The Sisters of Mercy are a rock band that emerged out of the English post-punk scene in 1980-1981. After achieving early underground and goth fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output as a strike against their record company. Currently, the band is kept alive as a touring outfit only.

The group has recorded three original studio albums, of which the last was released in 1990. Each album was recorded by a different line-up, singer and songwriter Andrew Eldritch and the drum machines called Doktor Avalanche being the only points of continuity. Eldritch and Avalanche were also involved in The Sisterhood, a side-project connected with Eldritch's dispute with former members.

The group ceased recording activity in 1994, when they went on strike against their record company Time Warner, which they accused of withholding royalties and being incompetent. Although Time Warner eventually let the band go in 1997, they have not signed to another label, and have chosen not to go the independent label route, despite showcasing numerous new songs in their live sets.

Since 1985, when other original members left, The Sisters of Mercy became the artistic vehicle of Andrew Eldritch. Ex-members of the group established the bands Ghost Dance and The Mission.