Blow Up (band)

Blow Up were a British indie pop/indie rock band active between 1986 and 1991.

This article is about the British band. For the American DJs, see Blow-Up (DJ duo).

Blow Up
OriginBrighton, UK
Genresindie pop, indie rock
Years active1986 - 1991
LabelsCreation
Ediesta
Megadisc
Cherry Red
Associated acts14 Iced Bears, Whirl
Past membersNick Roughley (vocals)
Alan Stirner (guitar) (1986-1988)
Trevor Elliott (bass) (1986-1987)
Aziz Hashmi (bass) (1987-1989)
Chris Window (drums) (1986-1988)
Will Taylor (bass) (1989-1991)
Justin Spear (guitar) (1988-1991)
Paul Reeves (drums) (1988-1991)

History

The band was formed in Brighton, England in 1986 by former 14 Iced Bears member Nick Roughley (vocals), along with Alan Stirner (guitar), Whirl frontman Trevor Elliott on Bass, and The Milk Sisters Drummer Chris Window (drums).[1][2] Signing to Creation Records at their first gig by an awe-struck Alan McGee they gained exposure with two singles on the label, 1987's 1966-Nuggets-style "Good For Me" and the epic "Pool Valley" (the latter taking its name from Brighton's bus station and featuring new bassist Aziz Hashmi).[2] A BBC Janice Long live session at the legendary BBC Abbey Road studios in 1987 brought the outfit well needed publicity with the help of Dave Nimmo on percussion. A tour of the Netherlands and Belgium was followed by their early recordings being collected on the Rollercoaster compilation issued on Megadisc in 1988. After two further EP's, the Pixies-influenced first album proper, In Watermelon Sugar, was issued in 1990. This line-up featured Justin Spear, son of Roger Ruskin Spear of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and 'Paul' Reeves, who as Billy Reeves formed theaudience with Sophie Ellis-Bextor in 1997. An ambitious further album, Amazon Eyegasm (featuring the former 14 Iced Bear Will Taylor on guitar and 'Red Ed' on drums) followed in 1991.

Blow-Up were described as 'the best band I ever signed, and the worst band I ever signed' by Alan McGee.

Discography

Singles/EPs
  • "Good For Me" (1987, Creation Records) (UK Indie No. 37)[3]
  • "Pool Valley" (1987, Creation Records)
  • "Forever Holiday" (1988, Ediesta)
  • "Forever Holiday" (1989, Cherry Red)
  • "Own World Waiting" (1990, Cherry Red)
  • "World" (1991, Cherry Red)

Albums
  • Rollercoaster (1988, Megadisc)
  • In Watermelon Sugar (1990, Cherry Red)
  • Amazon Eyegasm (1991, Cherry Red)

References
  1. Strong, Martin C.: "The Great Alternative & Indie Discography", 1999, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1
  2. Larkin, Colin:"The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music", 1992, Guinness Publishing, ISBN 0-85112-579-4
  3. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1999. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
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