Members (past and present)

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Like plenty other bands, The Sisters of Mercy changed more or less often over the years, apart from one founding member, i.e. singer, lyricist and - with time - band leader Andrew Eldritch, who himself has often pointed out that he's never felt quite comfortable with that much responsibilty and that, anyway, things had initially never meant to come to this.

The second almost alltime-member, who will probably last as long as The Sisters will is Doktor Avalanche.

Anyway, Andrew Eldritch has always been able to convene around The Doktor some remarkable staff whenever for whatever task necessary. Basically, bandmembers - like The Doktor's constituent parts - changed with every new album release, which does of course count as well for The Sisterhood and the SSV project (1997). Since then, The Sisters of Mercy have mostly consisted of long-lasting live performance members.

In 2019, long-term Sisters guitarist Chris Catalyst did not join the band for their European Summer Festival appearances and the following worldwide club tour in autumn.
He was replaced by Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer Dylan Smith, who did his first gig with the band at HELLFEST 2019 in France. From 2019 on, he was involved in writing quite a large bunch of new Sisters songs. After the International Treasure Tour (2022), the Sisters At The Planet Edge Tour to North and South America and few summer festivals in 2023, he left the band at the start of The Sisters of Mercy's Tour of Europe in autumn that year, apparently due to unlucky circumstances. A few concerts later, Kai of Esprit D'Air stepped in for Dylan on guitars and backing vocals. Time will tell, whether we will see Dylan on stage with The Sisters of Mercy again. Anyway for this trunch, Chris Catalyst also re-joined The Sisters of Mercy, but took over new duties as nurse to The Doktor - Ravey Davey was urgently needed at home and therefore not available.

Current Band Members

Image Name Years Active Instruments Release Contributions & Other Notes
Andrew Eldritch    Andrew Eldritch    1980 - present    lead vocals,
   keyboards, guitars
   all releases and non-releases by The Sisters of Mercy
   all releases by The Sisterhood and SSV
Ben Christo Brussels 2011.jpg    Ben Christo    2006 - present    guitars,
   bass, backing vocals
   live during all tours since 2006
   Unreleased songs (with Andrew Eldritch & Dylan Smith):
   Kickline, Show Me, Better Reptile, Instrumental 86,
   Eyes Of Caligula, But Genevieve, I Will Call You, Black Sail,
   Don't Drive On Ice, Six Ways To Sunday, When I'm On Fire,
   Here, She's A Monster
2023 11 12 Kai on stage with The Sisters.jpg    Kai    most of Europe 2023
   - present
   guitars,
   backing vocals
   Kai joined The Sisters as their second guitarist on 14/09/23
   at Posthalle, Würzburg, Germany filling the gap that Dylan
   had left at the beginning of this tour.
The Doktor    Doktor Avalanche    1981 - present    drums,
   keyboards, bass
   all releases and non-releases by The Sisters of Mercy
   apart from The Damage Done (single)
Chris Catalyst Brussels 2011.jpg    Chris Catalyst    2005 - 2017

   2023
   guitars, bass,
   backing vocals,
   nurse to The Doktor
   live during all tours from 2005-2017
   Unreleased songs: Still, Arms
   Autumn 2023 - present



Former Band Members

Note: This list does not include short-lived members, members of The Sisterhood or SSV and album or performance contributors.

Image Name Years Active Instruments Release Contributions & Other Notes
Dylan Smith.jpg    Dylan Smith    2019 - 2023    guitars,
   backing vocals
   live from 2019 to 2023
   Unreleased songs (with Andrew Eldritch & [Ben Christo]]):
   Kickline, Show Me, Better Reptile, Instrumental 86,
   Eyes Of Caligula, But Genevieve, I Will Call You, Black Sail,
   Don't Drive On Ice, Six Ways To Sunday, When I'm On Fire,
   Here, She's A Monster
Ravey Davey At Amphi 2012.jpg    Ravey Davey    1996
   Summer 2012
   Sisters 2014 until
   Summer 2023
   programming    live during
   1996: Roadkill Tour - as the first official nurse to The Doktor
   2012: Summer 2012
   2014: Sisters 2014 - Ever Forward
   and all further tours until Summer 2023.
2009 02 23 Si at AB.jpg    Si Denbigh    1997
   - Spring 2012
   except Spring 1998
   programming    long-time nurse to The Doktor. After The Sisters'
   XXX 30th Stage Anniversary Tour 2011/2012
   Si Denbigh went to concentrate on The March Violets'
   album project.
   Si was also replaced by Mike Hall for the Event Horizon
   tour in 1998, but returned in Summer 1998.
Mike Varjak.jpg    Mike Varjak    1997 - 1999    guitars    live during
   1997: Distance Over Time
   1998: Event Horizon and Summer
   1999: Sisters To The Planet Edge
   Unreleased Songs: We Are The Same, Susanne,
   Will I Dream? (with Adam Pearson)
2003 Zwickau Chris Sheehan.jpg    Chris Sheehan
   aka Chris Starling
   1996
   2000 - 2003
   rhythm guitar,
   backing vocals
   live only during
   1996: Roadkill Tour
   2000: Sisters Trip The Light Fantastic
   2001: Exxile On Euphoria and Summer 2001
   2002: Summer 2002
   2003: Smoke And Mirrors
Adam.jpg    Adam Pearson    1993 - 2005    lead guitar,
   backing vocals,
   bass
   Singles & EPs: Under The Gun
   Unreleased Songs: Come Together, Crash And Burn,
   Romeo Down, Snub Nose aka Top Nite Out, Summer,
   I Have Slept With All The Girls In Berlin
   Will I Dream? (with Mike Varjak)
T Bricheno.jpg    Tim Bricheno    1990 - 1992    guitars    Album:
   Vision Thing
   Singles & EPs:
   More, Doctor Jeep, When You Don't See Me,
   Temple Of Love (1992)
Toni James.jpg    Tony James    1989 - 1991    bass    Album:
   Vision Thing
   Singles & EPs:
   More, Doctor Jeep, When You Don't See Me,
   Temple Of Love (1992)
Bruhn Beat UK1991.jpg    Andreas Bruhn    1989 - 1993    guitars    Album:
   Vision Thing
   Singles & EPs:
   More, Doctor Jeep, When You Don't See Me,
   Temple Of Love (1992)
Patricia Morrison.jpg    Patricia Morrison    1985 - 1989    bass,
   backing vocals
   Albums, Singles & EPs:
   The Sisterhood: Member of The Chorus Of Vengeance
   Album - Gift / Single - Giving Ground
   The Sisters of Mercy:
   Album - Floodland
   Singles - This Corrosion, Dominion, Lucretia
Wayne Hussey 2008.jpg    Wayne Hussey    1984 - 1985    guitars,
   backing vocals
   Album:
   First And Last And Always
   Singles & EPs:
   Body And Soul, Walk Away, No Time To Cry
1982 gunn 02.jpg    Ben Gunn    1981 - 1983    guitars    Singles & EPs:
   Alice, Anaconda, Alice EP,
   The Reptile House EP, Temple Of Love
Craig Adams 1999.jpg    Craig Adams    1981 - 1985    bass    Album:
   First And Last And Always
   Singles & EPs:
   Body Electric, Alice, Anaconda, Alice EP,
   Temple Of Love, The Reptile House EP, Body And Soul,
   Walk Away including Long Train Flexi, No Time To Cry
Gary Marx 2009.jpg    Gary Marx    1980 - 1985    guitars,
   lead vocals
   on two early tracks   
   Album:
   First And Last And Always
   Singles & EPs:
   The Damage Done, Body Electric, Alice, Anaconda,
   Alice EP, The Reptile House EP, Temple Of Love,
   Body And Soul,Walk Away including Long Train Flexi,
   No Time To Cry


Short-lived Members And Other Contributors

Note: This list does not yet include all short-lived members from 1980-1981, live band members from 1990 onwards, and album or performance contributors.

Image Name Years Active Instruments Release Contributions & Other Notes
Lisa Cuthbert Amphi.jpg    Lisa Cuthbert    2012, 2014, 2017    additional vocals
   in 2012:
   keyboards & vocals
   live surprise act during
   Amphi Festival 2012, Cologne, Germany
   background vocals at Rock Zottegem 2014
   and at several gigs of the Sisters 2017 Tour
Mikehall.jpg    Mike Hall    1998    programming    nurse to The Doktor in 1998 for Event Horizon Tour only,
   originally the keyboard technician of Erasure
   T. Schroeder    1997    lyrics    Studio only
   Album: Go Figure (SSV)
Peter Bellendir in the 1980s.jpg    Peter Bellendir    1997    composing,
   programming,
   production
   Studio only
   Album: Go Figure (SSV)
1993 TOTP UTG Rodney Orpheus bw.jpg    Rodney Orpheus    1993    keyboards    Top Of The Pops - TV performance of Under The Gun
  - no picture available -    Hermine Karo aka
   Hermine von Wiro
   1993    backing vocals    live only during
   1993: Overbombing Tour
Terri Nunn Video Snippet.jpg    Terri Nunn    1993, 2023    additional vocals    Single & Video:
   Under The Gun (single), Under The Gun (video)
   TV performance on 26 August 1993 - Top of the Pops
   Live: additional vocals on Temple Of Love on 23 May 2023
Jovanka von Wilsdorf Elf 99.jpg    Jovanka von Wilsdorf    1992 - 1993    backing vocals
   keyboards
   live only during
   1992: GoBang Tour
   1993: The Summer Festivals and Overbombing Tour
   also:
   TV playback performance of Under The Gun
   on 26 November 1993 in VOX TV feature Elf 99
Ofra.jpg    Ofra Haza    1992    additional vocals    Single & Album:
   Temple Of Love (1992)
   A Slight Case Of Overbombing (the same track)
   TV performance on 30 April 1992 - Top of the Pops
Suzanne Josefowicz 2.jpg    Suzanna Josefowicz    1991 -
   Summer 1993
   keyboards,
   backing vocals
   live only during
   1991: Tour Thing 2 and Tune In Turn On Load Out
   1992: GoBang Tour
   1993: The Summer Festivals
Dan Donovan 2011.jpg    Dan Donovan    1990    keyboards    live during
   1990 Tour Thing 1 - Vision Thing Tour
   Singles & EPs:
   When You Don't See Me (live tracks)
John Perry bw.jpg    John Perry    1990    slide guitar    Studio only
   Album: Vision Thing - Track: Detonation Boulevard
Maggie Reilly.jpg    Maggie Reilly    1990    backing vocals    Studio only
   Album:
   Vision Thing
   Tracks:
   Vision Thing, More, Detonation Boulevard,
   Something Fast, Doctor Jeep
Jim Steinman 2005.jpg    Jim Steinman    1987 - 1990    production,
   co-production
   Studio only
   Tracks:
   1987 Floodland - This Corrosion, Dominion/Mother Russia
   1990 Vision Thing - More
Lucas Fox Percussions.jpg    Lucas Fox    1986    co-production
   percussions, vocals
   Studio only
   Albums:
   The Sisterhood: Gift (album) (1986)
   Member of The Chorus Of Vengeance
   Singles & EPs:
   Giving Ground
Alan Vega.jpg    Alan Vega    1986    vocals    Studio only
   Albums:
   The Sisterhood: Gift (album) (1986)
   Member of The Chorus Of Vengeance
   - not 100% confirmed -
Carl Harrison 1997 This Corrosion TOTP.jpg    Carl Harrison    1985 - 1988    keyboards    live only during various TV appearances in 1987/8
   as a member of James Ray And The Performance
   see ultimatesistersguide/TV Appearances/1988
James Ray Still 1989.jpg    James Ray    1985 - 1988    vocals,
   keyboards
   The Sisterhood:
   Gift (album) & Giving Ground (single)
   Member of The Chorus Of Vengeance
   various TV appearances in 1987/8
   see ultimatesistersguide/TV Appearances/1988
1977 Boyd Steemson.png    Boyd Steemson    - 1992    tour management and
   organisational tasks
   with Merciful Release
   administrative tasks only
Tom Ashton 2011.jpg    Tom Ashton    1983    guitars    Tom Ashton is originally a member of The March Violets
   and stepped in for some Sisters live gigs in 1983
   when Ben Gunn had left more or less all of a sudden.
Dave Humphrey.jpg    Dave Humphrey    1981    guitars    live only
Jon Langford bw.jpg    Jon Langford    1981    bass    live only while The Sisters were searching a bass player


Graph Timeline

This timeline shows the members of The Sisters of Mercy from 1980 to 2010. It is not complete, though. See also The Sisters of Mercy Family Tree

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