Elastica

Credit: Glen Miles/Redferns

One of the most successful and talented British bands of the mid-90s Britpop era. Enamored with angular post-punk music and blessed with a seductive wit, Elastica stood apart from their all-male, ’60s worshipping peers. Their catchy singles and acclaimed debut album placed them at the forefront of Britpop along with Blur, Suede and Oasis, and they were the first of the bunch to find significant success in America. Drug addiction and line-up changes derailed and delayed the band’s unheralded follow-up effort, and the band broke up shortly afterward in 2001.

Details

  • Years Active: 1992-2001
  • Peak Success: 1993-1996
  • Origin: London, England, United Kingdom
  • Styles/Movements: Britpop, Post-Punk/New Wave Revival
  • Labels:
    • Deceptive [1993-2000; UK]
    • Geffen [1994-1997; US]
    • Atlantic [2000; US]
    • Wichita [2001; UK]
  • Core Members:
    • Justine Frischmann (vocals/guitar)
    • Justin Welch (drums)
    • Donna Matthews (guitar/vocals) [1992-98]
    • Annie Holland (bass) [1992-95, 1999-01]
    • David Bush (keyboards) [1996-01]
    • Paul Jones (guitar) [1998-01]
    • Sharon Mew (keyboards/vocals) [1999-01]
  • Spotify monthly listeners: 390,960 (as of Feb 13, 2022)
  • Links: Youtube | Spotify | Wikipedia | Allmusic
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Blur

Photo of the band Blur
Credit: Paul Postle

English rock band who initially debuted with a Madchester-influenced sound in 1990 before radically reinventing themselves as 90s torchbearers of British guitar pop, following in the tradition of The Kinks, The Beatles, The Jam, Madness. Their 1994 album Parklife made them superstars in the UK and Britpop’s leading band. In 1997, Blur reinvented again, incorporating American indie rock influences into their sound and finally achieving some success in the US. Internal tensions and diverging interests led to the group’s hiatus in 2004. They reformed in 2009 and 2012 for live performances and put out their eighth studio album in 2015.

Details

  • Years Active: 1988-2004, 2009, 2012-2015
  • Peak Success: 1991, 1994-2000
  • Origin: London, England, United Kingdom
  • Styles/Movements: Britpop, Indie Rock, Madchester
  • Labels:
    • Food [1990-2000; UK]
    • SBK Records [1991-1994; US]
    • Virgin [1995-2003; US]
    • Parlophone [2003-2015; UK]
    • Warner Music [2015; US]
  • Core Members:
    • Damon Albarn (vocals)
    • Graham Coxon (guitar)
    • Alex James (bass)
    • Dave Rowntree (drums)
  • Spotify monthly listeners: 7,363,181 (as of May 16, 2021)
  • Links: Website | Youtube | Spotify | Wikipedia | Allmusic
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