, Germany in June 2005 The original band members were formerly known only anonymously as Client A and Client B, to the extent that their faces were not shown on any publicity photos; it has since been revealed that they are Kate Holmes (as Client A) and
Sarah Blackwood (Client B). Holmes, formerly of
Frazier Chorus and
Technique, later started the fashion label Client London, and is married to
Alan McGee (founder of
Creation Records and discoverer of
Oasis). Blackwood is the lead singer of
Dubstar.
AllMusic lists
David Bowie,
Joy Division,
Kraftwerk,
the Human League,
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and
X-Ray Spex among their influences. In late 2005 a new member, Client E, joined the group. This was
Emily Mann, who was a contestant on the
Channel 5 reality show
Make Me a Supermodel, an artist, and an active
DJ, usually performing as Emily Strange. Client E left the band in June 2007. In November 2007 Charlotte Hatherley joined the band as Client C, to fill the vacant role of bassist on their European and Scandinavian tours. Client was the first act signed to
Depeche Mode member
Andy Fletcher's record label,
Toast Hawaii. They have toured with Depeche Mode and
Erasure. Client have collaborated with several high-profile musicians and directors. Their video for "
Pornography" was directed by French director Jamie Deliessche from video production company Schmooze. It features
Carl Barât (of
The Libertines and
Dirty Pretty Things) on vocals. The song "Down to the Underground" features
Pete Doherty, also of
The Libertines, and frontman of
Babyshambles. The song "Overdrive" features
Martin L. Gore of Depeche Mode. The song "Where's the Rock and Roll Gone" features
Tim Burgess of
The Charlatans. Client have collaborated with
Die Krupps,
Moonbootica and Replica on selected tracks and also have done a special duet, "Suicide Sister" with
Douglas McCarthy of
Nitzer Ebb. It was announced in October 2006 that Client had parted ways with the Toast Hawaii label. In November 2006, Client signed with
Out of Line in German-speaking Europe, SubSpace Communications in Scandinavia,
Metropolis Records in North America, Noiselab in Latin America and their own label Loser Friendly Records in the UK and Ireland. It was confirmed in December 2010 that Blackwood had left the band and a new member was being recruited to front the band. In July 2011, Holmes announced that
Xan Tyler—with whom Holmes formed the synth-pop duo
Technique in the mid-1990s—would take over live lead vocals for the band, replacing Blackwood. However, this never came to fruition. On 4 September 2013, Client debuted the music video for their single "You Can Dance", which introduced new member Nicole Thomas, known as Client N. Their fifth studio album,
Authority, was released on 21 March 2014 on Out of Line Music. Client has been on a indefinite hiatus since 2014. ==Discography==