Massive Attack are a hugely successful group from Bristol.

They were founded in 1988 by Robert Del Naja, Grantley Marshall, and Andrew Vowles.

The three had been part of the The Wild Bunch collective, where they also met Tricky.

Massive Attack's debut album Blue Lines in 1991 was critically acclaimed for a fusion of jazz, hip hop, rock, and soul elements into a style that became known as trip hop.

With the release of later albums such as Protection in 1994, Mezzanine in 1998, and 100th Window in 2003 the group developed their sound.

Over the years, Massive Attack have teamed up with the likes of Tricky, Madonna, Sinéad O'Connor and Horace Andy.

During the first Gulf War Massive Attack temporarily changed their name to Massive after to avoid implying support of the attack on Iraq.

In 1994, Massive Attack released their follow-up album, Protection, an album that featured two string instrumentals arranged by Craig Armstrong.

This marked Tricky's last collaboration with Massive Attack, as he chose to concentrate wholly on his solo career.

Tricky used lyrics from other songs (chronologically before and after the album's release) at some points during the recording.

Several of the lyrics from "Karmacoma" shared between Tricky and 3D were later sung by Martina Topley-Bird on Tricky's single "Overcome". On "Eurochild".

Massive Attack's third album, Mezzanine, was released in 1998.

With Mezzanine, the band moved to a darker, tense sound filled with distorted guitars and a combination of drum machines.

Andy "Mushroom" Vowles, having become increasingly dissatisfied with the direction of the group to the point where it was felt he was intolerable to work with, left in the autumn of 1999.

Massive Attack's fourth album, 100th Window, which was recorded without Marshall, was released in early 2003.

It entered the Top 10 at Number 1 in the UK. In 2004, Massive Attack, without Grant Marshall, released an instrumental soundtrack for the feature film Danny the Dog, which was produced by Luc Besson.

The group are continuing to work on their long-awaited fifth studio album, which, its currently hoped, will be released sometime in 2009, and which has included explorative working with Damon Albarn in London during November 2008.

Go to Bristol People to find out about other famous names from the city.