Die Mannequin
Canadian alternative rock band founded by Care Failure.
Die Mannequin was a Canadian alternative rock band based in Toronto, formed in 2005 by singer and guitarist Care Failure, whose birth name was Caroline Slezak Kawa. The group performed multiple tours across Canada, sharing bills with Buckcherry, Guns N' Roses, Marilyn Manson, and Sum 41. They also made several tours of Europe, both as headliners and as the opening act for Danko Jones in 2008.
The band grew out of Failure's earlier four-piece group, The Bloody Mannequins. In spring 2006, she recorded the EP *How to Kill* on How To Kill Records/Cordless Recordings, handling vocals, guitar, and bass herself because she lacked a permanent backing band. Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 played drums and produced the EP alongside Al-P from MSTRKRFT; Ryan Mills mastered it at Joao Carvalho Mastering. Failure also joined the supergroup The Big Dirty Band, which included members of Rush, recording a cover of The Bobby Fuller Four's "I Fought The Law" for the 2006 film *Trailer Park Boys: The Movie*. The music video featured Anthony Useless, though he did not play on the recording.
Failure initially hired Ethan Deth (of Kïll Cheerleadër) on bass and Pat M., known as Ghostwolf, on drums. Deth was soon replaced by Anthony "Useless" Bleed, also from Kïll Cheerleadër, who played bass and sang backing vocals. Managed by Shull Management, Die Mannequin signed with EMI Publishing in summer 2006 and launched their own label, How To Kill Records, distributed by Warner Music Canada. They were booked as an opening act for Guns N' Roses' eastern North American tour leg in 2006.
In fall 2007, the band released the EP *Slaughter Daughter*. Two tracks, "Do It Or Die" and "Saved By Strangers," were produced by Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent; the other two, "Upside Down Cross" and "Lonely Of A Woman," were produced by Junior Sanchez. A live recording of "Open Season" was also included. A video for "Do it or Die" entered rotation on Much Music and Much Loud.
Both EPs were compiled on the disc *Unicorn Steak*, which added two unreleased songs: an early demo of "Empty's Promise" and a cover of the Beatsteaks' "Hand in Hand." A video for "Saved By Strangers," directed by Bruce McDonald, followed the compilation's release. McDonald also directed a documentary about the band, *The Rawside of Die Mannequin*, which premiered at Toronto's North By North East festival on June 15, 2008. In
- origin
- Toronto, Canada
- years_active
- 2005–2023
- genre
- Alternative rock
- founder
- Care Failure (Caroline Slezak Kawa)
- label
- How To Kill Records (distributed by Warner Music Canada)
- notable_tours
- Opened for Guns N' Roses (2006), Marilyn Manson (2009)
Lore & Background
Die Mannequin originated from Care Failure's first four-piece band 'The Bloody Mannequins' and started in spring 2006 when Failure recorded her first EP, How to Kill, on How To Kill Records/Cordless Recordings. She sang, played guitar and bass on this EP because she did not have a permanent backing band at that time. Death from Above 1979's Jesse F. Keeler took care of the drum duties as well as production. The EP featured four songs and was produced by Keeler and partner Al-P from MSTRKRFT. Failure later hired Ethan Deth and Pat M. (Ghostwolf) to play bass and drums; Deth was quickly replaced by Anthony 'Useless' Bleed. The band signed with EMI Publishing in summer 2006 and began their own record label, How To Kill Records, distributed by Warner Music Canada. They were booked as one of the opening bands for Guns N' Roses' eastern leg of their 2006 North-American tour.
Reader's Guide
Die Mannequin released a second EP, Slaughter Daughter, in fall 2007, with tracks produced by Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent and Junior Sanchez. Both EPs were collected on a single disc entitled Unicorn Steak, which featured two unreleased songs. A video for 'Saved By Strangers' was directed by Canadian director Bruce McDonald, who also directed a documentary about the band, The Rawside of Die Mannequin, premiering at Toronto's North By North East festival on June 15, 2008. In 2009, the band released FINO + BLEED, mixed by Mike Fraser, and opened for the Canadian dates of Marilyn Manson's The High End of Low Tour. Their second full-length album, Neon Zero, was released on October 28, 2014, and was called 'evil dance metal' by Exclaim! magazine. On March 30, 2023, it was reported that Caroline Kawa (Care Failure) had died at age 36 due to multiple organ failure and heart failure caused by an infection. In April 2024, a tribute called Failurefest took place at Toronto's Bovine Sex Club, benefiting the charity Sistering, where Failure had volunteered.
Did You Know?
- Care Failure was also a member of the supergroup The Big Dirty Band, which included members from Rush.
- The band's video for 'Do it or Die' entered rotation on Much Music and Much Loud.
- Die Mannequin took part in the documentary series City Sonic in 2009, with Care Failure reflecting on her memories of CFNY, 102.1 the Edge.
- The band's second full-length album, Neon Zero, was released on October 28, 2014.
More in Alternative rock groups from Toronto 1-24
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