1986–1989: Background and early history The band began in 1986 as a duo, in
New York City, with
Lady Miss Kier (legal name Kierin Magenta Kirby, primarily on vocals) and Supa DJ Dmitry (born in
USSR as
Dmitry Brill) as
DJ. The two then became a trio when Korean-Japanese DJ
Towa Tei joined the group in 1988. Beginning in 1986, Kier and Dmitry performed their songs monthly at various downtown New York nightclubs; in 1987, Kier bought an
Akai S900 sampler, which influenced their sound tremendously. She also bought a
Casio FZ-series sampler, which was used almost exclusively on their debut album. Sampling played an important role in their music leading them to name their production company "Sampladelic". From the band's inception, Kier designed their promotional posters and club fliers, and was also the
graphic designer for all three of their albums and 12" singles. The group played at
hip hop and
house clubs, at both
gay clubs and straight establishments, and at the New York
drag festival
Wigstock. They also opened for Native Tongue Movement's
De La Soul and
Jungle Brothers. As described by
Rolling Stone, "they were drawing vivid, multiracial, pan-sexual crowds...". Part of the band's appeal was their inclusivity, as noted by
Mademoiselle magazine: "as a group, they're a festival of individuality; as a band, they're a party anyone can attend." Kier wrote all the lyrics and melodies, and also asked
bass guitarist
Bootsy Collins to join-in on recording sessions. Dmitry played guitar, keyboard, and bass, while Towa gathered samples for fill-ins and grooves. Collins introduced the trio to
The Horny Horns,
Fred Wesley,
Maceo Parker, Mudbone Cooper, and
Bernie Worrell, and also helped assemble their touring ensemble. Together, Deee-Lite would produce their first and second albums under their own production company, Sampladelic.
1990–1997: Album releases and fame In 1990, the group released their first album,
World Clique, preceded by the debut single "
Groove Is in the Heart", which became a hit in many countries, including No. 1 in Australia and topping the
Billboard US Dance Club Songs chart. The song features vocals from
Q-Tip (of
A Tribe Called Quest) as well as a bass guitar
loop sampled from
Herbie Hancock's "Bring Down The Birds" (1967), with additional vocals by collaborator and funk musician
Bootsy Collins. In 1992, they released their politically-charged second album,
Infinity Within. The album failed to chart as high as their debut, but they still managed two Top 10 dance hits in the US with "Runaway" and "Pussycat Meow". Towa ultimately did not join the group on their world tours, for which they had assembled a nine-piece band, as he had desired to start working on the second Deee-Lite album (
Infinity Within) from the comfort of his own home, where his records and samples were kept. As expressed to
MTV News: "...a reason I left Deee-Lite was that I hated the touring—playing the same songs over and over again every night," Towa said. "I'm not that type of person. I don't like being in front of the people." After extensively touring, Kier and Dmitry were not given funding for
Infinity Within, as originally promised by their
Warner contract. Even with a lineup change and minimal
record label support, Deee-Lite managed to tour for another year after the release of the album, selling even more records than their sophomore release. In 1994, Kier and Dmitry's increasingly turbulent relationship came to an end, as did the group. In total, the group scored six No. 1
hits on the U.S.
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart over the five years they were together.
Post breakup In the years since the band's dissolution, financial problems due to bad management for her distinctive style of dress and perpetual influence on the international fashion scene. Dmitry continued working as a DJ, everywhere from
Hong Kong to
Jerusalem, from
Berlin's
Love Parade to
Brazil's
Rock In Rio. He was given the "DJ of the year" award in
Ibiza, and has remixed with post-editing by
Marty Munsch on several versions, for many artists including
Arthur Russell,
Jungle Brothers,
Sinéad O'Connor,
Ziggy Marley,
Nina Hagen,
Ultra Naté, and others. He collaborated with
Julee Cruise (of
Twin Peaks/
David Lynch fame) to release the album
My Secret Life (2011). Dmitry is currently based in Berlin, where he continues to DJ, compose, produce and remix. Towa Tei has recorded several albums as a solo artist, and was featured in the Japanese supergroup
METAFIVE. In a 2011 interview, Tei denied the possibility of Deee-Lite reuniting, even fleetingly, citing the creative and personal differences that prompted him to depart in the first place. == Members ==