 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(December 2023) |
Friends of the Stars, [1] originally known as Buick 6, formed in Birmingham in the late 1990s and quickly became a popular live band [2] associated with the burgeoning alternative country movement and known for catchy, classic songwriting and soaring three-part vocal harmonies. The original line-up, consisting of Craig Hamilton, [3] Anna Russell, [4] Jez Ince, James Summerfield and Nick Wilkinson released two singles on Winnebago Records. After replacing Wilkinson with former Novak [5] drummer Phil Robinson, the band recorded a John Peel session before being forced to change their name following legal threats from an Irish band of the same name.[ citation needed ]
The band, now known as "The Tocques", went on to record another Peel Session [6] and had several close shaves with major labels through a development deal with Sanctuary Records Group which ultimately didn't work out for either party.[ citation needed ]
Ayrshire-born singer-songwriter Cam Docherty, [7] who had played with the band on their second Peel Session and at numerous gigs, joined permanently on lead guitar to replace Summerfield who left to pursue a solo career [8] in 2004. The band changed their name to "Friends of the Stars" [9] to draw a line under their underwhelming brush with the corporate music business.
With a new do-it-yourself ethic and renewed sense of purpose, the band began producing their own recordings and released debut album Lighting and Electrical on Commercially Inviable Records in 2007. [10] Follow-up album Faith's Meat Kiosk is due for release on the same label on 23 April 2012. Both albums were mixed by Beth McGowan.[ citation needed ]
Jez Ince stopped working with the band due to family commitments in 2005 and was replaced on bass by Rachael Dobbie in 2008.[ citation needed ]