Acetone (band)

Last updated

Acetone
OriginLos Angeles, California
Genres Alternative rock
Years active1992 (1992)–2001 (2001)
Labels
Past members
  • Richie Lee
  • Mark Lightcap
  • Steve Hadley

Acetone were an American alternative rock band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles from the three core members of the group Spinout, formed in 1987. [1] [2] The group consisted of Mark Lightcap on guitar, Richie Lee on bass and Steve Hadley on drums. It disbanded after Lee's suicide on July 23, 2001, aged 34. [3] While the group didn't receive much commercial success, they received strong critical attention and developed a loyal cult following throughout the years.

Contents

The group's influences included the Beach Boys, Gram Parsons and the Velvet Underground. [4] Establishing themselves as an alternative rock group, they incorporated genres ranging from neo-psychedelia to roots rock and country into their music. [5] Acetone has performed on few occasions since Lee's death, most notably with Mazzy Star's lead singer Hope Sandoval in 2017. [6]

In 2023, New West Records released a comprehensive 11 LP box set that contains the band's entire discography, making some of the out-of-print recordings available again for the first time in years. In the accompanying book, Drew Daniel of Matmos retraces Acetone's trajectory and British musician J Spaceman (Spaceman 3, Spiritualized) describes his relation to the musicians, further emphasizing Acetone's status as a band highly esteemed by their peers. The re-release rekindled the interest in Acetone, both in their own right as "clearly underappreciated talent (...) enshrined in the history of alternative music" as well as a case example for "one of many swept up in the post-Nirvana gold rush and signed for a huge advance, only for them to later fade into a distant memory, a spectre of unfulfilled potential." [7]

Members activity outside of Acetone

Hadley and Lightcap formed The Ecstasy of Gold in 2012, [8] releasing their first album Vol. 1 October 6, 2022.

One of Lightcap's endeavors was the Dick Slessig Combo, [9] with himself on guitar, bassist Carl Bronson, and drummer Steve Goodfriend formerly of the band Radar Brothers. Lightcap's credits include electronic duo Matmos' albums The West (1999), [10] A Chance to Cut Is a Chance to Cure (2001), [11] The Civil War (2003), [12] and The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast (2006) [13] , performing electric, slide and acoustic guitar, ukulele, banjo, tuba, trumpet, bass trumpet, plastic tube, and peck horn.

Band members

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

EPs

References

  1. ↑ James, Falling (September 26, 2017). "Lost '90s Anti-Rockers Star as Themselves in a New Book and Double Album". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  2. ↑ NICHOLS, NATALIE (February 3, 2001). "Taking a Dreamy Ramble With Alt-Roots-Rock Acetone". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Acetone's Richie Lee Dies at 34". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  4. ↑ Stuart Berman. "Acetone 1992–2001". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 18, 2021
  5. ↑ Acetone. AllMusic
  6. ↑ "Acetone Perform With Hope Sandoval At First Show In Over 16 Years". Stereogum. November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  7. ↑ Wray, Daniel Dylan (November 27, 2023). "Acetone – I'm Still Waiting". Uncut.
  8. ↑ "The Ecstasy of Gold". Spotify. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Dick Slessig Combo : Wichita Lineman". Aquarium Drunkard. March 25, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  10. ↑ Matmos – The West , retrieved November 23, 2022
  11. ↑ Matmos – A Chance To Cut Is A Chance To Cure , retrieved November 23, 2022
  12. ↑ Matmos – The Civil War , retrieved November 23, 2022
  13. ↑ Matmos – The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth Of A Beast , retrieved November 23, 2022
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