SPINNERS

Formed in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, this trio, comprising Ed Borrie (vocals/guitar), Rob Haigh (drums) and Salvador Alessi (bass), actually dates back to 1984, when the UK miners' strike was in progress and irrevocably altered Ed and Sal's political ideals (although both were still schoolboys). Recruiting Rob from a nearby squat, Sal moved over from singing to playing bass when the original bass player failed to turn up for rehearsals. To this day Sal still plays the instrument “wrong side up”. Their first gig did not take place until early 1992, and by the following year the New Musical Express had decided they sounded like “the Stone Roses on PCP', while two singles, “Real Surreal”/ “Drugs Again” and “Shame”/ “Lady Love Your Cunt” were released on their own Le Disques De Popcor Records. The second single was Single Of The Week in both the NME and Melody Maker. Its b-side was a repetition of Germaine Greer's celebrated feminist remark. Showcases such as the 100 Club's New Art Riot gig in December 1993 and the NME’s On Into 94 event placed them within the New Wave Of The New Wave movement, a description that the band considered “bollocks”. In truth, their reputation was built on tireless touring, and their popularity was enhanced by a cheap entry price policy.

The “buzz” attracted such admirers as Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) and Joe Strummer, while the American label Sub Pop Records, responsible for much of the grunge movement that S*M*A*S*H detested, tried to sign them. Instead they moved to Hi-Rise Records, releasing a mini-album six weeks later (compiling the first two 7-inch singles). A Top 30 hit, it saw them appear on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops, and the band later played the London Anti-Nazi Carnival on the back of a float with Billy Bragg. Censorship proved a problem over July's “(I Want To) Kill Somebody”, which reached the Top 30 despite being on sale for only one day. Its impact was scuppered by BBC Radio 1 (the song included a hit list of Conservative MPs, and was independently edited by the corporation to avoid offence). Their debut album was produced by Chris Allison (Wedding Present) in September 1994, but by June 1995 the band had been dropped by Hi-Rise after a series of poorly received live performances. Haigh left shortly afterwards, and, following the “Rest Of My Life” single, the remaining members decided to split-up.

Discography: S*M*A*S*H mini-album (Hi-Rise 1994)***, Self Abused (Hi-Rise 1994)***.