Letters to Cleo

Letters to Cleo is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The group was formed in 1990 by guitarist Greg McKenna and singer Kay Hanley, who began performing live under the moniker Rebecca Lula aided by a revolving lineup of musicians. It wasn't until 1994 that the band consolidated its lineup with the addition of guitarist Michael Eisenstein, drummer Stacy Jones, and bass player Scott Riebling, adopting the name Letters to Cleo (a reference to Hanley's childhood pen pal). After cutting their teeth in Boston's independent music circuit, they released their studio debut Aurora Gory Alice (1993), which was picked up by several radio stations following a performance at the SXSW festival in Austin. The album was re-released worldwide in 1994 after the band signed a major-label contract with Giant Records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers. It also spawned the group's first hit, "Here & Now," which cracked the Top 10 of the Modern Rock Singles chart thanks to its inclusion on the Melrose Place soundtrack. Though not as successful as its predecessor, 1995's Wholesale Meats and Fish still managed to reach Number 11 on the US Heatseekers chart, propelled by the alternative radio hit "Awake." Following a series of lineup changes, Letters to Cleo returned in 1997 with the album Go!, their last outing for Giant/Revolution. The early B-sides and demos compilation Sister arrived in 1998, as well as a prominent feature on the soundtrack of the 1999 rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You. In 2000, Letters to Cleo formally announced their breakup, after which its members focused on their respective solo efforts. Seven years later, they briefly reunited for a charity concert for one of their fans and embarked on a small tour shortly after. Subsequently, Letters to Cleo made a cameo on the fourth season of sitcom Parks and Recreation in 2014 and unveiled the release of the EP Back to Nebraska in 2016. OK Christmas, their first holiday EP, came out in 2019.