Editing Sneaker Pimps (section)

==History==
Chris Corner and Liam Howe met as teenagers in the 1980s,<ref name="auto1"/> both taking an interest in recording and studio experimentation. They banded together under the name F.R.I.S.K. and produced the ''Soul of Indiscretion'' [[Extended play|EP]], an early example of what became known as [[trip hop]]. The mix of beats and acoustic folk sounds was further explored on two more instrumental EPs: ''F.R.I.S.K.'' and ''World as a Cone''. They were signed to [[Clean Up Records]].<ref name="sneakerpimpsbe">{{cite web|url=http://www.sneakerpimps.be/biography.html|title=Biography|website=Sneakerpimps.be|access-date=2019-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103075155/http://www.sneakerpimps.be/biography.html|archive-date=3 November 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.discogs.com/artists/25357|title=F.R.I.S.K.|website=Discogs.com|access-date=2019-12-20}}</ref> The duo also worked as DJs and producers under the name Line of Flight.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Patterson|first1=Sylvia|title=Sneak Attack|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xbtTqjWx8FsC&pg=PA50|work=Spin|date=April 1997}}</ref>

Howe and Corner launched Sneaker Pimps as a recording group in 1994.<ref name="LarkinDM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1998|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0252-6|page=316}}</ref> The following year, they recruited Ian Pickering to help write lyrics for what would become Sneaker Pimps' debut album, ''[[Becoming X]]''.<ref name="auto3"/> Corner recorded vocals for several demo tracks, but the band decided the kind of music they were writing would better suit a female voice.<ref name="Howe">{{Cite web|url=https://amidio.com/|title=Amidio &#124; Music alive|website=Amidio.com|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220135443/https://amidio.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At their manager's suggestion, they saw [[Kelli Ali]] (then known as Kelli Dayton) performing in a pub with her band The Lumieres,<ref name="LarkinDM"/> and invited her to sing on some demos, including an early version of "6 Underground".<ref name="sneakerpimpsbe" /><ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kelliali.com/assets/pages/biography/bands/sneakerpimps/|title=Kelli Ali Psychic Cat Times - Sneaker Pimps|website=kelliali.com|access-date=2020-01-08|archive-date=31 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831192422/http://www.kelliali.com/assets/pages/biography/bands/sneakerpimps/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She soon joined the band, and the demos won the group a contract with [[Virgin Records]].<ref name="auto4"/> The group was presented as a trio featuring Howe, Corner, and Ali; while bassist [[Joe Wilson (musician)|Joe Wilson]] and drummer Dave Westlake were added as supporting musicians.<ref name="auto5"/>

Released in 1996, ''Becoming X'' sold over one million copies.<ref name="Howe" /> The band toured for two years to support the album, including gigs alongside [[Aphex Twin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sneaker Pimps|url=http://www.pollstar.com/hotstar_article.aspx?ID=13374|website=Pollstar.com|date=1997-10-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612140750/http://www.pollstar.com/hotstar_article.aspx?ID=13374|archive-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> A "grueling" tour of the US strained relations within the band,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2000/dec/15/artsfeatures2|title=Pop review: Sneaker Pimps|last=Lester|first=Paul|date=2000-12-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-01-08|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and Howe left the tour prematurely.<ref name="auto4"/> A remix album, ''[[Becoming Remixed]]'', followed in 1998.

Howe and Corner then developed their own studio, also called Line of Flight after their earlier production work, and began sessions for the second Sneaker Pimps album.<ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto4"/> Kelli Ali had taken a break after the ''Becoming X'' tour and was away traveling, so Corner sang on the new demos.<ref name="auto4"/> When Ali returned, she was told by Howe and Corner that her voice was no longer considered suitable for their new music, and that Corner's voice was a better fit.<ref name="sneakerpimpsbe" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indian.co.uk/site/artists/sneaker-pimps|title=ONE LITTLE INDIAN {{!}} ARTISTS|website=indian.co.uk|access-date=2020-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818101955/http://www.indian.co.uk/site/artists/sneaker-pimps|archive-date=18 August 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Due to other ongoing personality conflicts and the band's concern about being stereotyped as a faddish female-fronted trip-hop act,<ref name="auto5" /><ref name="Kelli"/> Ali was fired and Corner took over on lead vocals.

This significant lineup change caused Virgin Records to drop the band.<ref name="auto5"/> Their second album ''[[Splinter (Sneaker Pimps album)|Splinter]]'' was released in the UK on Clean Up Records in 1999, and failed to match the commercial success of ''Becoming X''.<ref name="circle">{{cite news|title=Everything But the Girl|url=http://www.sneakerpimps.it/web_rev.php#and_now|publisher=Campus Circle|date=2002-03-27|volume=12|issue=6}}</ref> New songs were premiered during a 2001 European tour opening for [[Placebo (band)|Placebo]].<ref name="sneakerpimpsbe" /> Their third album ''[[Bloodsport (album)|Bloodsport]]'' was released on [[Tommy Boy Records]] in 2002.<ref name="circle" /> Howe and Corner also gained notice by writing and producing for other artists, including [[Natalie Imbruglia]], and for remixing songs under the name Line of Flight.<ref name="auto2" />

In 2002, Joe Wilson and Dave Westlake left Sneaker Pimps.<ref name="auto">https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewilson22/?originalSubdomain=uk {{dead link|date=March 2021|bot=Dlmarial}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwestlake/ {{dead link|date=March 2021|bot=Dlmarial}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2003, a fourth Sneaker Pimps album was demoed but shelved. The album, which started as the soundtrack for an abandoned indie film project called ''Blind Michael'',<ref name="auto3" /> is referred to in fan circles as ''SP4''.<ref name="auto3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Sneaker-Pimps-SP4/release/11181051|title=Sneaker Pimps - SP4|website=Discogs.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref> Corner then launched the solo project [[IAMX]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sneakerpimps.com/news.html|title=news|website=Sneakerpimps.com|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030812003638/http://www.sneakerpimps.com/news.html|archive-date=12 August 2003}}</ref> which included several songs from the ''SP4'' project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/IAMX-Kiss-Swallow/master/39527|title=IAMX - Kiss + Swallow|website=Discogs.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/IAMX-The-Alternative/master/39541|title=IAMX - The Alternative|website=Discogs.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref> After some additional cancelled projects,<ref>https://www.sneakerpimpslegacy.com/give-it-another-angle {{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sneakerpimps.com/ |title=SNEAKERPIMPS.com :: official website |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201201449/http://sneakerpimps.com/ |archive-date=1 February 2009 }}</ref> in 2006 Howe and Corner recorded some new demo tracks with an unidentified female singer; the tracks turned up on a [[MiniDisc]] found in a bar in Russia and are now commonly referred to as ''SP5 demos''. The tracks were leaked online and were later confirmed to be legitimate new Sneaker Pimps songs.<ref name="auto3" /><ref>{{Citation|last=curtis8516|title=Sneaker Pimps - SP5 Demos|date=2017-06-19|url=https://archive.org/details/SneakerPimpsSP5Demos|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref>

After several years of side projects, Howe hinted in 2015 that Sneaker Pimps may reform.<ref name="twitter.com">https://twitter.com/SneakerPimpsNow/status/594541947164962816 {{dead link|date=December 2019}}</ref> Corner confirmed the reunion in 2016,<ref>{{cite tweet|user=IAMX|author=IAMX|number=724329023250173952|date=24 April 2016|title=I just created a new folder .}}</ref> and as of early 2019 they were reportedly working on a new album.<ref name=":0" /> Deluxe box sets of previous albums and two new studio albums were announced to be released variously across 2021.<ref name="sneakerpimpslegacy.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sneakerpimpslegacy.com/|title=Sneaker Pimps Legacy &#124; United Kingdom|website=Sneaker Pimps Legacy}}</ref>

In May 2021, the band announced a new album entitled ''[[Squaring the Circle (album)|Squaring the Circle]]''.<ref name="pearis" /> The album was produced at Sawtooth Studios in [[Pioneertown, California]] and The Tower Studios in London.<ref name="pearis" /> Main vocals are shared by Corner and "featured artist" [[Simonne Jones]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Squaring The Circle, by Sneaker Pimps|url=https://sneakerpimps.bandcamp.com/album/squaring-the-circle|access-date=2021-09-09|website=Sneaker Pimps}}</ref> Five of the songs originate from the SP5 demos, "Lifeline" (originally "Samaritan"), "Child in the Dark" (originally "Satellite"), So Far Gone (originally "Sun Ate the Moon"), "Come Like the Cure" (originally "Elias") and "No Show" (originally "Rush").