Massive Attack

Massive Attack are an English electronic group formed in 1988 in Bristol, consisting of Robert “3D” Del Naja, Grant “Daddy G” Marshall and formerly Andy “Mushroom” Vowles.

The outfit had their roots in the Bristol club scene of the early 1980s, forming out of The Wild Bunch, a sound system and loose collective of musicians and DJs based in the St Pauls, Montpelier and Bishopston districts of Bristol. They are often credited as having originated trip-hop, one of the most influential genres of the 1990s – combining the rhythmic urgency of hip-hop, the freewheeling samples of the DJ’s craft, soul-rich melodies, and dub-reggae’s hefty, intoxicating bass. Adrian “Tricky” Thaws would join The Wild Bunch in 1987, and would continue to work with Massive Attack after their formation, appearing prominently on their first two records Blue Lines (1991) and Protection (1994). Tricky would then go on to pursue a solo career, releasing his highly successful and critically acclaimed debut record Maxinquaye in 1995. It is hotly debated within the Massive Attack fanbase whether or not Tricky was ever actually a member of the group, or just a close collaborator.