Farewell Letters

That's all they wrote

by Brett Milano

LA-LA LAND: Kay Hanley and husband Michael Eisenstein have left Letters to Cleo for Hollywood.

One of Boston's favorite pop combos, Letters to Cleo, has quietly called it a day. Following weeks of rumors, manager Michael Creamer confirmed last weekend that the group has no further plans to tour or record together; thus, their appearance at the Mikey Dee tribute/benefit on May 4 at Axis was the band's last show. "It's not a bitter break-up," Creamer said this week. "But they're done playing and won't be making Letters to Cleo records, so in that sense it's the end of the band." They're committed through the year, however, to provide music for the Warner Bros. cartoon show Generation O -- a children's show about the adventures of an eight-year-old rock star -- and will stay with the show if it's renewed.

The group has largely been on hold since singer Kay Hanley and her husband, guitarist Michael Eisenstein, became parents last year. The band's last new album, Go!, came out to good reviews and weak sales in 1997, after which they happily parted company with the Giant label. The only new release since then has been a reissue of their first album, Sister (originally a self-released cassette, now a CD on Wicked Disc), though they've since turned up on a few film soundtracks, notably an on-camera spot in the teen comedy Ten Things I Hate About You.

Hanley and Eisenstein are now in Los Angeles, where Hanley's at work on a higher-profile project: she'll be the featured voice on a Josie & the Pussycats movie -- though, despite rumors, she hasn't yet landed an on-camera role. The film's songwriters and music supervisors are the unlikely team of star producer Babyface and Gigolo Aunts frontman Dave Gibbs -- another popster who found success on the West Coast after failing to get rich and famous in Boston. Hanley and Eisenstein have also written a handful of new songs, which Creamer says will likely turn up on an eventual Hanley solo album.

Long-time Cleo drummer Stacy Jones, who went on to join Veruca Salt, is now fronting the band American Hi-Fi, whose debut is set for a summer release on Island/Def Jam. Jones also played, with Eisenstein and bassist Scott Reibling, on ex-Salt frontwoman Nina Gordon's forthcoming solo album, Tonight and the Rest of My Life (Warner Bros.). Co-guitarist Greg McKenna is demo-ing songs for a solo project, while Reibling, who's produced a number of local bands, has just signed on to produce the next Gravel Pit album.