The Pierces

{{Short description|American musical duo from Alabama}} {{lead too short|date=July 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = The Pierces | image = The Pierces - Oxford Arts Factory.jpg | caption = Catherine (left) and Allison Pierce (right) performing in 2012 | background = group_or_band | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} | origin = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Psychedelic|Pop|Rock|Indie|Folk}} | years_active = 2000–2017 | label = Polydor | website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20150905112957/http://www.thepiercesmusic.com/}} | current_members = Allison Pierce<br />Catherine Pierce }}

'''The Pierces''' are an American pop rock duo consisting of sisters Allison and Catherine Pierce.

==Early life== Allison (born July 23, 1975)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-05 |title=Allison Pierce music, videos, stats, and photos |url=https://www.last.fm/music/Allison+Pierce |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Last.fm |language=en}}</ref> and Catherine Pierce (born September 12, 1977)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=Cat |date=2024-09-11 |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_yHKbCPAi3/ |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Instagram}}</ref> were born in Birmingham, Alabama.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web | url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/pierces-show-sisters-doing-themselves-1814742 | title=The Pierces show that sisters are doing it for themselves|website=Walesonline.co.uk| date=2011-08-07}}</ref> They traveled frequently and received home-schooling from their self-described hippie parents. Their father played the guitar in various bands, while their mother was a painter.<ref name="artsdesk">{{Cite web | url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/interview-10-questions-pierces |title = Interview: 10 Questions for the Pierces|website=The Arts Desk|first=Graeme|last=Thomson|date=4 October 2011|access-date=11 August 2021}}</ref> Exposed to music and arts at an early age, the Pierce sisters grew up listening to The Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel.<ref name="artsdesk"/> As children, they were encouraged to explore their creative side<ref name="auto"/> and would perform at parties, weddings and churches. They started dancing at age three and are accomplished ballet dancers.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=2011-05-24 |title=The Pierces: 'We had the shortest break-up in history' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-13459827 |access-date=2025-09-03 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Musical career== ===2000–2006: ''The Pierces'' and ''Light of the Moon''=== It was while they attended Auburn University that a friend, Andy Cartee, sent a tape to a record company in Nashville. This eventually resulted in their debut album ''The Pierces'' (2000). It featured folk harmonies and "adult alternative" songs. In a 2004 interview, Allison Pierce commented that the album "sort of got lost in the shuffle".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://porticomag.com/dec04/whotoknow.html|publisher=Portico Birmingham|title=Who to know|access-date=2007-07-07|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701171742/http://porticomag.com/dec04/whotoknow.html |archive-date=2007-07-01}}</ref> Allmusic attributes the poor reception to "no label support".<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p442746|pure_url=yes}}|website=AllMusic|title=The Pierces Overview|access-date=2007-08-24 }}</ref>

On August 10, 2004, their second album ''Light of the Moon'' was released through Universal. The album was produced by Brian Sperber and featured 11 tracks that the Pierce sisters either wrote or co-wrote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/shorttakes/2005_03_06_archive.shtml|publisher=Pop Matters|title=Pop Matters Short Takes|access-date=2007-08-24}}</ref> The original version of the song "Save Me" appeared in the television series ''Roswell''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/roswell/season-2/21505|work=Tunefind|title=Roswell – The End of the World|access-date=October 10, 2018}}</ref> and The Pierces re-recorded a new version of the song for ''Light of the Moon''.

===2007–2010: ''Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge''=== On March 20, 2007, their third album ''Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge'' was released in the U.S. Produced by Roger Greenawalt (Nils Lofgren, Radish, Ben Kweller), the album has been well-reviewed, particularly for the single "Boring", which parodies celebrity socialites. The album has a darker, edgier style, at times using such diverse instruments as an accordion, a calliope, bassoons, a sitar, violins, an autoharp, and a Hawaiian lap steel. It marks a definitive change in the direction of the band, which hitherto had been known as a folk rock band.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/43771/the-pierces-thirteen-tales-of-love-and-revenge/ |publisher=Pop Matters|title=The Pierces: Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge |website=Popmatters.com|access-date=2007-08-24}}</ref> In an interview with ''Rolling Stone'', after they were featured as a Rolling Stone Breaking Artist, they revealed that this album "felt like [their] last chance". As a result, they "just went for it, had fun".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/meet-rolling-stones-new-breaking-artist-the-pierces-90694/|publisher=Rolling Stone|title=Meet Rolling Stone's New Breaking Artist, the Pierces|website=Rollingstone.com|date=16 May 2007|access-date=11 August 2021|archive-date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811093618/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/meet-rolling-stones-new-breaking-artist-the-pierces-90694/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 5, 2007, The Pierces appeared on The CW television series ''Gossip Girl'', in the episode "Hi, Society", playing their songs "Secret" and "Three Wishes". They also featured songs such as "Boy In a Rock and Roll Band" in season 2, and "We Are Stars" and “Space & Time” in season 4.

On August 21, 2008, "Secret" by The Pierces appeared in a promo for Showtime show ''Dexter''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sho.com/site/video/brightcove/series/title.do?bcpid=1305238289|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090629012845/http://www.sho.com/site/video/brightcove/series/title.do?bcpid=1305238289|url-status=dead|title=Promo|archive-date=29 June 2009|access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref> In May 2009, Dutch TV channel NET 5 used "Secret" in a promo for their fantasy shows ''Charmed'' and ''Ghost Whisperer''. "Secret" was also played over the closing credits in the movie ''ExTerminators''.

"Secret" also serves as the theme song of the Freeform TV series ''Pretty Little Liars'', based on the series of books by Sara Shepard. It was suggested by one of the stars of the show, Ashley Benson, after she heard from ''Gossip Girl''. In 2012, the single "Secret" was also featured in a commercial for the Australian version of the reality series ''Big Brother''. It was used in a video to promote the novel "Three Can Keep a Secret" by Archer Mayor.

===2010–2012: ''You & I''=== {{multiple image | footer = Allison (top) and Catherine, 2011 | width = 170 | align = right | direction = vertical | image1 = Allison Pierce.jpg | image2 = Catherine Pierce.jpg }} On October 23, 2010, the group appeared on ''Later... with Jools Holland''. In December 2010, the sisters and their band toured with Lissie as her support act. They also performed live on ITV1 show ''Lorraine'' in March 2011 whilst promoting their new single "Glorious".

On May 30, 2011, their fourth album ''You & I'' was released featuring their new singles "Love You More", "You'll Be Mine", "Glorious" and "It Will Not Be Forgotten" produced by darktones and released by Polydor Records. However, The Pierces only have a label currently in the UK and are therefore focusing on widening their popularity there, later working on their homeland the US.

They went on their first official tour through June 2011, with Delta Maid and Alice Gold as support:

* June 7 – The Pleasance (Edinburgh), * June 8 – Rescue Rooms (Nottingham), * June 9 – The Cockpit (Leeds), * June 11 – The Ruby Lounge (Manchester), * June 12 – HMV Institute (Birmingham), * June 13 – Thekla (Bristol), * June 14 – Bush Hall (London).

The Pierces played at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2011.

The Pierces supported Coldplay at the iTunes Festival in July 2011, which happened to be on Allison's 36th birthday. A second, much larger UK tour took place through October 2011, with Marcus Foster as support. On September 11, 2011, the duo announced via Twitter that their next UK single from ''You & I'' will be "Kissing You Goodbye", which was released on October 23. The Pierces supported Coldplay once again for their North American tour in April–May 2012. They appeared at the Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, San Jose and Los Angeles shows, as well as supporting them in their Australian tour.

===2012–2014: ''James Levy and the Blood Red Rose'' and ''Creation''=== In 2012, Allison released a record with singer songwriter James Levy under the band name James Levy and The Blood Red Rose.<ref name="aston">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/xv3q/|title=BBC - Music - Review of James Levy and The Blood Red Rose - Pray to Be Free|last=Aston|first=Martin|website=Bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> Their album, ''Pray to Be Free'', was released by Heavenly Recordings (2012) and received critical acclaim, including being included in the list of the top 100 albums of 2012 by French publication ''Les Inrocks''. The album, produced by Coldplay bass player Guy Berryman, received four star reviews in ''MOJO'', ''Q'' and ''Uncut'' magazines and was praised by the BBC, ''The Independent'' and ''The Sunday Times of London''.<ref name="aston"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-james-levy-the-blood-red-rose-pray-to-be-free-heavenly-6378463.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-james-levy-the-blood-red-rose-pray-to-be-free-heavenly-6378463.html |archive-date=2022-06-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Album: James Levy & the Blood Red Rose, Pray to Be Free (Heavenly)|date=2012-02-05|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4125/James-Levy-and-The-Blood-Red-Rose-Pray-To-Be-Free.aspx|title=Pray To Be Free by James Levy and The Blood Red Rose reviews {{!}} Any Decent Music|website=Anydecentmusic.com|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|website=Metacritic.com|title=Pray To Be Free by James Levy & The Blood Red Rose|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/pray-to-be-free/james-levy-the-blood-red-rose|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> US music magazine ''Popdose'' and UK publication ''indieLondon'' included the record on their top ten lists for 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://popdose.com/best-of-2012-keith-creightons-top-pop-and-rock-albums-of-the-year/|title=Best of 2012: Keith Creighton's Top Pop and Rock Albums of the Year|date=2012-12-05|website=Popdose|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Music-Review/the-best-albums-of-2012|title=IndieLondon: The best albums of 2012 - Your London Reviews|website=Indielondon.co.uk|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>

A single, "Sneak into My Room", spent several weeks in rotation and on the playlist of BBC Radio 6 Music and was featured as ''Q Magazine's'' "Track of the Day."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.qthemusic.com/2011/11/james_levy_and_the_blood_red_r.html|title=James Levy And The Blood Red Rose - Sneak Into My Room - Track Of The Day - QTheMusic.com|date=2013-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031000158/http://news.qthemusic.com/2011/11/james_levy_and_the_blood_red_r.html|access-date=2020-02-04|archive-date=2013-10-31}}</ref> A music video for "Hung to Dry," directed by Steve Birnbaum, was named one of the top 50 indie music videos of 2012.<ref>{{Citation|title=James Levy and The Blood Red Rose - Hung To Dry| date=14 May 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Vs5hXFzSc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/a1Vs5hXFzSc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiepopfolkrock2.blogspot.de/2012/12/top-50-2012.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130829190204/http://indiepopfolkrock2.blogspot.de/2012/12/top-50-2012.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-08-29|title=TOP 50 - 2012|date=2013-08-29|website=Archive.is|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>

Catherine Pierce revealed on August 27, 2013, via Twitter to a fan that a new album would be released in early 2014.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} Their song "We Are Stars" was featured on The CW's ''Beauty & the Beast'' in the episode "Any Means Possible".

On January 31, 2014, the band confirmed via Twitter that the album would be called ''Creation'', and shared a video for its first single, "Kings". "Believe in Me" was released as the second single in late March. On April 12, 2014, the song peaked at #66 in the UK Top 100.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/pierces/ |title = Artists|website = OfficialCharts.com}}</ref> On May 22, 2014, the official video for "Kings" was premiered on Vevo. The album was released on September 1, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/creation/1443417531|title=Creation by The Pierces|date=1 January 2014|access-date=23 June 2023|via=Apple Music}}</ref>

=== 2015–present: Solo projects === In August 2015, the band announced on The Pierces Facebook page that they will be taking a break to pursue solo projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/thepiercesmusic|title=The Pierces|website=Facebook.com|access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>

In January 2017, Catherine released the solo single "You Belong to Me", under the name Cat Pierce. The track is the first single off of her debut solo album, which was expected later in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-pierces-catherine-pierce-launches-solo-project-cat/ |title=The Pierces' Catherine Pierce Launches Solo Project CAT |website=Noisey.vice.com |date=January 19, 2017 |access-date=May 8, 2017 |author=Bennett, Kim Taylor}}</ref> Two follow-up singles have been released since then; "Hard to Be a Woman" and "Weapon of War"<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/cat-pierce/1231126300 |title = Cat Pierce on Apple Music|website = iTunes}}</ref> and other singles (thirteen in all), between 2017 and 2019. In May 2017, Allison Pierce released her debut solo album ''Year of the Rabbit''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.sonymusicmasterworks.com/allison-pierce-debut-solo-album-year-rabbit-now/ |title = Allison Pierce Debut Solo Album "Year of the Rabbit" is Out Now!|website=Sonymusicmasterworks.com|date = 2017-05-05}}</ref> In 2020, they re-recorded the song "Secret", considered their most famous one, and filmed a full acoustic concert in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, released online in August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thepierceslive.com/|website=Thepierceslive.com|title=The Pierces Acoustic Sessions|date=August 2020|access-date=23 July 2021}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In February 2023, Allison released a song with Patrick Avalon called "The Spinners".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/allisonpiercemusic/reel/Copcs42AtDI/ |title=My new song with @patrick.avalon 'The Spinners' is streaming everywhere now|date=February 15, 2023|access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref> In May 2023, Catherine released a single called "Little One" under the name as Cat Pierce.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmTMa_0vIpI |title="Little One" by Cat Pierce Official Video|website=YouTube |date=May 14, 2023|access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref> On April 26, 2024, she also released a single called "Solid Gold", featuring Patrick Avalon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/iamcatdog/reel/C6Oz46fRbUG/ |title=Solid Gold is out|date=April 26, 2024|access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life== In 2003, the sisters moved to New York, and in February 2013, moved to London.<ref name="auto" />

Catherine married her husband in 2022 when she was pregnant with their daughter, who she gave birth to on January 15, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/iamcatdog/p/CZAG7BBPcq6/ |title=6 days old |date=January 2022 |access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=Catherine |title=2 years married today. What an amazing life we've built together! As Darryl Hall of Hall & Oates once said, “You make-a my dreams come true” |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C09bhkCL43c/ |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Instagram}}</ref> That same year, she launched a beauty line called "Omen by Cat Pierce".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://omenbycatpierce.com/pages/our-story |title=Our Story-Omen by Cat Pierce|date=June 2022|access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref> Since 2022, she and her family have lived outside of Joshua Tree, California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=Cat |title=Cat Pierce on Instagram: "We bought a little cabin on the outskirts of Joshua Tree. We had a newborn and would drive out every weekend to fix it up and turn it into our own desert oasis." |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIrno-szTVd/ |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Instagram}}</ref>

Allison and her husband welcomed a child on July 2, 2023, after several years of trying.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/makelifeanart/p/CuRougMueA5/ |title=I would like to introduce|date=July 2023|access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=Allison |title=Allison Pierce on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B8kA5ZWFzWg/?hl=en |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Instagram}}</ref>

==Members== * Allison Pierce – Vocals, acoustic guitar * Catherine Pierce – Vocals, percussion

==Discography== {{redirect|Light of the Moon|the Pretenders song|Get Close}} ===Studio albums=== * ''The Pierces'' (2000) * ''Light of the Moon'' (2004) * ''Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge'' (2007) * ''You & I'' (2011) * ''Creation'' (2014)

===Live albums=== * ''iTunes Festival: London 2011'' (2011) * ''Christmas with the Pierces'' (2020)

===EPs=== * ''Love You More'' (2010)

===Singles=== * "The Way" (2000) * "A Way to Us" (2004) * "Boring" (2006) * "Sticks and Stones" (2007) * "Secret" (2007) * "You'll Be Mine" (2011) * "Glorious" (2011) * "It Will Not Be Forgotten" (2011) * "Kissing You Goodbye" (2011) * "I Put Your Records On" (2012) * "Kings" (2014) * "Believe in Me" (2014) * "Creation" (2014) * "The Devil is a Lonely Night" (2014) * "Secret 2020" (2020) * "Everything" (2020)

===Covers=== * "Please Forgive Me" (2013; ''I Give It a Year'' soundtrack) * "Don't Give Up" (2014; ''BBC Radio 2: Sounds of the 80s – Unique Covers of Classic Hits'')

===Collaborations=== * Kasper Bjørke – "Doesn't Matter" (2007; ''In Gumbo'') * The All-American Rejects – "Another Heart Calls" (2008; ''When the World Comes Down'') * Ben Kweller – "Hurtin' You" (2009; ''Changing Horses'')

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905112957/http://www.thepiercesmusic.com/ Official site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierces}} Category:American musical duos Category:Auburn University alumni Category:Musical groups established in 2000 Category:Musical groups from Birmingham, Alabama Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles Category:Sibling musical duos Category:American female musical duos