four years later in 2002. She returned to recording in 1992 with the On-U Sound single "I Think of You", with the album ''Short and Sweet'' following in 1993, now recording under the name Little Annie. Annie met the actor

Bill Rice Wilburn Steven Rice (born April 19, 1939 in Datto, Arkansas) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Rice charted six singles between 1971 and 1978, including the Top 40 hit "Travelin' Minstrel Man", but is better known for his songw ...

, and the two became close friends, appearing together many times in numerous plays and theater pieces, with Jim Neu's play ''Alone Together'' their last work together as Rice died a few months after the end of their run in January 2007. Little Annie returned full-time to music with an EP, ''Lullaby'', cowritten with

Larry Tee Larry Tee (born October 12, 1959) is a Berlin-based DJ, club promoter, and music producer who curated the electroclash scene in New York in the early 2000s, and helped launch the careers of such artists as RuPaul, Scissor Sisters, Fischerspooner ...

, and "Diamonds" was produced by Joe Budenholzer and

Christoph Heemann Christoph Heemann (born 1964 in Aachen, West Germany) is a German musician. Heemann has recorded under his own name, with the tape music group H.N.A.S. (german: Hirsche Nicht Aufs Sofa, meaning "No deer on the sofa" or "deer not on the sofa"), ...

released in 2002 by Drag City. A new project, 'The Legally Jammin', a band formed with Christian Jendrieko, Khan Oral, and Kid Congo Powers. The 2003 album ''The Legally Jamming'' (Italic Records) was voted in ''

Mojo Mojo may refer to: *Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in voodoo Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * MOJO HD, an American television network * ''Mojo'' (play), by Jez Butterworth, made into a 1997 film * '' ...

'' as no. 1 Dance Album of the Year. Her next album to follow would be the first of her more piano /string section-based works; ''Songs from the Coalmine Canary'', released on the Durtro/Jnana label, was co-produced by Antony Hegarty and Joe Budenholzer (of Backworld).Jurek, Thom
''Songs from the Coalmine Canary'' Review
,

. Retrieved December 16, 2018 Hegarty also played piano, sang backup vocals and co-wrote several songs on the album. The song "Strangelove", co-written by Little Annie and Hegarty, was used as the soundtrack for Levi's 'Dangerous Liaisons' advertising campaign in 2007, garnering several awards, including the

Cannes Lions The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (formerly the International Advertising Festival) is a global event for those working in creative communications, advertising, and related fields. It is considered the largest gathering of the ...

– International Advertising Festival, 2007 (Bronze Lion ) for "Best Use of Music". Little Annie has performed on stage with

Marc Almond Peter Mark Sinclair "Marc" Almond, (born 9 July 1957) is an English singer. Almond first began performing and recording in the synthpop/ new wave duo Soft Cell where he became known for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He ...

, supporting him in 2007 in several appearances at Wilton's Music Hall, where she performed with pianist

Paul Wallfisch Paul Wallfisch (born September 18, 1962) is an American musician who specializes in German multimedia theater productions. He works extensively in Western Europe and makes his home in Harlem, New York, United States. Early childhood Paul Wallfisc ...

of the band Botanica, and on Almond's '30 Years Of Hits' tour two years later. In 2008, she and Paul Wallfisch recorded the album ''When Good Things Happen to Bad Pianos'', which includes a cover of U2's song "

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track from their 1987 album ''The Joshua Tree'' and was released as the album's second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band's se ...

".Mason, Stewart
''When Good Things Happen to Bad Pianos'' Review
,

. Retrieved December 16, 2018 In 2010, Annie and Wallfisch released their second album, ''Genderful''. In 2011, Little Annie became the singer of the Italian band Larsen appearing on the albums ''La Fever Lit'' 2010 and ''Cool Cruel Mouth'' (Tin Angel). In 2013, Little Annie and

Baby Dee Baby Dee (born 1953) is an American performance artist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio. Early career In the 1970s, Baby Dee began her musical career as a street performer, but soon decided to take work as an ...

released ''State of Grace'' on Tin Angel Records,Listen: exclusive Little Annie and Baby Dee track
, ''

The Wire ''The Wire'' is an American Crime film, crime drama Television show, television series created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. ''The ...

'', February 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2018 and toured together in North America and Europe. In 2015, Annie had her first gallery show since 2007 at Gavin Brown Enterprises, curated by Boo-Hooray Gallery, the show called 'NYC/Miami' showcased her artwork done between 2013 and 2015, consisting of monochromatic tumbling cityscapes juxtaposed with vibrant mandalas reflecting her recent relocation to Miami. She and Wallfisch reunited to tour with

. Annie recorded ''Trace'', her eighth solo album, in Toronto with

Ryan Driver Ryan Craig Driver (born 30 April 1979) is an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Worcestershire and Lancashire around the turn of the 21st century. He has captained the Jersey cricket team. Driver was born in Truro, Cornwall, ...

, Opal/Onyx, and Wallfisch, produced by

Jean Martin Jean Martin (6 March 1922 – 2 February 2009Jean Martin
''The Guardian'', 12 February 2009

and released in 2016. In 2017, she guested on Hifi Sean's album ''FT'' on the track "Just Another Song", which she also wrote, and her first book of artwork, ''Meditations In Chaos'', was published by Timeless Ed (Toulouse, France). In 2020, she provided guest vocals on the song "Washed Our Name Tags Away" on Michael Cashmore's album "The Doctrine of Transformation Through Love".

Writing

Little Annie has consolidated and published her memoirs, poetry and lyrics. First her memoirs under the title: ''You Cant Sing The Blues While Drinking Milk'', which were published in 2012 by Tin Angel Publishing and including forewords by

Lydia Lunch Lydia Lunch (born Lydia Anne Koch; June 2, 1959)Martin Charles Strong. ''The Great Indie Discography''. 2003, page 85 is an American singer, poet, writer, actress and self-empowerment speaker. Her career began during the 1970s New York City no ...

David J David John Haskins (born 24 April 1957, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England), better known as David J, is a British alternative rock musician, producer, and writer. He is the bassist for the gothic rock band Bauhaus and for Love and Rock ...

David Tibet David Tibet (born David Michael Bunting; 5 March 1960) is a British poet and artist who founded the music group Current 93, of which he is the only full-time member. He was given the name "Tibet" by Genesis P-Orridge, and in January 2005 he a ...

, and Antony Hegarty. Also released in 2013 were her most recent book of prose ''Sing Don't Cry /I Remember Mexico'' on Existencil Press in the UK. Preceding these was Stride Publications published: ''Hell is a place where we call each other darling: the poems and prose of Little Annie'', a collection of her poems and song lyrics including "Bless Those" (Little Annie's Prayer) which

recorded.

Discography

Albums

*1984 — Annie Anxiety — ''Soul Possession'' LP ( Corpus Christi, Christ It's 10) – UK Indie no. 7Lazell, Barry (1997) ''Indie Hits 1980–1989'', Cherry Red Books, , p. 10 *1987 — Annie Anxiety Bandez — ''Jackamo'' LP/CD (

One Little Indian One Little Independent Records (formerly One Little Indian Records) is an English independent record label. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarcho-punk bands, and managed by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett. In th ...

, TPLP 4) – UK Indie no. 28 *1993 — Little Annie — '' Short and Sweet'' LP ( On-U Sound, ON-U LP60 CD16) *2003 — Little Annie & the Legally Jammin' — ''Little Annie & The Legally Jammin LP (Italic) *2006 — Little Annie — ''Songs from the Coal Mine Canary'' CD (Durtro/Jnana) *2008 — Little Annie and Paul Wallfisch — ''When Good Things Happen to Bad Pianos'' (Durtro/Jnana) *2010 — Little Annie and Paul Wallfisch — ''Genderful'' (

Southern Records Founded 1992 by John Loder, Southern Records is an independent record label (Loder also ran the recording facility Southern Studios). It is based in London and until 2008 had offices in the United States, France and Berlin. The label is closel ...

) *2012 — Little Annie and

— ''State of Grace'' (

Tin Angel Records Tin Angel Records is a British independent record label. History Tin Angel Records has founded in 2007 with Devon Sproule's '' Keep Your Silver Shined''. The album received critical acclaim and led to Sproule appearing live on Later... with ...

, TAR033) *2016 — Little Annie — ''Trace'' (Tin Angel) ;with Larsen: *2008 — Larsen — ''La Fever Lit'' (Important) *2011 — Larsen — ''Cool Cruel Mouth'' (Tin Angel)

Singles and EPs

*1981 — Annie Anxiety – "Barbed Wire Halo" 7" (

Crass Records Crass Records was an independent record label that was set up by the anarchist Punk rock, punk band Crass. Overview and history Prior to the formation of Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher had published their creative works via their own D ...

, 321984/3) – UK Indie No. 10 *1987 — Annie Anxiety Bandez - "As I Lie in Your Arms" 12" (

, 12TP6) *1990 — Annie Anxiety Bandez -"Sugar Bowl" 7"/12" (

Atco Atco or ATCO may refer to: Businesses * ATCO, a Canadian diversified company involved in manufacturing, utilities, energy and technologies ** ATCO Electric, a subsidiary of the above company * Atco (British mower company), a mower manufacturing com ...

/ East West) *1992 — Little Annie - "I Think of You" 12" ( On-U Sound, ON-UDP 21) *1993 — Little Annie - "Bless those" 10" (On-U Sound, ON-U DP 26) *1994 — Little Annie - ''In Dread with Little Annie (Four Pieces of Heart at 33RPM)'' 12" (On-U Sound, ON-UDP30) *1994 — Little Annie – "Going for Gold" (On-U Sound) *2001 — Little Annie – "Diamonds Made of Glass" (Streamline) *2004 — Little Annie & The Legally Jammin' - Mixed Up Little Annie (Italic) *2011 — Little Annie & Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo – ''Blue Xmas EP'' (Tourette)

Compilation appearances

*"The Gates of Freedom" (Annie Anxiety and the Asexuals) on ''Here We Go'' (1985, Sterile) *"It Was July" on ''F/Ear This!'' (1987), P.E.A.C.E. *"I Think of You" (alternate vocal take, alternate mix) on ''Pay It All Back Volume Three'' (On-U Sound, ON-U LP53) (1991) *"Hello Horror" on ''A Sides (Part One. 1979 / 1982)'' (1992), Crass *"13 Things I Did Today" on ''

Interiors ''Interiors'' is a 1978 American drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. It stars Kristin Griffith, Mary Beth Hurt, Richard Jordan, Diane Keaton, E. G. Marshall, Geraldine Page, Maureen Stapleton, and Sam Waterston. Allen's first full ...

'' (1998) *"Baby I'll Make You a Man" on ''Brainwaves'' (2006) *"Freddy & Me" on ''Not Alone'' (2006), Durtro/Jnana (compilation for Medicines Sans Frontier) *"Small Love" on ''Songs Inspired By the Film 30th Century Man: Scott Walker'' by film maker Stephan Kijak (2010)

Guest appearances

* "Count This" on

Keith LeBlanc Keith LeBlanc is an American drummer and record producer, and is a member of the bands Little Axe and Tackhead. His record " No Sell Out" was one of the first sample-based releases. The song was a success, charting at No. 60 on the UK Singles ...

's ''Stranger Than Fiction'' (1988), Nettwerk * "Dans" on Kamarorghestar's ''Ríða Á Vaðið'' (1988), Gramm * "The Birdie Song" and "Dreams & Light" on

's ''Queer'' (1991), 4AD * "Things Happen" on Coil's ''

Love's Secret Domain Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, doing business as Love's (or stylized as Loves), is an American family-owned chain of more than 500 truck stop and convenience stores in 41 states in the United States. The company is privately owned and he ...

'' (1991),

Wax Trax! Records Wax Trax! Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago. It began as a record shop in Denver, Colorado, opened by life partners Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher, who sold the store in 1978 and moved to Chicago. In November of that y ...

* "Gentle Killer" on Missing Brazilians' ''Warzone'' (1994), On-U Sound Records * "Forty Six Things I Did Today" on CoH's ''Vox Tinnitus'' (1999), Raster-Noton * "Ach Golgotha: The Mystical Body Of Christ In Chorazaim (excerpt)" on

's ''Emblems: The Menstrual Years'' (2000), ArsNova *

"Hier Encore/Yesterday when I was young" (live duet) CD/DVD 2010 * "Interactive" on CL Stealers Feat; Little Annie (single)/''JackPot Goalie'' album * "I'm Curious Yellow" COH featuring Little Annie (2011) - single * "Some Things We Do" (duet with

Michael Gira Michael Rolfe Gira (; born February 19, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, author and artist. He is the main force behind the New York City musical group Swans and fronted Angels of Light. He is also the founder of ...

) on

' ''To Be Kind'' (2014) * "Washed our Name Tags Away" on Michael Cashmore's ''The Doctrine of Transformation Through Love II'' (2020)

Publications

* ''Hell Is a Place Where We Call Each Other Darling: the Poems and Prose of Little Annie'' (1999), Stride Publications * ''Sing Don't Cry: A Mexican Journal'' (August 1, 2012) * ''You Can't Sing the Blues While Drinking Milk: The Autobiography of Little Annie AKA Annie "Anxiety" Bandez'' (November 26, 2012), , Tin Angel Records, * ''Just Like I Pictured It'' (2014), Exitstencil Press, UK * ''Meditations In Chaos'' (2017), Timeless Ed, France

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Annie, Little 1960s births Living people Women punk rock singers Torch singers American women painters American punk rock singers American post-punk musicians American contraltos 21st-century American women artists