Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser Gets Asteroid Named In Her Honor

Cocteau Twins’ former lead singer Elizabeth Fraser now has an asteroid named after her, courtesy of the International Astronomical Union. Fraser’s label 4AD Records shared the news on Instagram, confirming the name had been chosen “after 10 years of research.”

First discovered on August 31, 2013 by M. Kusiak and M. Żołnowski at Tincana, the ‘Fraser’ asteroid does not pose a threat to humanity, and isn’t set to collide with earth for millions of years. It can only be viewed via advance telescope, imaging from which is available on NASA’s official website.

Elizabeth Fraser released her latest EP on Record Store Day last year, in April. The album was self-titled after Fraser’s project with her partner Damon Reece, Sun’s Signature. She released music with Oneohtrix Point Never in 2021.

Founded in Grangemouth, Scotland in 1979 by guitarist Robin Guthrie and bassist Will Heggie and later completed by Guthrie’s then girlfriend Elizabeth Fraser, Cocteau Twins became something of a phenomenon, renowned for their unique, ethereal sound.

Following Heggie’s early departure and the group’s brief period as a duo, they were joined by multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde in 1983. Elizabeth Fraser’s singular vocal delivery swooped, shimmered and beguiled in equal measures and the group quietly exerted their influence on an impressive line-up of musicians, including Prince, Annie Lennox, Slowdive, Lush, My Bloody Valentine and Curve.

Throughout the 1980s Cocteau Twins were synonymous with Ivo Watt-Russell’s 4AD label to whom they signed in 1982 and went on to record six studio albums including Victorialand and the widely-acclaimed Heaven Or Las Vegas. Constantly evolving, morphing and taking on new forms throughout the 1980s and into the 90s, Cocteau Twins eventually split from 4AD and recorded their last two albums for Fontana, Four Calendar Café and Milk and Kisses.

Listen to the best of Cocteau Twins on Apple Music and Spotify.