Editing Kevin Shields (section)

===1983–1997: My Bloody Valentine===
{{Main|My Bloody Valentine (band)}}
A Life in the Day disbanded in 1981, and Shields and Ó Cíosóig went on to form [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]] in early 1983 with lead vocalist [[David Conway (author)|David Conway]]. Conway suggested a number of potential band names (including The Burning Peacocks) before the trio settled for [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]].{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=21}} Shields has since claimed that he was unaware at the time that My Bloody Valentine was the title of a [[My Bloody Valentine (film)|1981 Canadian slasher film]].<ref name="sf" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://coolbeans.com/cb7/mbv.htm|title=Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine: Interview|publisher=[[AOL]]|date=7 February 1997|access-date=10 November 2013}}</ref>

On Shields's suggestion, Conway contacted [[Gavin Friday]], lead vocalist of the Dublin post-punk band, the [[Virgin Prunes]]. Friday's contacts secured them a show in [[Tilburg]], Netherlands, in early 1984,<ref name="atlast" /> and the band relocated to the Netherlands. They lived there for a further nine months, [[squatting]] in Amsterdam and later in a more rural area, where Shields worked on a farm.<ref name="ss" /> Due to a lack of opportunities and correct documentation, the band relocated to [[West Berlin]], Germany, in late 1984 and recorded their debut mini album, ''[[This Is Your Bloody Valentine]]'' (1985).<ref name="britton" /> The album, which features Shields on bass, failed to receive much attention, and the band returned temporarily to the Netherlands before settling in London in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/my-bloody-valentine-mn0000937003/biography|title=My Bloody Valentine &#124; Biography|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Guide|All Media Network]]|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|access-date=10 November 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Kevin Shields.jpg|left|thumb|alt=A man performing on-stage with an acoustic guitar.|Shields performing at [[Riverside (music venue)|Riverside]] in [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]], England in 1989]]
The band recruited bassist [[Debbie Googe]] and released their debut [[extended play]] ''[[Geek!]]'' in December 1985. The EP received little attention, and due to the band's slow progress Shields contemplated relocating to New York, where members of his family were living. The band's two successive releases, ''[[The New Record by My Bloody Valentine]]'' (1986) and "[[Sunny Sundae Smile]]" (1987), brought minor success, peaking at number 22 and number 6 respectively on the [[UK Indie Chart|UK Independent Albums Chart]] and Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lazell|first1=Barry|title=Indie Hits: 1980–1989: The Complete Guide to UK Independent Charts (Singles & Albums)|year=1997|publisher=[[Cherry Red Records|Cherry Red]]|location=London|isbn=0-9517206-9-4|page=155}}</ref> During a supporting tour in March 1987, David Conway announced his decision to leave the band due to his gastric illness, disillusionment with music and ambitions to become a writer.{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=24}} Conway was replaced by vocalist and guitarist [[Bilinda Butcher]], with whom Shields split (and often shared) vocal duties. Shields was initially reluctant to take on a vocal role within the band, but said that he had "always sung in the rehearsal room... and made up the melodies."<ref name="c42">{{cite interview|last1=Ó Cíosóig|first1=Colm|subject-link1=Colm Ó Cíosóig|last2=Shields|first2=Kevin|interviewer=Rachael Davis|work=Transmission |title= Interview |publisher=[[Channel 4]]|year=1988}}</ref> With the new line up in place, the band intended to drop the My Bloody Valentine moniker, but were unable to decide on a replacement and so kept the name "for better or for worse".<ref name="c42" />

A series of successful releases followed including three-track single "[[Strawberry Wine (My Bloody Valentine song)|Strawberry Wine]]" and the band's second mini album ''[[Ecstasy (My Bloody Valentine album)|Ecstasy]]'' (1987), both featuring Shields on lead vocal duties. Whilst touring in support of ''Ecstasy'', My Bloody Valentine signed to [[Creation Records]], who described the band as "the Irish equivalent to [[Hüsker Dü]]".{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=26–27}} The band's first release for Creation was the EP ''[[You Made Me Realise]]'' (1988), followed by the band's hugely influential debut studio album ''[[Isn't Anything]]'' (1988),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000946959|title=<nowiki>You Made Me Realise [Creation</nowiki>&#93; – My Bloody Valentine: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Guide|All Media Network]]|last=Abebe|first=Nitsuh|access-date=10 November 2013}}</ref> which is regarded as having "virtually created" the [[shoegaze]] genre,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/isnt-anything-mw0000653280|title=Isn't Anything – My Bloody Valentine: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Guide|All Media Network]]|last=Phares|first=Heather|access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref> establishing the template which a number of bands would work off.<ref name="shz" />

My Bloody Valentine commenced the recording sessions for their second album in February 1989. Creation Records had believed that the album could be recorded in five days, but several unproductive months followed during which Shields took control of the musical and technical aspects of the sessions.{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=43}} Shields relocated to a total of 19 other studios and hired a number of [[Audio engineering|engineers]], including [[Alan Moulder]], Anjali Dutt and Guy Fixsen. As the recording was taking so long, Shields and Creation agreed to release two interim EPs, ''[[Glider (EP)|Glider]]'' (1990) and ''[[Tremolo (EP)|Tremolo]]'' (1991).{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=44}} The ''[[Loveless (My Bloody Valentine album)|Loveless]]'' album was eventually released in November 1991, and was rumoured to have cost over £250,000 and to have bankrupted Creation (claims which Shields has denied).{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=66–67}} Critical reception to ''Loveless'' was almost unanimous with praise, although the album was not a commercial success,{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=97}} peaking at number 24 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] but failing to chart internationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/my%20bloody%20valentine|title=My Bloody Valentine &#124; Artist|work=[[Official Charts Company]]|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=10 November 2013}}</ref> Creation Records founder [[Alan McGee]] dropped My Bloody Valentine from the label soon after the release of ''Loveless'', due to the album's excessive recording time and interpersonal problems with Shields.<ref name="gdn" />

In October 1992, My Bloody Valentine signed to [[Island Records]] for a reported £250,000.<ref name="uc">{{cite magazine|last1=Stubbs|first1=David|author-link=David Stubbs|year=1999|title=Sweetheart Attack: My Bloody Valentine's ''Isn't Anything'' is ''the'' Eighties Rock Album|magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|issue=February 1999}}</ref> The band's advance went towards the construction of a home studio in [[Streatham]], [[South London]], which was completed in April 1993. Several technical problems with the studio sent the band into "semi-meltdown", according to Shields,{{sfn|McGonial|2007|p=101-102}} who was rumoured to have been suffering from [[writer's block]].<ref name="td">{{cite web|url=http://totallydublin.ie/music/music-features/butchers-block|title=TD Archive: My Bloody Valentine's Bilinda Butcher Interviewed|work=[[Totally Dublin]]|publisher=Totally Partner|last=Johannesson|first=Ika|date=3 September 2008|access-date=10 November 2013|archive-date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503040644/http://totallydublin.ie/music/music-features/butchers-block|url-status=dead}}</ref> Googe and Ó Cíosóig left the band in 1995, whilst Shields and Butcher attempted to record a third studio album; Shields had said that this would be released in 1998, but My Bloody Valentine disbanded in 1997.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Shields|first1=Kevin|title=About Bloody Time Too!|magazine=[[NME]]|date=July 1997}}</ref> Unable to finalise a third album, Shields isolated himself, and in his own words "went crazy", drawing comparisons in the music press to the eccentric behaviour of musicians like [[Brian Wilson]] of [[the Beach Boys]] and [[Syd Barrett]] of [[Pink Floyd]].<ref name="gdn" />

Rumours spread amongst fans that several albums worth of material had been recorded and shelved prior to the band's break up. In 1999, it was reported that Shields had delivered 60 hours of material to Island Records, and Butcher confirmed that there existed "probably enough songs to fill two albums."<ref name="uc" /><ref name="td" /> Shields later admitted that at least one full album of "half-finished" material was abandoned, stating "it was dead. It hadn't got that spirit, that life in it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuci.uci.edu/~kuci/text/interviews/mbv.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100912030457/http://www.kuci.uci.edu/~kuci/text/interviews/mbv.html|title=My Bloody Valentine interview|work=[[KUCI]]|publisher=[[University of California]]|last=Raggett|first=Ned|archive-date=12 September 2010|access-date=23 August 2007}}</ref>