The 1990s alt-rock hit born from a box of returned letters
In short: Before they were topping the Billboard charts, Letters to Cleo was just a collection of discarded mail. Discover how a childhood pen pal's sudden disappearance provided the band's name, its identity, and the unexpected soundtrack for 1990s pop culture, from teen movies to iconic television series.
In 1990, guitarist Greg McKenna and singer Kay Hanley formed a group in Boston that would eventually define a slice of the decade's alternative rock. Originally operating under the name Rebecca Lulu, the band underwent a significant identity shift when Hanley rediscovered a box of old correspondence. The name 'Letters to Cleo' was a direct reference to a childhood pen pal with whom Hanley had exchanged mail for ten years during summers in Canada. The correspondence ended abruptly when Cleo moved without leaving a forwarding address, leaving Hanley's letters to be returned to sender.
The band's rise was marked by both local grit and sudden mainstream visibility. After playing Boston venues like T.T. the Bear's Place, their 1993 debut, Aurora Gory Alice, gained significant New England airplay. A pivotal moment arrived in 1994 following a high-profile performance at South by Southwest, which led to a deal with Giant Records. Their single 'Here & Now' became an instant success, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart and appearing on the soundtrack for the television series Melrose Place.
Beyond the charts, the band's influence permeated 1990s cinema and television. They contributed several tracks to the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You and later provided the musical voice for characters in films like Josie and the Pussycats. Even decades later, their legacy persists through unexpected pop culture nods, such as the character Ben Wyatt wearing their shirt in Parks and Recreation, and more recently, writing original music for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in 2023.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Letters to Cleo
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