Michael Gira

Best known for his role as founder and co-leader of avant-garde rock band , Michael Gira has made a point not to work very much under his own name (at least musically — he has published and regularly done spoken word shows), preferring instead to create and lead various projects as well as produce other musicians. Even after came to an end, his various musical efforts were group affairs like and , which he led but harnessed a wide variety of performers. That said, Gira has had a few releases billed as solo efforts. Unsurprisingly, such releases demonstrate, as much as his more well-known band efforts, Gira’s skill and power at creating emotionally intense music and lyrics.