Maureen Anderson's Shapeshifter is a concept which has evolved over time. Maureen initially started out as a solo performance poet in South Africa. Shapeshifter has performed with the area's most renowned musicians, as well as such luminaries as Arthur Brown(the God of Hellfire) and Daevid Allen of Gong. Maureen once sent a demo to John Peel who responded that he would be interested in listening to what else the band had done. He added a "By the way, a similar letter was sent to The Smiths." A Shapeshifter gig is more than just music; it's a self-contained theatrical experience; an organic entity that captivates the audience as in addition to the band, there's also a light show and two dancers, one of whom literally shapeshifts to each song, for instance becoming a giant dancing fish.