The Sisters of Mercy are an English gothic rock band, formed in 1980 in Leeds, United Kingdom (UK). After achieving early underground fame there, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company Time Warner. Currently, the band is a touring outfit only. 　　The group has released three original studio albums, the last of which was released in 1990. Each album was recorded by a different line-up; singer-songwriter Andrew Eldritch and the drum machine called Doktor Avalanche are the only points of continuity throughout. Eldritch and Avalanche were also involved in The Sisterhood, a side-project connected with Eldritch's dispute with former members. 　　The group ceased recording activity in 1993, when they went on strike against Time Warner, which they accused of incompetence and withholding royalties. Although Time Warner released them from their contract in 1997, they have not signed to another label, despite showcasing numerous new songs in their live sets. 　　Since 1985, and the departure of the other original members, the Sisters of Mercy has become uniquely Andrew Eldritch's artistic vehicle. Former members of the group established the bands Ghost Dance and the Mission.