Mainstream were an English
shoegazer
Shoegaze (originally called shoegazing and sometimes conflated with "dream pop") is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volu ...
band, briefly famous in the late 1990s. They were formed by Mewton, Hartnell and Neill. Later they were joined by Peter Mullaney (guitar) and later still (after a bit of searching) Mark James Aviss. After performing several successful gigs they attracted label interest. Immediately prior to signing with Nude Records, Peter Mullaney for various reasons departed, later to be replaced with Greg Cook. Signed to
Suede's label
Nude Records
Nude Records is an independent record label, established in August 1991 in London. The label was set up and operated by Saul Galpern, who had previously worked with artists such as Simply Red, The Fall, Julian Cope, The Triffids, The Slits and ...
in early 1995 and produced one album (also called ''Mainstream'') in 1998.
The band comprised Anthony Neale (voice) (now frontman for The Truths on Aardvark Records), James Hartnell (guitars), Conrad Mewton (bass), Greg Cook (keyboards) and Mark James Aviss (drums) (now with The Little Things).
Despite having been renowned for their live performances, the album failed to chart anywhere and the group split up shortly afterwards.
However the album appears to be still in print and selling (as of October 2007 it was possible to find the album on the shelf in both the
Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international entertainment retailing chain, founded in early 1976 by Richard Branson as a record shop on London's Oxford Street.
In 1979 the company opened their first Megastore at the end of Oxford Street and Tottenha ...
and the
HMV
Sunrise Records and Entertainment, trading as HMV (for His Master's Voice), is a British music and entertainment retailer, currently operating exclusively in the United Kingdom.
The first HMV-branded store was opened by the Gramophone Company ...
on
London's Oxford Street and it remains available from several on-line stores). Also in 2006, a
Myspace page was created for the band, although this only contains information about their prior career, and does not indicate either that the band have reformed or are planning to do so.
Discography
Albums
*''Mainstream'' (Nude), 1998
Singles
*"Make It Easy" (Nude), promo 7"
*"Hurricane" (Nude), 1997
*"Privilege" (Nude), 1997 (
UK No. 85)
*"Step Right Up" (Nude), 1998 (UK No. 80)
*"CanJam" (Nude), 1998 (UK No. 88)
References
External links
Myspace page
English rock music groups
Musical groups established in 1994
Shoegazing musical groups
Musical groups disestablished in 1999
1998 albums
English alternative rock groups
1994 establishments in the United Kingdom
{{UK-band-stub