Sneaker Pimps formed in Hartlepool, UK, in 1994.  Ian Howe and Chris corner had met as teenagers in the ’80s, and produced some early examples of what would eventually be know as “Trip-Hop”, leading them to a signing with Clean Up Records.

As they progressed, they soon sought school friend Ian Pickering to aid in writing lyrics for their debut album “Becoming X”. After Corner recorded vocals for  several demos, it was decided that the music they were making would be best suited to a female voice. They enrolled Kelli Ali per their manager’s recommendations, and the demos that came of this landed the group a contract with Virgin Records. Becoming X, their debut, was released in 1996, selling over a million copies.

Having turbulently toured the album, the group relocated to London, and decided that with the direction in which they were heading, Chris Corner’s vocals would be better suited, leading to the firing of Kelli Ali. This decision led to Virgin dropping the band, but, despite the change in direction both artistically and instrumentally, their followup: “Splinter”, soldered them a cult following.

Their third album, Bloodsport, was released via Tommy Boy Records in 2002, and was more dance-orientated than its predecessor, and lyrically based around cynical digs at fame and celebrity.

2002 saw the enlisted members of the band leave, returning Sneaker Pimps back to Howe and Corner. A 4th album was shelved, but the majority of the  demos from this would be recorded for the first 2 IAMX (Corner’s new project) albums.

It was announced in 2019 that Corner and Howe were “deep into a fourth Sneaker Pimps album”.