| Lush
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| Formed in | 1988
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| Disbanded | 1998
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| Genre | Britpop
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| Initial Line-Up
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| Vocals | Meriel Barham
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| Guitar/Vocals | Miki Berenyi
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| Vocals/Guitar | Emma Anderson
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| Bass Guitar | Steve Rippon
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| Drums | Chris Acland
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| Final Line-Up
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| Vocals/Guitar | Miki Berenyi
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| Guitar/Vocals | Emma Anderson
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| Bass Guitar | Phil King
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| Drums | Chris Acland
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Lush was a British shoegazing band, formed in 1988 by Steve Rippon, Emma Anderson, Meriel Barham, Chris Acland and Miki Berenyi (see 1988 in music). Barham left nearly immediately, eventually settling in fellow shoegazing band Pale Saints. Robin Guthrie helped the band sign to 4AD and released Scar, an EP, in 1989 (1989 in music). Critical praise for Scar and a wildly popular live show established Lush as one of the best-selling bands in the new "shoegazing" genre of pop music. That year the EPs Mad Love, produced by Robin Guthrie, and Sweetness and Light followed.
In 1990 the LP Gala, which combined the material from their first three EPs, was released by Reprise in the United States, the first exposure of Lush in North America. Their first LP made up of completely new material was Spooky in 1992 (1992 in music). Produced by Robin Guthrie, Spooky featured a sound very similar to Guthrie's band Cocteau Twins, with walls of sound and a great deal of flange. Reviews were mixed and critics of the album hold that Guthrie's production brought the sound away from the band's original creative vision. Rippon left the band at this stage in order to concentrate on writing, though his book Cold Turkey Sandwich - a fictionalized chronicle of his time in touring - was rejected by publishers. He was replaced by Phil King. Also in 1992, Lush toured America as part of the Lollapalooza festival.
Split was released in 1994 (1994 in music) and featured a more industrial sound. Split sold poorly, however. After adapting to the newly popular sounds of Britpop, Lush's Lovelife (1996 in music) became the biggest seller of their career, including the hit singles "Ladykiller" and "Single Girl".
In 1996 (1996 in music), Chris Acland hanged himself in his parents' house after suffering from depression. In 1998 (1998 in music) the three remaining members of Lush decided to disband. Emma Anderson has since formed a new band, Sing Sing.
Discography
All releases by 4AD, catalogue numbers in brackets.
Singles and EPs
- Scar (1989, JAD 911)
- Mad Love (1989, BAD 0003)
- Sweetness And Light (1989, BAD 0013)
- Black Spring (1991, BAD 1016)
- For Love (1992, BAD 2001)
- Hypocrite (1994, BAD 4008)
- Desire Lines (1994, BAD 4010)
- Single Girl (1996, 2 CDs, BAD 6001, BADD 6001)
- Ladykillers (1996, 2 CDs, BAD 6002, BADD 6002)
- 500 (1996, 2 CDs, BAD 6009, BADD 6009)
Albums
- Spooky (1992, GAD 2002)
- Split (1994, GAD 4011)
- Lovelife (1996, GAD 6004)
Compilations
- Gala (1990, CAD 0017)
- Ciao! - The Best of Lush (2001, GAD 2K22CD)
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