Blow Up (band)


Blow Up were a British indie pop/indie rock band active between 1986 and 1991.

History

The band was formed in Brighton, England in 1986 by former 14 Iced Bears member Nick Roughley, along with Alan Stirner, Whirl frontman Trevor Elliott on Bass, and The Milk Sisters Drummer Chris Window. Signing to Creation Records at their first gig by an awe-struck Alan McGee they gained exposure with two singles on the label, 1987's 1966-Nuggets-style "Good For Me" and the epic "Pool Valley". A BBC Janice Long live session at the legendary BBC Abbey Road studios in 1987 brought the outfit well needed publicity with the help of Dave Nimmo on percussion. A tour of the Netherlands and Belgium was followed by their early recordings being collected on the Rollercoaster compilation issued on Megadisc in 1988. After two further EP's, the Pixies-influenced first album proper, In Watermelon Sugar, was issued in 1990. This line-up featured Justin Spear, son of Roger Ruskin Spear of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and 'Paul' Reeves, who as Billy Reeves formed theaudience with Sophie Ellis-Bextor in 1997. An ambitious further album, Amazon Eyegasm followed in 1991.
Blow-Up were described as 'the best band I ever signed, and the worst band I ever signed' by Alan McGee.

Discography

Singles/EPs