Neutral Milk Hotel Artistfacts

1989-1999, 2013-
Jefff MangumVocals, Guitar1989 -
Scott Spillane Horns1996 -
Jeremy BarnesDrums1996 -
Julian KosterBanjo, Accordian, Singing Saw1996 -
Neutral Milk Hotel began as a solo project for Jeff Mangum and one of the first three projects for The Elephant Six Recording Company, which he founded with The Apples in Stereo lead singer Robert Schneider and The Olivia Tremor Control singer and guitarist Bill Doss.
Before any mass-releases, Mangum recorded several demo cassettes whilst unemployed and staying with friends. In 1994, Cher Doll Records released the E.P. Everything Is.
In 1996 Merge Records released the group's debut album On Avery Island. Mangum was backed by its producer Robert Schneider. After the release he was joined by Julian Koester, Scott Spillane and Jeremy Barnes (fellow Elephant Six Collective members), to make Neutral Milk Hotel a band and establish its classic line up.
The band released In The Aeroplane Over the Sea in 1998, which was also produced by Robert Schneider. The album's cryptic lyrics were inspired by dreams Mangum had about Anne Frank and the holocaust. It was critically acclaimed and has sold in excess of 300,000 copies (A record for their label that has since been surpassed by fellow Merge artist Arcade Fire).
Uncomfortable with the increasing fame and the pressures of touring, Mangum put the band on hiatus, even turning down a support slot for R.E.M. He became something of a recluse, suffering a breakdown and appearing sporadically for occasional live backing vocal performances for The Olivia Tremor Control.
Julian Koster continued to release experimental Pop music under the moniker The Music Tapes. Scott Spillane formed the Indie-Pop band The Gerbils, releasing two albums, whilst Jeremy Barnes formed the Folk duo A Hawk and Hacksaw with violinist Heather Trost.
From 2008, Mangum began to perform Neutral Milk Hotel songs again in public, leading to a ten song set in 2010 and performance for Occupy Wall Street Protesters in 2011. Without his band members, he encouraged the crowds to sing a long and sing the horn lines.
In 2013, the band announced a reunion tour in the US and Europe.
On In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Mangum is credited with playing a shortwave radio.
Magnet placed In the Aeroplane Over the Sea 1st in a list of the top 60 album between 1993 and 2003. Pitchfork Media placed the album 4th in a list of the top 100 albums of the 1990s.

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