The band was formed in 1990 by Greg Mckenna and Kay Hanley, from ashes of their former band, Rebbecca Lula. After numerous member changes, the classic Letters to Cleo line-up was solidified. They included Hanley and Mckenna, Mike Eisenstein on guitar, Stacy Jones on drums and Scott Riebling on bass. After years of playing the Boston club circuit, including TT The Bears Place and The Rathskellar, Letters released their first full length record, Aurora Gory Alice on CherryDisc in 1993.
The album received extensive airplay around the region and after a much hyped show at South by Southwest in Austin, Letters to Cleo signed a major label record deal with Giant Records and Aurora Gory Alice was re-released worldwide.
They had their first big hit single with "Here & Now" and the song would later appear on the Melrose Place soundtrack, where it got most of its exposure. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart. Appearances on Conan O'Brien and Jon Stewart followed.
In 1995, Wholesale Meats and Fish was released and followed by extensive tours with Our Lady Peace, Sponge, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and others. The single "Awake" was released and achieved moderate rotation on alternative radio. The band also recorded a cover of The Cars song "The Dangerous Type" for the major motion picture, The Craft.
In 1997, Stacy Jones left the band to join Veruca Salt and was replaced by Tom Polce. That same year, LTC's third album "Go" was released. After a short tour, Polce left the band and was replaced by drummer Jason Sutter. In late 1997, Letters to Cleo parted ways with their record label Giant/Revolution.
1998 saw the release of some early demos and B-sides in the form of the "Sister" EP on Wicked Disc.
Letters to Cleo appeared in the film 10 Things I Hate about You in 1999 (one of the characters considers them a favorite band). They contributed three songs to the soundtrack for the film, including one original track, "Come On", a Cheap Trick cover ("I Want You to Want Me") and a Nick Lowe cover ("Cruel to Be Kind"). Whereas the covers appeared on the film's sountrack, "Come On" did not. It was released as an MP3 downloadable from the Band's website. During that same year, LTC opened for Cheap Trick at The Paradise club in Boston.
The band played its last show on May 4, 2000, a benefit for their friend and longtime local supporter, Mikey D. They announced their disbandment in the Boston Globe the following month. Most of the band members are now involved in solo careers. Most notable is Kay Hanley's career, which produced the album "Cherry Marmalade in 2002 and the EP The Babydoll EP in 2004. Hanley also provided the singing voice for the Josie character in the 2001 motion picture Josie and the Pussycats.
Former drummer Stacy Jones went on to form American Hi-Fi with fellow Boston musicians Drew Parsons, Jamie Arentzen and Brian Nolan.
Scott Riebling went into the production side of music and is now a highly sought after producer and engineer.
Co-founding member Greg McKenna is currently finishing work on his solo project, Murder Capitol of the World. The debut album is due in 2007.
Pete Beat
Letters to Cleo Lyrics
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The lyrics to Letters to Cleo's song Pete Beat convey a sense of frustration and confusion towards a person who seems to be walking away and not listening to the singer. The repetition of "walking, walking, walking, away from me" emphasizes the feeling of distance and separation. The singer also notices that the other person's demeanor "gives it all away" and they are "talking, talking, right over me", amplifying the sense that they are not being heard or understood.
The chorus highlights the idea of "losing it, getting older", implying a sense of aging and the feeling of time slipping away. The singer feels like they are not being understood, as shown by the line "you don't get it like I do, I heard that, yeah that's what you said". Despite feeling lost and unsure of what to do, the singer acknowledges that it's best for the other person to just walk on by and not to take any drastic actions. The final line "It'll find me..." suggests that the singer is waiting for some sort of clarity or resolution to come to them.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of frustration and confusion towards someone who is not listening or understanding, and an underlying fear of getting older and feeling like time is slipping away.
Line by Line Meaning
As far as I can see. Walking, walking, walking, away from me.
It's clear that you're leaving me, and all I can do is watch you walk further and further away.
And for all I know. Demeanor gives it all away. Talking, talking, right over me.
Your behavior and the way you talk to me reveals that you're not interested in what I have to say or how I feel.
And for all I know. Loosing it, getting older. Stay the same yet older. You don't get it like I do I heard that, yeah that's what you said.
It seems like you're losing control and aging, even though you claim to be staying the same. You don't understand my perspective, even when you say you do.
Loosing it getting older. Please take me far away. I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go anymore best you just walk on by.
I'm feeling overwhelmed and lost, and I don't know what to do or where to go. It's probably best if you just leave me alone.
Feeling strange these days it true, creeping up from behind but let's just not jump off the bridge. Best you just walk on by.
I'm feeling odd and anxious lately, but we shouldn't do anything reckless. It's better if you just keep moving on without me.
Loosing it, it's gotten cold outside. I'm heading back you know I said goodnight. You don't get it like I do I heard that yeah that's what you said losing it getting older.
I'm losing my grip on things, and the temperature dropping only makes things worse. I'm going home, and you still don't understand me even when you claim to.
It'll find me...
Whatever I'm struggling with will catch up to me eventually, no matter how much I try to avoid it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREG MCKENNA, KAY HANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind