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