"The place was Britain and a young generation who wanted out with the American bands and in with some home grown sounds that spoke a language they could relate too.
Bye Bye Nirvana, well hello These Animal men etc".Shugmonkey
The Leaders of the Britpop phenomenon
As a reaction to grunge, and the US musical invasion of the early 90s, Britpop was born, and for the very short time it was Fun to British again. Blur –The Leaders of the Britpop phenomenon – had released the first proper Britpop album, 'Modern Life Is Rubbish', already. The Trademark of the Britpop sound were there – a distinct Englishness(Enjoy a Cup Of Tea) to the lyrics, and a firm musical nod to The Kinks.
Cut Down On Your Pork Life Mate
It was the chart success of Parklife, bolstered by the single release of the novelty Mockney title track(inc Phil MOD Daniles), that the press began to pick up on it. At the same time, Oasis released(whose Supersonic was making ground)their first album, ripped off – The Beatles, Status Quo and Slade, and somehow became “Best Band In Britain” on Music front pages A.non-existent musical movement was Born, and someone, somewhere, called it “Britpop".
It was very Much A DIY Scene based in Camden, till it broke.
The Flood gates by now were well and truly opened, bands were popping up all the time,very circa '77 and most held true to one thing a great love of the 60's,that was more than evident in bands like Mantaray/Thurman, It was picking up other too like Super Grass (Britpop ?, New Mod? we don't think so..Great Music and sideburns Yes)
Other's inc the Wonders PIMLICO, a London based band who released some EP's and an Album,Andy Lewis Bass player was a DJ @ Blow Up ,the London Club scenes most happening 60's type events.
Another very happening band of that time that embraced the Mod look and the Icons of that era were Londers, The Weekenders.
Indeed Mantaray's Album 'Some Pop' was so 60's it was Modern,however the follow up 'Reds & Blues' saw distinct change in sound and look,well before Britpop was even dead,smart move or Jumpin that Bandwagon ??.Thurman's 'Lux' was a mish match Kinks-Small Faces and T-Rex for its own good,a great pop Album that the Music papers and critics found hard to write off.."Want's to be Famous" they Sang and so did all the new Britpop bands ...
New Wave Of New Wave
It was the likes of Menswear that were leading the way and even the New Wave of New Wave band These Animal Men would have a go,there were other's ones who did not break the mainstream bands like Monorail & Powder
'Speed Kings ? These Animal Men'
throw in Northern Uproar and Elastica..A Scene Was Born.Can we ignore the passion and the Pop of The 60FT Dolls I think not.'Stay' should have set the charts alight, how a song like that at that time didn't is beyond me ??,and even Punky Britpop from the leaders of '92's New Wave Of New Wave scene S*M*A*S*H entertained a bored of Grunge UK.Throw in a host of female fronted bands like Sleeper and Echobelly and you have a really big but short lived scene.
Some choice Britpop Tunes
These Animal Men - This Is The Sound of Youth
S*M*A*S*H - I Want To Kill Somebody
Echobelly - I Can't Imagine The World Without Me
Mantaray - Insomniacs Dream
Sleeper - Inbetweener
Elastica - Vaseline
Supergrass - Caught by the Fuzz
Heavy Stereo - Smiler
60ft Dolls - Stay
Whiteout - Detroit
The Longpigs - She Said
Thurman - English Tea
Shed Seven - Speakeasy
Menswear - I'll Manage Somehow
Gene - Haunted by You .
Without Blow up and the Lemon Tree Pub..Britpop as it became may have never happened, it came through on the shirt tales of a very small but happening New Mod scene based in London's Camden Town..
Blow Up Biography
Blow Up is a weekly club night that currently takes place at London's Metro club every Saturday. From its origins in the upstairs room in a North London Pub to its central role in the Britpop Explosion, Blow Up has bee influential and responsible for some of the major musical and style trends of the last few years. Blow Up quickly attained a worldwide reputation, partly due to its association with the imerging British pop scene but mostly built on its innovative unique play-list and its guaranteed ability to create a great party.
Founder and DJ Paul Tunkin started promoting the club night in October 1993, in part as a reaction against the then and current obsession with US grunge scene but mainly as an excuse to play music that had seemingly failed to remain in the wider public's consciousness. 60s Soul, Beat, Pop, Mod Jazz, Swinging Soundtracks weird old electronic records from French maverick composers, hip Hammond grooves, bargain basement session band covers albums, girly French Pop a la Bardot and Francoise Hardy all in a head on collision with the then immerging new British Pop scene. Swiftly recruiting DJ's Andy Lewis, Ian Jackson and the Karminsky Experience alongside him, Paul set the tone for what was to become one of the UK's longest running and most successful club nights.
Blow Up has featured a broad range of live guests and DJ's from around the world at its many events providing further interests in the club globally. Blow Up's international reputation has also been enhanced by the contribution of its Record label Blow Up Records, with releases ranging from its highly acclaimed Exclusive Blend Compilations, to the debut album from electronic pioneers Add N to X.
Blow Up has also collaborated and been involved with events outside the club- -Blow Up went on tour with Blur for their Parklife UK Tour, which culminated in the stadium shows at Alexandra Palace and the Mile End Stadium. It also provided musical entertainment for the NME Brat award 5 years running (2000 included), has DJ'd at the annual MTV music awards in Milan, as well as Djing at the party for the relaunch of Quadrophenia at Brighton's Grand Hotel. Blow Up has also staged numerous one-off events around the Capital, toured many UK clubs, venues and colleges, as well as being invited to play at international dates from Barcelona to Stockholm to Tokyo.
In the summer of 1999 a track that was originally found on a Blow Up compilation (Exclusive Blend Vol. 2) became an instant ad classic as the soundtrack to the Gap Khaki A-Go-Go campaign. Due to huge public demand Blow Up, in conjunction with V2 Records, released the track as a single, which was renamed after the club as Blow Up A-Go-Go!. The accompanying video directed by Dylan Kendal (ex-Tomato) who had previously worked on title sequences for the films Trainspotting and the Acid House. Blow Up A-GoGo! Was swiftly followed by an album of the same name, which was a collection of classic cuts both old and new from the Blow Up Dancefloor, a perfect snapshot of the broad spectrum of the Blow Up play-list. This album went on to receive rave review, from the Sunday Times to Mojo, and got 9 out of 10 for it's average Club and student DJ reaction the best DJ reaction for any release that the promotion company Renegade had worked on.