Rhona Mitra as Lara Croft at ECTS, 1996-1997!

If you are/know the author of these photos please let us know so we could credit appropriately! 

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We are delighted to announce that we’ve got an official permission from Luis to re-publish his articles from the original Croft Times!

The Croft Times was the very first fan-made website that was established in 1997 and we are happy to preserve and spread some of its invaluable materials.

Here are a couple of snaps that are rather related to the currently trending topic of the upcoming Tomb Raider film

Make sure to download these in full resolution by right click=>save as

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UPD. Natalie Cook, the original Lara Croft model, was asked by then Eidos to record a song back in 1996. The track was never released publicly. In the spirit of Tomb Raider’s 20th Anniversary, Natalie sent us the original cassette of the song

In early 1997, Naked Records released a 12" vinyl. The vinyl contained a remixed dance track (LC – Raiders)with the motifs of the original Tomb Raider soundtrack and Natla’s voice repeating the line “Feast your eyes on this, Lara”. 

Later Eidos decided to release a proper album featuring Lara as a singer.
As Rhona Mitra was the Lara model at the time, Eidos had decided to give her the opportunity to sing as Lara. David Stewart, English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics, was assigned to produce the album. Dave composed all the tracks.

LARA CROFT – COME ALIVE
Record Label – NAKED
Format – CD ALBUM
Release date 1998/06

Tracks:

• Getting Naked (Arthur Baker Mix) (3:38)
• Making Love (Dub) (7:39)
• Naked (12″ Vocal) (7:01)
• Getting Naked (Glen Skinner Mix) (4:07)
• Beautiful Day (Glen Skinner Mix) (3:58)
• Beautiful Day (Sure Is Pure Mix) (8:20)
• Come Alive (4:52)
• Tashina (4:57)
• Really Real (3:51)
• Feel Myself (4:44)
• Rock Your Own World (3:41)

After nearly a year of recording Eidos and Rhona Mitra parted their ways. The “Come Alive” release was largely limited to France (the country in which it was recorded, as Stewart lived there) though it was published in the UK eventually. With 11 tracks and an interactive slideshow featuring Rhona in Lara’s costume, “Come Alive” was not a successful album by any means.

In 1998 Eidos re-released the most popular track “Getting Naked” as a separate “Getting Naked Single”.

LARA CROFT – GETTING NAKED
Record Label – NAKED
Format – CD ALBUM
Release date – 1998

Tracks:

• Getting Naked (Arthur Baker Mix) (3:38)
• Getting Naked (Glen Skinner Mix) (4:07)

Since Lara’s popularity was increasing and the amount of albums produced was limited, in 1999 Naked Records decided to re-release the original Come Alive album, renaming it to Female Icon and adding a couple more tracks to it.

LARA CROFT – FEMALE ICON
Record Label – NAKED
Format – CD ALBUM
Release date – 1999

Tracks:

• L.C. Raiders  (3:20)
  
• Rock Your Own World (3:40)
  
• Getting Naked (Glen Skinner Mix) (4:06)
  
• Come Alive (4:50)
  
• Getting Naked (Arthur Baker Mix) (3:38)
  
• Really Real (3:49)
  
• Feel Myself (Arthur Baker Mix) (4:42)
  
• Tashina (4:55)
  
• Time To Change (5:04)
  
• Beautiful Day (Glen Skinner Mix) (3:57)
  
• Beautiful Day (Sure Is Pure Mix) (8:18)

You can purchase Female Icon on Amazon.

You can listen to the whole album here:

Interestingly in one of the recent interviews, Rhona was talking about the “album” she recorded a while ago, and when she was asked to elaborate on it…well see for yourself (2:54):

This is how Lara’s singing career ended. For now anyway.

However, in 1998 Lara did feature in one music video for a German band Die Arzte. The video clip “Manner Sind Schweine” (Men are pigs) features a mute digital Lara Croft model.

And of course everyone remembers the Alex C and Yasmin K Angel of Darkness music video

Image credits: http://www.eurythmics-ultimate.com/

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55 Ashbourne rd. Derby. This is where Lara was created

 And right next to it is the Croft House!

2 Roundhouse rd, Derby. Core moved here later on and remained here right until they were sold to Rebellion Interactive. The studio was then shut. 

Founders of Core Design Jeremy Heath-Smith and Adrian Smith found Circle studios in Derby. It is now defunct. Pic was taken in 2009.

And Lara Croft Way of course. I made many friends Online because of Tomb Raider. And when they visit I always take them to all these (plus a few other) places. It is like a Tomb Raider pilgrimage! 

So during one of these times we actually occupied Lara Croft way (Anonymous was very active at that time :P)

Wimbledon Bridge House. Eidos/Square Enix Europe moved to central London last year.

Rhona Mitra’s costume in the former Eidos office

Lucy Clarkson’s costume

Jill de Jong’s costume.

Me with Lara

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Also check out an Interview with Jill de Jong – the last model to represent Core Design’s Lara.

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Can’t believe how sexist some magazines can be to be honest lol…

Anyway, Esquire, September 1997 with an article about Rhona Mitra

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Lara Croft -Female Icon. Basically Rhona Mitra did the vocals as Lara in this album, not going to comment how bad she is, there’s always someone worse I guess. 

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