Rice was originally in the band Juniper, a rock band which released the singles "The World Is Dead" and "Weatherman". On the eve of recording their first full album for Polygram in 1999, Rice became disenchanted with the commercial label and quit. His Juniper bandmates became Bell X1 whilst he moved to rural Italy where he played acoustic guitar, wrote songs, and busked around Europe until he was able to form a band and get coffeeshop gigs in the Dublin area. Rice managed to record O, for which he won the Shortlist Music Prize in 2003. After the phenomenal success of his debut album O, Damien Rice has gone on to become one of the world’s most respected songwriters and musicians. His distinctive Irish lilt, unique songwriting skills, and painfully honest lyricism make him a rare act in a world dominated by manufactured pop. The other members of the band are Lisa Hannigan who sings and occasionally plays guitar and bass; cellist Vyvienne Long; percussionist Tom Osander (aka: Tomo) a member of the 90's jam band God Street Wine; and bassist Shane Fitzsimons.