Massive Attack - Teardrop

Massive Attack were among the most innovative and influential groups of their generation. They considered to be the pioneering force behind the rise of trip-hop. Their hypnotic sound - a darkly sensual and cinematic fusion of hip-hop rhythms, soulful melodies, dub grooves, and choice samples -set the pace for much of the dance music to emerge throughout the 1990s.

Their history dates back to 1983 and the formation of the Wild Bunch, one of the earliest and most successful sound system/DJ collectives to arrive on the U.K. music scene; renowned for their seamless integration of a wide range of musical styles, from punk to reggae to R&B.

When the Wild Bunch folded during the mid-'80s, two of its members -- Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall -- teamed with local graffiti artist 3D (born Robert del Naja) to form Massive Attack in 1987. The group's first single, "Daydreaming," appeared in 1990; it featured the sultry vocals of singer Shara Nelson and raps by Tricky, another onetime Wild Bunch collaborator.

In 1991 Massive Attack issued their debut LP, Blue Lines. Their latest album and fifth in total, Heligoland, was released in 2010.

The third full-length Massive Attack effort, Mezzanine, appeared in mid-1998 and became a cult hit among critics, clubs, and the college crowds, spinning successful singles such as "Teardrop" , sung by Cocteau Twin Elizabeth Fraser. The single was released on 27 April 1998 and became another UK hit for the group, peaking at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song was accompanied by a video directed by Walter Stern, of an animatronic singing fetus. An instrumental version of "Teardrop" is also the theme song for the hit TV show House M.D., making the track recognizable the world over. Robert Del Naja stated in a 2010 interview on The Hour that Elizabeth Fraser wrote the song about Jeff Buckley, of whom she had been a great friend.