Peaches

b. Merrill Beth Nisker, 1968, Toronto, Canada. This former drama/music teacher first branched out into music as a folk singer with Mermaid Hotel. She began to take a more alternative route with avant-jazz act Fancypants Hoodlum before teaming up with fellow Canadian Jason Beck (aka Gonzales) in the provocative sleaze funk bands Shit and Feedom. After relocating to Berlin, Germany, Nisker reinvented herself as Peaches, swapping her electric guitar for a Roland Groovebox MC505 to create sleazy, beat-driven electro-rap with sexually explicit lyrics. Her debut album, The Teaches Of Peaches, released in 2000, earned a series of excellent reviews. The follow-up Fatherfucker featured the artist on the cover with a full beard, a striking image that played on her fascination with questions of gender identity. Her third album, 2006's wonderfully titled Impeach My Bush, boasted her most radio-friendly production job to date, although song titles including "Fuck Or Kill", "Tent In Your Pants" and "Slippery Dick" made such radio play unlikely. Ultimately Peaches comes into her own on stage, whipping the audience into a heightened state of erotic frenzy with her provocative act. Peaches has continued to work with Gonzales, both on stage and in the studio. Their joint EP, Red Leather, was released by Kitty-Yo in 2000.