Dirty Three are an instrumental trio consisting of Warren Ellis (violin), Mick Turner (electric guitar) and Jim White (drums), originating from Melbourne, Australia. Since the Dirty Three formed in 1992, they have spent a lot of time overseas. Mick Turner is currently based in Melbourne, drummer Jim White calls New York home, and Ellis lives in Paris. Prior to Dirty Three's formation Warren Ellis studied classical violin and worked briefly as a schoolteacher in regional Victoria after completing a degree; he also played in The Blackeyed Susans, Paranoid, and the Nursing Mothers; traveled, busked, wrote music and performed for art openings and plays. Mick Turner and Jim White have musical history and experience from the numerous bands that they played in during the 1980s and early 90's and throughout the Dirty Three's existence each of them have contributed their respective talents to numerous artists and groups, as Ellis has also. Turner was a member of The Moodists for a few months prior to, and including the length of, their first European sojourn (1983-5), and was also a member of the Sick Things (as Mick Sick), Fungus Brains and Venom P. Stinger. White was also in Venom P. Stinger and played on some tracks recorded by Fungus Brains. He has also been a member of People With Chairs Up Their Noses, Feral Dinosaurs (this group also featured Conway Savage, later a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) and The Blackeyed Susans. He has also played on records by Hunters and Collectors and Tex, Don and Charlie.