| Blow Up | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brighton, UK |
| Genres | indie pop, indie rock |
| Years active | 1986 - 1991 |
| Labels | Creation Ediesta Megadisc Cherry Red |
| Associated acts | 14 Iced Bears, Whirl |
| Past members | |
| Nick Roughley (vocals) Alan Stirner (guitar) (1986-1988) Trevor Elliott (bass) (1986-1987) Aziz Hashmi (bass) (1987-1989) Chris Window (drums) (1986-1988) Will Taylor (bass) (1989-1991) Justin Spear (guitar) (1988-1991) Paul Reeves (drums) (1988-1991) |
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Blow Up were a British indie pop/indie rock band active between 1986 and 1991.
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The band was formed in Brighton, England in 1986 by former 14 Iced Bears member Nick Roughley (vocals), along with Alan Stirner (guitar), Whirl frontman Trevor Elliott on Bass , and The Milk Sisters Drummer Chris Window (drums).[1][2] 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" (the latter taking its name from Brighton's bus station and featuring new bassist Aziz Hashmi).[2] 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 featued 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 (featuring the former 14 Iced Bear Will Taylor on guitar and 'Red Ed' on drums) followed in 1991.
Blow-Up were described as 'the best band I ever signed, and the worst band I ever signed' by Alan McGee.