(Vocal group, 1988–96) Formed in 1988, Miki Berenyi (guitar, vocals) Emma Anderson (guitar, vocals) Chris Acland (drums) and Steve Rippon (bass) were a classic 4AD label band whose early EPs won cult success. With their ‘shoegazers’ reputation confirmed on two well-received albums – ‘loud guitars with much weaker vocals,’ said Anderson – the band scored hits with ‘Single Girl’ and ‘Lady Killer’ from the more pop-oriented Lovelife (1995). Acland committed suicide ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1983–97, 2007–present) MBV began as a thrashy 1960s garage band and ended up redefining the sound of rock guitar on the swirling, distorting but lambently beautiful Loveless (1991). Isn’t Anything from 1988, features slightly more recognizable tunes and song forms. Vocalist/guitarist Bilinda Butcher contributed lyrics and (guitarist/vocalist) Kevin Shields the revolutionary sounds. Deb Googe (bass) and Colm O’Ciosoig (drums) contributed the rhythm. The next album has been promised for ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1988–96) Formed in Oxford in 1988 by Mark Gardner (vocals, guitar), Andy Bell (guitar) and Stephen Overalt (bass), Ride revelled in a loud guitar sound that won favour with critics and fans alike. With more than a nod in the direction of The Who’s ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, ‘Leave Them All Behind’ was their biggest hit single and Going Blank Again (1992) their most memorable album. After going through ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1988–99) Best remembered for the 1995 UK hit single ‘Wake Up Boo!’, The Radleys had been a previously struggling indie band. Formed in 1988 by Simon ‘Sice’ Rowbottom (guitar, vocals), Martin Carr (guitar), Timothy Brown, (bass) and Steve Drewitt (drums) they were second-generation shoegazers with ideas. Third album Giant Steps (1993) traded blows with memorable melody and hooks before Wake Up (1995) became a must-own album for everyone in ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1983–98) This irascible, much-lauded Scottish crew featured the Reid brothers, William and Jim (both vocals, guitar) and, for a while, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream (drums). They took The Velvet Underground’s art rock and overlaid surprisingly poppy melodies. Their early gigs turned into riots, but 1985’s Psychocandy was a very good debut album that never quite matched. They had several Top 20 UK singles including the classic ‘Some Candy ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1989–99, 2007–09) Founded in Wigan, Richard Ashcroft (vocals), Nick McCabe (guitar), Simon Jones (bass) and Peter Salisbury (drums) enjoyed critical indie success after the masterfully arranged A Northern Soul (1995). After a brief split they re-formed for Urban Hymns (1997) which, propelled by ‘Bittersweet Symphony’, transformed them into international stars. Ashcroft’s charisma and passionate vocal style also turned ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ into an anthem. Ashcroft went solo before ...
Originally coined as a criticism of the bands’ static stage performances – band members were said to stand stock still staring at their shoes – the so-called shoegazers played slow- or medium-paced rock, generally with heavily distorted or heavily reverbed guitars topped by dreamy, melodic and ethereal vocals. Influenced by the use of distorted guitars by The Jesus & Mary Chain and the otherworldliness of The Cocteau Twins, the shoegazers were ...
AUTHORITATIVE
An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...
CURATED
Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.
David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.