Pastels (band)
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The Pastels are an
indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
group from
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
formed in 1981. They were a key act of the Scottish and British independent music scenes of the 1980s, and are specifically credited for the development of an independent and confident music scene in
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
. The group has had a number of members, but currently consists of Stephen McRobbie, Katrina Mitchell, Tom Crossley, John Hogarty, Alison Mitchell and Suse Bear.


History


Formation

The group formed in 1981 amid the peak of the
Postcard Records Postcard Records is a British, Glasgow-based, independent record label founded by Alan Horne in 1979, as a vehicle for releases by Orange Juice and Josef K. The label's motto was "The Sound of Young Scotland", a parody/tribute to the Motown mot ...
era of independent music in Glasgow. Brian Taylor, a friend at the time of Postcard's Alan Horne, recruited McRobbie, Hayward, and Simpson for his new band. The band first performed at Bearsden Burgh Hall, booked by McRobbie after he attended a
Crass Crass were an English art collective and punk rock band formed in Epping, Essex in 1977, who promoted anarchism as a political ideology, a way of life, and a resistance movement. Crass popularised the anarcho-punk movement of the punk s ...
gig at the same venue. The band released their first single, "Songs for Children," on Whaam! Records in 1982, followed by their tape "Entertaining Edward" that same year on Action Tapes. The band released a series of singles from 1982–1986, starting with "Something Going On" and B-side "I Wonder Why" in 1983. The latter record was later separately released by Rough Trade after McRobbie travelled to see Geoff Travis at the label's office in London, where he insisted that they were "the next big thing out of Scotland." The band then released "Million Tears" in 1984, "I'm Alright With You" in 1985, and "Truck Train Tractor" in 1986, all on other labels after their relationship with Rough Trade declined as the label focused more heavily on their other artists such as "shinier new signings"
Scritti Politti Scritti Politti are a British band, originally formed in 1977 in Leeds, England, by Welsh singer-songwriter Green Gartside. He is the only member of the band to have remained throughout the group's history. Beginning as a punk-inspired collect ...
and
the Smiths The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They comprised the singer Morrissey, the guitarist Johnny Marr, the bassist Andy Rourke and the drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerg ...
. These releases were published on a variety of labels including
Whaam! ''Whaam!'' is a 1963 diptych painting by the American artist Roy Lichtenstein. It is one of the best-known works of pop art, and among Lichtenstein's most important paintings. ''Whaam!'' was first exhibited at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New ...
,
Creation Creation may refer to: Religion *''Creatio ex nihilo'', the concept that matter was created by God out of nothing * Creation myth, a religious story of the origin of the world and how people first came to inhabit it * Creationism, the belief tha ...
, and
Glass Records Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1990, and was resurrected in 2015. Glass Vintage 1981–1990 Glass was one of the key London-based indie labels of the 1980s. Early releases focused on artists f ...
, and all had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time. Despite their contrarian musical approach, they soon enjoyed an emerging fanzine culture identified with the group's sound and image, and slowly started to influence a new wave of groups, as well as gathering the attention of
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
and other UK media. Prior to their breakout album, the band appeared in a John Peel session, as well as a variety of zines. McRobbie at this period undertook a master's degree in librarianship at Glasgow University, which would ensure the band remained rooted in Glasgow during their newfound fame. The Pastels' sound continued to evolve and, although part of NME's
C86 ''C86'' is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine '' NME'' in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from British independent record labels of the time. As a term, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based music g ...
compilation, in interviews they always sought to distance themselves from both twee and shambling developments.
Ablaze! (fanzine) ''Ablaze!'' is a British indie music fanzine, produced in Manchester and Leeds. ''Ablaze!'' ran for ten issues between 1987 and 1993, and returned for an eleventh issue in 2015. Ten issues of the zine were compiled into a book, ''The City Is ...
Ablaze! fanzine issue 9, 1992. p28-29


''Up for a Bit with the Pastels''

Their debut album, ''
Up for a Bit with The Pastels ''Up for a Bit with The Pastels'' is the debut album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1987. It was named the 37th best Scottish album by ''The Scotsman.'' Track listing All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted. #"R ...
'' (
Glass Glass is a non-crystalline, often transparent, amorphous solid that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is most often formed by rapid cooling (quenching) of ...
, 1987; re-issue Paperhouse, 1991) moved from garage pop-punk through to ballads with synth orchestra splashes. The album launched to industry praise, with praise from acts including
Jesus and Mary Chain Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, names and titles), was ...
,
Primal Scream Primal Scream are a Scottish rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie (vocals) and Jim Beattie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes (guitar), Simone Butler (bass), and Darrin Mooney (drums) ...
,
Sonic Youth Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the b ...
,
Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo (YLT; Spanish for "I have her") is an American indie rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan (guitars, piano, vocals), Georgia Hubley (drums, piano, vocals), and James McNew ...
, and
Nirvana ( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...
's
Kurt Cobain Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) was an American musician who served as the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter of the rock band Nirvana. Through his angst-fueled songwriting and anti-establishment persona ...
, but the record did not "set the world alight" as some had expected. In 2003, it was named the 37th best Scottish album by ''
The Scotsman ''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its par ...
.'' The Guardian describe the album as integral in helping "to inspire confidence in the Glasgow scene (showing) that bands didn’t have to move south but could let the record industry come to them." The album is attributed by the paper as attributable to the later release of Glaswegian output including Belle and Sebastian's Tigermilk, Mogwai's Young Team, Franz Ferdinand's self-titled arrival, and even Chvrches.


Departures and ''Sittin' Pretty''

The band's 1989 follow-up, '' Sittin' Pretty'' (Chapter 22, 1989) was harder but less eclectic. Reports started to appear in the UK music press that the group was splitting up, and Taylor, Hayward and Simpson all departed. Eventually it became clear that a new line-up was configuring around original members, McRobbie and Wright (Aggi), now joined by Katrina Mitchell. This line-up is probably the best known of The Pastels' various phases, and often featured either David Keegan (of
Shop Assistants Shop Assistants were a Scottish indie pop band from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed in 1984, initially as 'Buba & The Shop Assistants'.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 502 After achieving success with indepe ...
) or
Gerard Love Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Bellshill near Glasgow in 1989. The group were founded by Norman Blake (vocals, guitar), Raymond McGinley (vocals, lead guitar) and Gerard Love (vocals, bass), all of whom shared l ...
(of
Teenage Fanclub Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Bellshill near Glasgow in 1989. The group were founded by Norman Blake (vocals, guitar), Raymond McGinley (vocals, lead guitar) and Gerard Love (vocals, bass), all of whom shared ...
) on guitar. They signed with the then emerging Domino Records and completed two albums, ''
Mobile Safari ''Mobile Safari'' is the third album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1995. Production The album was recorded at Glasgow's Stuffhouse Studios and CAVA Sound Workshops. Dean Wareham contributed guitar to a few tracks. "Flightpaths ...
'' (1995) and '' Illumination'' (1997), with the musical approach of the latter described as "mellowed and evolved into a form of gently psychedelic off-kilter pop, adorned with orchestral instrumentation." A remix set featured My Bloody Valentine, Jim O'Rourke and others on the album, ''
Illuminati The Illuminati (; plural of Latin ''illuminatus'', 'enlightened') is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name usually refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on ...
'' (1998). The band also featured that year on the soundtrack for the film ''
The Acid House ''The Acid House'' is a 1994 book by Irvine Welsh Irvine Welsh (born 27 September 1958) is a Scottish novelist, playwright and short story writer. His 1993 novel '' Trainspotting'' was made into a film of the same name. He has also written ...
''. In 2000, Wright left the group to focus on her career as an illustrator though she still provides artwork for the group. Their next release was the soundtrack to David Mackenzie's ''
The Last Great Wilderness ''The Last Great Wilderness'' is a 2002 film directed by David Mackenzie. It stars Alastair Mackenzie and Jonathan Phillips. It was produced by Gillian Berrie at Sigma Films. Scottish band The Pastels provided the soundtrack, which was relea ...
'' (Geographic, 2003). It featured a track recorded in collaboration with Pulp's
Jarvis Cocker Jarvis Branson Cocker (born 19 September 1963) is an English musician and radio presenter. As the founder, frontman, lyricist and only consistent member of the band Pulp, he became a figurehead of the Britpop genre of the mid-1990s. Following P ...
. In 2006 The Pastels developed and completed new music for a theatre production by Glasgow-based company, 12 Stars. During the early 2000s the band continued to receive attention, particularly in Japan where they became "incongruously wrapped up in the hype surrounding Britpop in Japan, jostling for position in magazines with the likes of Blur and Manic Street Preachers." In 2009, The Pastels, in collaboration with
Tenniscoats Tenniscoats is a Japanese band with two members, Saya & Takashi Ueno, but they often have guest musicians (and non-musicians) playing and performing with them. The guest musicians are for example, Secai, LSD March, Eddie Marcon, Popo, Saibo ...
from Tokyo, Japan, released an album called ''Two Sunsets,'' which critics called "a playful, spontaneous and spellbinding must-hear." In 2013 they released their first album proper in sixteen years, ''
Slow Summits ''Slow Summits'' is the fifth studio album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released via Domino Recording Company in 2013. The album was their first proper studio album since 1997's '' Illumination'', having released a soundtrack album and a col ...
,'' again through Domino. The Guardian described the album as "their most complete set since Up for a Bit, with its 10 summery, groovy flute and french-horn-licked songs, trippy in the sense of the kind of trip that lands in a pile of freshly mown grass." The album was shortlisted for the 2013 Scottish Album of the Year Award. The band was featured in the 2017 documentary entitled Teenage Superstars. The Pastels now operate their own Geographic Music label through
Domino Dominoes is a family of tile-based games played with gaming pieces, commonly known as dominoes. Each domino is a rectangular tile, usually with a line dividing its face into two square ''ends''. Each end is marked with a number of spots (also ca ...
, and are partners in Glasgow's Monorail Music shop.


Band members


Current

* Stephen McRobbie (or Stephen Pastel) –
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
,
vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
(1981–present) * Katrina Mitchell –
drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
, vocals, guitar, keyboards (1989–present) * Tom Crossley –
flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...
,
keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
(1990s–present) * Alison Mitchell –
trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...
(2003–present) * John Hogarty –
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
(late 2000s–present) * Suse Bear – bass (2010s–present)


Former

* Brian Taylor (or Brian Superstar) – guitar (1981–1992) * Martin Hayward – bass, vocals (1982–1990) * Bernice Simpson – drums (1983–1990) * Annabel Wright (or Aggi) – vocals (1984–2000), keyboards (1984–1990), bass (1990–2000) *
Eugene Kelly Eugene Kelly (born 9 August 1965) Eugene Kelly allmusic biography. is a Scottish musician who is a member of the group The Vaselines, a founding member of the now disbanded Eugenius and has had a number of solo releases. Eugene Kelly formed The ...
– backing vocals, violin, guitar, autoharp (1987–1989) * David Keegan – guitar (1992–2000) * Gerard Love – guitar / bass * Jonathan Kilgour – guitar (1994–1997) * Norman Blake – guitar, bass


Contributors

*
Gerard Love Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Bellshill near Glasgow in 1989. The group were founded by Norman Blake (vocals, guitar), Raymond McGinley (vocals, lead guitar) and Gerard Love (vocals, bass), all of whom shared l ...
– guitar, bass guitar, drums * Norman Blake – guitar, bass guitar, vocals * Colin McIlroy – guitar * Charlie Dinsdale – drums * Chris Gordon – drums * Michael Giudici – bass guitar * Sandy Forbes – drums *
Dean Wareham Dean Wareham (born 1 August 1963) is an American musician and actor who formed the band Galaxie 500 in 1987. He left Galaxie 500 in April 1991 and founded the band Luna. Since Luna's breakup in 2005, Wareham has released albums with fellow Lun ...
– guitar * Maureen McRoberts – saxophone * Darren Ramsay – trumpet * Francis MacDonald – drums * Liz Dew – bass


Discography


Studio albums

* ''
Up for a Bit with The Pastels ''Up for a Bit with The Pastels'' is the debut album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1987. It was named the 37th best Scottish album by ''The Scotsman.'' Track listing All songs written by Stephen McRobbie, except where noted. #"R ...
'' (1987) * '' Sittin' Pretty'' (1989) * ''
Mobile Safari ''Mobile Safari'' is the third album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released in 1995. Production The album was recorded at Glasgow's Stuffhouse Studios and CAVA Sound Workshops. Dean Wareham contributed guitar to a few tracks. "Flightpaths ...
'' (1995) * '' Illumination'' (1997) * ''
Slow Summits ''Slow Summits'' is the fifth studio album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released via Domino Recording Company in 2013. The album was their first proper studio album since 1997's '' Illumination'', having released a soundtrack album and a col ...
'' (2013)


Compilation albums

* '' Suck On'' (1988) * ''
Truckload of Trouble ''Truckload Of Trouble'' is a compilation album by The Pastels, released in 1993. The album compiles songs from their EPs and singles released between 1986 and 1993, with some popular album tracks. Included are well known songs such as "Comin' T ...
'' (1994) * ''
Illuminati The Illuminati (; plural of Latin ''illuminatus'', 'enlightened') is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name usually refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on ...
'' (1998) * ''Summer Rain'' (2013)


Soundtracks

* ''
The Last Great Wilderness ''The Last Great Wilderness'' is a 2002 film directed by David Mackenzie. It stars Alastair Mackenzie and Jonathan Phillips. It was produced by Gillian Berrie at Sigma Films. Scottish band The Pastels provided the soundtrack, which was relea ...
'' (2003)


Singles


With Jad Fair

*
Jad Fair Jad Fair (born June 9, 1954) is an American singer, guitarist, graphic artist, and founding member of lo-fi alternative rock group Half Japanese. Biography Fair was born in Coldwater, Michigan. In 1974, he and his brother David formed the lo-fi ...
and The Pastels – ''This Could Be the Night EP'' ( Paperhouse, 1991) * Jad Fair and The Pastels – ''No. 2 EP'' ( Paperhouse, 1992)


With Tenniscoats

* The Pastels and
Tenniscoats Tenniscoats is a Japanese band with two members, Saya & Takashi Ueno, but they often have guest musicians (and non-musicians) playing and performing with them. The guest musicians are for example, Secai, LSD March, Eddie Marcon, Popo, Saibo ...
– ''Two Sunsets'' (
Geographic Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
, 2009) * The Pastels and Tenniscoats – ''Vivid Youth / About You'' (
Geographic Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
, 2009)


With Sonic Youth

* The Pastels and
Sonic Youth Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the b ...
– ''Sonic Youth and the Pastels Play The New York Dolls'' (Glass Modern, 2021)


See also

*
Culture in Glasgow The city of Glasgow, Scotland, has many amenities for a wide range of cultural activities, from curling to opera and from football to art appreciation; it also has a large selection of museums that include those devoted to transport, religion, ...
*
Music of Scotland Scotland is internationally known for its traditional music, which remained vibrant throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music. In spite of emigration and a well-developed con ...
*
Creation (record label) Creation Records Ltd. was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. Its name came from the 1960s band The Creation, whom McGee greatly admired. The label ceased operations in 1999, although ...
*
Glass Records Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1990, and was resurrected in 2015. Glass Vintage 1981–1990 Glass was one of the key London-based indie labels of the 1980s. Early releases focused on artists f ...
*
C86 ''C86'' is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine '' NME'' in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from British independent record labels of the time. As a term, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based music g ...
compilation *
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pastels, The Scottish rock music groups Musical groups from Glasgow Creation Records artists Scottish indie rock groups Scottish alternative rock groups Musical groups established in 1982 British indie pop groups Jangle pop groups Scottish post-punk music groups Scottish art rock groups Glass Records artists 1982 establishments in Scotland Homestead Records artists