Massive Attack is an English trip-hop collective formed in 1988 in Bristol by Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja, Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall, Adrian ‘Tricky’ Thaws and Andrew ‘Mushroom’ Vowles. The group currently consists of Del Naja and Marshall. Their debut album, Blue Lines (1991), is frequently cited as the first major work of the trip hop genre. The single ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ achieved chart success in Europe, including reaching number one on the Dutch Top 40.
Their second album, Protection, was released in 1994, after which Thaws left to pursue a solo career. The group released their third album, Mezzanine, in 1998, which became their first number one on the UK Albums Chart and included the single ‘Teardrop’, later known as the opening theme of the American television series “House”. Vowles left the group in 1999, and Del Naja and Marshall continued as a duo, releasing the albums 100th Window (2003) and Heligoland (2010).
Both Blue Lines and Mezzanine appear on Rolling Stone’s list of the ‘500 Greatest Albums of All Time’. Massive Attack have collaborated with several recurring guest vocalists, including Horace Andy, Shara Nelson, Tracey Thorn, Elizabeth Fraser, Sinead O'Connor, Damon Albarn and Hope Sandoval.
Their awards include a Brit Award for Best British Dance Act, two MTV Europe Music Awards and two Q Awards. Their five studio albums have sold more than 13 million copies worldwide. Massive Attack also support several political, human rights and environmental causes.