Massive Attack have probably been one of the most influential bands of the nineties. They have made two of the most innovative albums of recent years, but they have also been responsible for the whole so called Bristol sound, which has thrown up the likes of Tricky and Portishead.

Massive Attack started out as Wild Bunch in 1983, they were one of the first homegrown crews to merge rap and graffiti art, rocking the local Bristol scene with some momentous jams at Bristol's Dugout club. In 1987, 3D, Daddy G and Mushroom joined forces to form the creative core of Massive Attack, signing to Circa Records in 1990. The first album, Blue Lines, was released in 1991, the second, Protection, in 1994 both with unanimous critical acclaim. Protection featured the individual vocal talents of Tricky and Nicolette, both now successful in their own right, as well as collaborations with Horace Andy and Everything But The Girl's Tracey Thorn.

Massive Attack collaborated with Madonna on the single „I Want You" in 1995 and also contributed to the soundtrack for „Batman Returns" and Robert De Niro's film „The Fan".

More recently, the band have written a track, entitled „Wire", for the forthcoming film, „Welcome to Sarajevo", a harrowing account of the war in Bosnia from the perspective of one British journalist. The film will be released in the UK in September.

Massive Attack have also been working closely with Kevin Reynolds, director of the film „187". Due for release in August, „187 stars Samuel L. Jackson and the music throughout the film will be mainly archive material, including „Karmacoma", „Better Things" and „Spying Glass".

The band have toured consistently since the end 1994 both on the festival circuit and their own dates throughout Europe, America and Australia. The strength of the show was apparent at last year's Phoenix festival where Massive Attack played the main stage on Saturday night. The show saw the inclusion of „Unfinished Sympathy" (backed by a twenty piece orchestra) for the first time ever, the set was undisputedly one of the highlights of the festival. They take to the road again this summer with an extensive European tour. they will also visit Japan for the first time.

They are currently in their recording studio putting the finishing touches to their third album, which will be due for release towards the end of this year. A limited edition single, entitled „Risingson" will be released 7th July. The single features a remix by Underworld of an instrumental track called „Superpredators".