Asphalt Ribbons were an English rock band that formed in Nottingham in 1987. The original line-up was

Stuart Staples Stuart Ashton Staples (born 14 November 1965 in Basford, Nottinghamshire)McKibbin, Tony (2009)Profile - Stuart Staples (Tindersticks), '' The List'', 9 July 2009, retrieved 2011-01-21 is an English musician best known as the lead singer of indie ...

, Gaynor Backhouse, Gary Watt and Rob Howard. Dave Boulter (organ and accordion) replaced Rob Howard in 1989 and Will Carless (drums) also joined in 1989, just before they released their first EP, ''The Orchard'', on the In-Tape label. Neil Fraser was yet also listed as author on the song "Over Again" in the liner notes of the EP. Tracks on ''The Orchard'' were "Over Again", "Red Sauce", "Greyhound" and "I Used to Live There". In-Tape also released a radio promo copy of "Over Again" in 1989. ''

Sounds In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...

'' listed them as a 'name for 1990' and in the same week ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'' was touting them as "the first new band of this year to make the indie/mainstream crossover".Ian Oggly, 1990. "Asphalt Ribbons, Nottingham Polytechnic". ''

'', 6 January 1990. During the course of 1990, Asphalt Ribbons became a six-piece, acquiring Craig Chettle (guitar). They also recorded ''Good Love'', their second EP for In-Tape, which was produced by

Jon Langford Jonathan Denis Langford (born 11 October 1957) is a Welsh musician and artist based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Langford is a founder member of the punk band The Mekons, the post-punk group The Three Johns, and the alternative country ...

. The artwork for both EPs was by Wolfgang Buttress. In 1991, the band relocated to London and shifted position again, this time to the pre-

Tindersticks Tindersticks are an English alternative rock band formed in Nottingham in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples embarked on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006 and more permanently the following year. Th ...

line-up featuring Stuart Staples (vocals), David Boulter (organ and accordion), Neil Fraser (guitar), Dickon Hinchliffe (guitar and strings), Al Macaulay (percussion and drums) and John Thompson (bass). They recorded "Tiger Lily" (1991), "Passion, Coolness, Indifference ..." (1991) and ''Old Horse'' (1991) for Rough Trade. In 1992 a promotional video for "Downside" (ETT Records) was made. It is known that the Asphalt Ribbons played live some early versions of songs, that later became tindersticks songs, e.g. "for those who are not so beautiful", "sweet sweet man" and "big silence" aka "raindrops" in the tindersticks repertoire. Mark Colwill replaced John Thomson in the last days before Asphalt Ribbons became Tindersticks. Mark was recruited when John left but it is not sure if he played any gigs under the Asphalt Ribbons name. They then changed their name to Tindersticks after Stuart discovered a box of German matches on a Greek beach. Their sound is more country influenced than Tindersticks, but already features the distinctive vocals of Stuart Staples.

Discography

Albums

*''Old Horse'' (1991, Rough Trade)

Singles and EPs

*''The Orchard E.P.'' (1989, In-Tape) *''Good Love'' (1990, In-Tape) *''Passion, Coolness, Indifference, Boredom, Mockery, Contempt, Disgust An E.P.'' (1991, Tiger Lily)

References

External links

/ Photographs of Asphalt Ribbons live

/ Interview of Neil Fraser on Asphalt Ribbons and prior bands with Stuart A. Staples
English rock music groups {{UK-rock-band-stub