Everything but the Girl (EBTG) are a two-person English band formed in Hull in 1982, consisting of lead singer and sometime-guitarist Tracey Thorn (born September 26, 1962) and guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist Ben Watt (born December 6, 1962).
Watt and Thorn are also a couple; they are intensely private about their relationship and personal life. It was not a publicised fact for some time that they were a couple, or that they had subsequently married. The duo have a strong desire to raise their three children outside of the spotlight. When Thorn and Watt met, their paths were very similar; they were both attending the University of Hull, and both had signed to independent record label Cherry Red Records as solo artists. Thorn was also a member of the trio Marine Girls, and Watt contributed a photograph to the cover of their first album, Lazy Ways. The pair each had solo album releases through Cherry Red Records: Thorn’s 1982 L.P. was A Distant Shore, an eight-track mini-album. Watt’s L.P. was entitled North Marine Drive.
They formed a duo and took their unusual name "Everything but the Girl" from the slogan of well-known Hull shop, 'Turners' Furniture', on Beverley Road (left). Earlier, this was a line from the 1937 film Daughter of Shanghai, in reference to a bungled murder and theft of evidence: 'Did you get it?' 'Everything.' 'Everything but the girl!'
Collaborations and other work
* Protection (with Massive Attack)
* Batman Forever Soundtrack – "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" (with Massive Attack)
* Back to Mine – tracks selected by Everything But the Girl
* Watt has concentrated on being a DJ and producer/remixer, finding success as one half of Lazy Dog with partner Jay Hannan before going solo and launching Buzzin Fly records and The Neighborhood (a dance club). He has helped to produce two acclaimed albums for Beth Orton.
* In late spring 2005, Thorn recorded her first vocals in three years, on a song called "Damage" on the album Eat Books for the German band Tiefschwarz, for which she also wrote the lyrics and melody.
* Thorn's first full solo album, Out of the Woods was released in March 2007, garnering positive reviews.
Their fan base is still very active, as messages on the band's website confirm. Their most recent release is a double disc of remixes highlighting the best of their electronica-influenced music including a trio of newly commissioned remixes.
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