<P> The Dresden Dolls is an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts . Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer (lead vocals and piano; additional: keyboards, harmonica, ukulele) and Brian Viglione (drums and percussion; additional: guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals). The two describe their style as "Brechtian punk cabaret", a phrase invented by Palmer because she was "terrified" that the press would invent a name that "would involve the word gothic". The Dresden Dolls are part of an underground dark cabaret movement that started gaining momentum in the early 2000s . </P> <P> The duo formed a week after Brian Viglione witnessed Amanda Palmer perform solo at a Halloween party in 2000 . Their live performances soon gained them a cult following . During these performances the two band members often wore dramatic make - up and fancy clothing that pushed their cabaret / theater aesthetic . They encourage fans to become involved at their shows, with the fans' own stilt walking, living statues, fire breathers, and other performance art becoming an integral part of the show . The Dirty Business Brigade coordinated the fans' performances . </P> <P> The band's first name was Out of Arms . At some point, the name became The Dresden Dolls . The name, according to Palmer, was "inspired by a combination of things," including the firebombing of Dresden, Germany and the porcelain dolls that were a hallmark of pre-war Dresden industry; an early song of the same name by The Fall; and a reference to the V.C. Andrews novel Flowers in the Attic, where the classically blond - haired and blue - eyed protagonists are called "the Dresden dolls". The name also evokes Weimar Germany and its cabaret culture . Additionally, Palmer "liked the parallel between Dresden (destruction) and Dolls (innocence, delicacy), because it is very much in keeping with the dynamics of the music, which sometimes goes from a childlike whisper to a banshee scream within a few seconds ." </P> <P> The duo was featured in a webcast performance at the 2002 Ig Nobel Prize ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts . After a self - promoted demo recorded and released in 2001, their first release was the mostly live compilation A Is for Accident (Important Records), followed in 2003 by a self - titled debut produced and recorded by Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth) at The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Brooklyn . The album features fellow Boston - area musicians Ad Frank (guitar on "Good Day") and Shawn Setaro (bass on "Good Day," "Gravity", and "Jeep Song"). Two songs off the album ranked in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2004: "Girl Anachronism" at number 30 and "Coin - Operated Boy" at number 12 . In 2003 they were crowned the winners of Boston's long - running WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble . </P>

Where did the dresden dolls get their name