The Canadian artist Melissa Auf Der Maur celebrates 53
Musician, photographer and actress, Melissa Au Der Maur joined Hole as a bassist in 1994 and after departing from Hole in 1999, she briefly joined The Smashing Pumpkins replacing their bassist D’Arcy
The Canadian artist Melissa Auf Der Maur celebrates 53
The musician, photographer, and actress Melissa Auf der Maur was born on March 17, 1972, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is the daughter of journalist and politician Nick Auf der Maur and literary translator Linda Gaboriau. Raised in a bilingual environment, she is fluent in both English and French. Her early life included a brief period in Kenya with her mother before returning to Montreal, where she attended the FACE School, focusing on the arts. She later pursued a degree in photography at Concordia University.
In 1993, while still a student, Auf der Maur formed the indie rock band Tinker. The following year, she joined the American alternative rock band Hole as a bassist, replacing the late Kristen Pfaff. During her tenure with Hole, she contributed to the critically acclaimed album “Celebrity Skin” (1998). After departing from Hole in 1999, she joined The Smashing Pumpkins for their “Sacred and Profane” tour, following the exit of bassist D’arcy Wretzky.
Embarking on a solo career, Auf der Maur released her debut album, “Auf der Maur,” in 2004, showcasing her versatility as a musician and vocalist. She followed this with her second solo album, “Out of Our Minds,” in 2010, which was part of a multimedia project encompassing a short film and a comic book.
Beyond music, Auf der Maur is an accomplished photographer, with her work featured in publications such as Nylon, Bust, and American Photo. She has also exhibited her photography in various galleries. In 2010, she co-founded Basilica Hudson, a nonprofit multidisciplinary arts center located in Hudson, New York, with her husband, filmmaker Tony Stone. The couple has a daughter, River, born in 2011.
Throughout her diverse career, Melissa Auf der Maur has remained a dynamic and influential figure in the arts, continually exploring and integrating various creative disciplines.
Watch the 1998 music video “Celebrity Skin” by Hole
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