My Ruin

My Ruin are a Los Angeles-based alternative metal band composed of husband and wife duo Tairrie B (former vocalist of Tura Satana (band) and solo rapper) and guitarist and sole songwriter Mick Murphy. The band have been going through various line-up changes since their formation in 1999. They have a dedicated fanbase, most notably in the UK. Their sound consists of passionate vocals set against heavy rock beats.

Tairrie B Murphy has cultivated a legendary reputation both on and off the stage in regards to her aggressive performances and acerbic vocal style. These traits have been well documented in the music press; “On stage, she is hard to resist. Shaking, clawing at herself, falling to her knees, making eye contact with just about anyone brave enough, Tairrie B is undoubtedly a worthy star. It is her dangerous cocktail of defiance and vulnerability that makes it all seem so damn real,” wrote Steve Beebee in Kerrang! Magazine circa 2000 More recently, journalist Emma Johnston noted that; “Tairrie B doesn’t so much open her heart to you as rip it still beating from a gaping wound in her chest before forcing the bloody mess down your throat,” in a review for Classic Rock (magazine).

Over the decade since the bands formation the sound has evolved and has become increasingly heavy with each record, with Mick Murphy’s guitar playing taking on a prominent feature along with his solo’s and riffs. In a Metal Hammer Magazine album review praising the bands Ghosts and Good Stories album, journalist Dom Lawson stated of the band; “The divine Ms. B comes roaring back under the radar and proudly grinding against the grain, My Ruin have mutated into something truly monstrous in recent years, as the chemistry between Tairrie B and Mick Murphy has evolved and sprouted wicked wings.”

Mick Murphy’s unique sound and musicianship has been praised in the music press over the years. In a live review from 2008, Mick was dubbed “Master of Heaviosity” and in 2009, Guitar Player Magazine wrote; “One of the most ferocious and creative hard rock guitarists you’ll hear underground, above ground or bouncing off satellites.”

My Ruin are a DIY band who have control over every aspect their output. In the past they have released a few of their own records via their own imprint Rovena Recordings. These records include; The Brutal Language (2005), Throat Full of Heart (2008) and live album Alive On the Other Side (2008). They have also been signed to numerous record labels, these include; Snapper, Spitfire, Century Media, Undergroove Records, Rovena Recordings and Tiefdruck Musik.

Through the years, the couple have managed to develop and carve out their own unique sound within My Ruin. On more recent recordings, they have managed to find a balance between, the southern laced stylings of Mick's Neanderthal side project and the spoken word dirges of couples The LVRS side project, combined with the hardcore grit of classic My Ruin. This unique mix is perhaps showcased most explicitly with the bands most recent 7th studio album; A Southern Revelation.

In 2011, My Ruin made the decision to release their 7th studio album titled A Southern Revelation as a free download direct to the fans. The album has been receiving high praise from the music press. Kerrang! Magazine gave the album a 5K review out of 5, sealing the bands fate and legendary status as trailblazers within the field of contemporary metal music.