Formed in 1991 by Tanya Donelly (formerly of Throwing Muses and the Breeders) with Tom and Chris Gorman, Belly became known for a blend of spirited guitar rock, countrified dream-pop, and Donelly’s haunting lyrics and voice. The band’s 1993 debut album, Star, was a hit with critics and listeners alike. Shortly after Star’s release, Gail Greenwood joined on bass and the band toured extensively behind the gold-certified album, playing North America, Europe, Australia and Japan with the likes of Radiohead, the Cranberries, and Pavement. Belly opened 1994 with two Grammy nominations, scoring nods for Best Alternative Music Album and Best New Artist. That summer, the band began work on their second album, King. Recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas with Glyn Johns producing, King featured a harder-edged, more ‘live’ sound. Released in early 1995, Belly toured extensively in support of the album, opening for R.E.M. in Europe, and bringing along Catherine Wheel and Superchunk for the American tour. Their last gig was in November 1995, and the band officially dissolved in early 1996. 

Post-breakup, Belly’s members kept busy: Donelly released several well-received solo albums and continued to tour regularly, Greenwood recorded and toured with L7 and Bif Naked, and Tom Gorman played briefly with Buffalo Tom and Kristin Hersh before joining Chris Gorman in opening a commercial photography studio. Over the years there had been occasional discussion of reuniting, and both Greenwood and Tom Gorman separately collaborated with Donelly on her Swan Song Series.
The idea of a Belly reunion finally gained serious traction in 2015. “We had gotten to the point where we were just missing each other, and missing the music,” says Donelly. “The music I’d been doing solo was increasingly collaborative, which eventually made me homesick for Belly; I missed being in a band.” The reunion resulted in a US/UK tour in 2016, followed by a third album, Dove, released in May 2018 and supported with a string of live dates in the US and the UK. 

Belly is a band in the truest sense: the secret to their chemistry lies in the mix of personalities and complementary strengths. Tanya, known for her poetically adventurous and startlingly intimate lyrics, serves as both general and tour manager, and sometime accountant for the band. Tom, along with his guitar duties and compositional skills, is responsible for the bulk of any production work on new material. Chris brings his hard-hitting and endlessly inventive rhythms to the mix, as well as his photographic skills. Gail, with her bass prowess and unstoppable positive energy, is also Belly’s social media manager. And both holding art degrees, Chris and Gail also serve as the main design team for the band. 
With a fall 2025 tour planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of King, and new music on the way, Belly is looking forward to a busy and productive year ahead.