The Vaselines

Last updated

The Vaselines
The Vaselines 2014.jpg
The Vaselines performing in 2014
Background information
Origin Glasgow, Scotland
Genres
Years active
  • 1986–1989
  • 1990
  • 2006
  • 2008–present
Labels
Members
Past members

The Vaselines are a Scottish alternative rock band. Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, but later added James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. [3] McKee had formerly been a member of a band named The Pretty Flowers with Duglas T. Stewart, Norman Blake, Janice McBride and Sean Dickson. Eugene Kelly had formerly played in The Famous Monsters.

Contents

History

The band formed in 1986, initially as a duo backed by a drum machine. Originally intending to create a fanzine, Kelly and McKee decided to form a band instead. [4] Stephen Pastel of The Pastels is credited with coming up with their name. [5] After playing their first gigs, they signed to Pastel's 53rd and 3rd label and recorded the Son of a Gun EP with him producing, released in summer 1987. [6] The EP featured a cover of Divine's "You Think You're a Man" on its B-side. By late 1987, Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly had joined on drums with James Seenan on bass. With this line-up and with Stephen Pastel producing again, they recorded the Dying for It EP, released in early 1988. It featured the songs "Molly's Lips" and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam," both of which American rock band Nirvana would later cover. In June 1989 they released their first album, Dum-Dum , again on 53rd and 3rd but distributed by Rough Trade. The band broke up shortly after its release due jointly to the dissolution of 53rd & 3rd and the end of Kelly and McKee's romantic relationship. They briefly reformed in October 1990 to open for Nirvana when they played in Edinburgh.

Kelly went on to found the band Captain America (later renamed Eugenius after legal threats from Marvel Comics), supporting Nirvana on their UK tour. [3] Following solo performances Kelly released the album Man Alive in 2004. McKee founded the bands Painkillers in 1994 and Suckle in 1997 before releasing her first solo album, Sunny Moon , in 2006.

Though they were not widely known outside Scotland during their short career, their association with Nirvana brought exposure to the band. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain once described Kelly and McKee as his "favorite songwriters in the whole world". [7] [8] With their songs "Son of a Gun" and "Molly's Lips" covered on Nirvana's album Incesticide and "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" covered on MTV Unplugged in New York , the band gained a new audience. At the 1991 Reading Festival, Kelly joined Nirvana on stage for a performance of "Molly's Lips". [3] "I've never made any money apart from my Nirvana royalties," Kelly noted. "It was my tiny bit of rock history, but a strange feeling because by then I was striving for recognition with other bands. I still haven't come to terms with it, although it allowed me to go on playing, and get a mortgage without having a job." [9]

In 1992, Sub Pop released The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History , a compilation that contained The Vaselines' entire body of work at the time.

The story of the Vaselines from 1986 to the early 1990s is covered in the 2017 documentary Teenage Superstars, in which both McKee and Kelly feature. [10]

The Vaselines song Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam was played in 1993 by Nirvana in their MTV Unplugged in New York concert as a cover (renamed as “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam.”)

Reformation

Frances McKee with the Vaselines in Portland, OR, 13 May 2009. Frances mckee.jpg
Frances McKee with the Vaselines in Portland, OR, 13 May 2009.

In the summer of 2006, McKee and Kelly took to the stage together for the first time since 1990 to perform a set of Vaselines songs, as part of a joint tour to promote their individual solo albums.

The Vaselines reformed (minus the old rhythm section) on 24 April 2008 for a charity show for the Malawi Orphan Support group at Glasgow's MONO venue. Invitation was by word-of-mouth with no press announcements and the band played to a packed, enthusiastic audience.

The Vaselines performed on 16 May 2008 at Scotland's Tigerfest. [11] [12] Members of Belle and Sebastian supported their live set. The band then played their first-ever U.S. performance at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ on 9 July. The band also performed at Sub Pop Records' 20th Anniversary SP20 music festival on 12 July at Marymoor Park just outside Seattle WA.

On 27 March 2009, they played their first London date in 20 years at the London Forum.

On 5 May, Sub Pop released Enter the Vaselines . [13] A deluxe-edition reissue of the 1992 Sub Pop release, it includes remastered versions of the band’s two EPs (Son of a Gun and Dying for It), and a remixed version of their sole album (Dum-Dum), as well as demos and live recordings from 1986 and 1988. [14] [15] The band toured the U.S. in May 2009, playing six dates, starting in Los Angeles on 10 May, then heading up the west coast to San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. Dates for Chicago, IL and Brooklyn, NY would end the tour on 18 May. [16] The band finished their May tour at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona. [17]

On 19 July 2009, The Vaselines played the Uncut Arena at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk.

On 9 October 2009, The Vaselines made a long-awaited return to Edinburgh to support Mudhoney at HMV Picture House. [18]

The band were chosen personally by Belle and Sebastian to perform at their second Bowlie Weekender festival presented by All Tomorrow's Parties in the UK in December 2010.

The band performed a cover version of the Nirvana song "Lithium" as part of a Spin Magazine's exclusive album, Newermind . It is the Nirvana album Nevermind, performed by different artists. [19]

The Vaselines second studio album, Sex With an X , was released in September 2010.

The Vaselines announced their third studio album, V for Vaselines , in June 2014 which was released on 29 September 2014 on Rosary Music. [20] "One Lost Year" from the album was made available for free download from their SoundCloud page. [21] The single "High Tide Low Tide" followed in August, being released as a digital download and 7-inch vinyl.

The band features in the book Postcards From Scotland detailing the 1980's and 1990's independent music scene in Scotland.

Current members

Former members

Timeline

The Vaselines

Discography

LPs

YearTitleLabel UK Indie Chart [22]
1989 Dum-Dum 53rd & 3rd-
2010 Sex with an X Sub Pop-
2014 V for Vaselines Rosary Music-

EPs

YearTitleLabel UK Indie Chart [22]
1987 Son of a Gun 53rd & 3rd26
1988 Dying for It 11

Compilations

YearTitleLabel
1991The Vaselines / Beat Happening - Recorded Live in London, England 1988K Records
1992 The Way of The Vaselines: A Complete History Sub Pop
1992All the Stuff and More...Avalanche
2009 Enter the Vaselines Sub Pop

Sources

Related Research Articles

<i>The Way of The Vaselines: A Complete History</i> 1992 compilation album by The Vaselines

The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History is a compilation album by the indie rock band The Vaselines. It was released in May 1992 on Sub Pop Records, catalogue SP145b. The album compiles every previous release by the band, the two EP's Son of a Gun and Dying For It, as well as their first long-playing album Dum-Dum, in chronological order of release. Three additional tracks are included: "Dying for It ", "Let's Get Ugly", and the previously unreleased "Bitch."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pastels</span> Scottish indie rock band

The Pastels are an indie rock group from Glasgow formed in 1981. They were a key act of the Scottish and British independent music scenes of the 1980s, and are specifically credited for the development of an independent and confident music scene in Glasgow. The group have had a number of members, but currently consists of Stephen McRobbie, Katrina Mitchell, Tom Crossley, John Hogarty, Alison Mitchell and Suse Bear.

<i>With the Lights Out</i> 2004 compilation box set by Nirvana

With the Lights Out is a box set by the American rock band Nirvana, released on November 23, 2004. It contains three CDs and one DVD of previously rare or unreleased material, including B-sides, demos, and rehearsal and live recordings. The title comes from the lyrics of Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Soup Dragons</span> Scottish alternative rock band

The Soup Dragons are a Scottish alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Named after a character in the 1970s children's television series Clangers, the group is best known for its cover of the Rolling Stones' song "I'm Free", which was a top 5 hit in the United Kingdom in 1990; and "Divine Thing", a top 40 hit in the United States in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMX Bandits (band)</span> Scottish pop rock band

BMX Bandits are a Scottish guitar pop band formed in Bellshill in 1986. Led by songwriter and lead vocalist Duglas T. Stewart, their music is heavily influenced by 1960s pop. They have shared members with numerous other local bands, including Teenage Fanclub and the Soup Dragons. BMX Bandits were a favourite band of Kurt Cobain, who said "If I could be in any other band, it would be BMX Bandits". In 2011, they were the subject of the documentary Serious Drugs: A Film About BMX Bandits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candy / Molly's Lips</span> 1991 split single by The Fluid / Nirvana

"Candy"/"Molly's Lips" is a vinyl-only split-single from the American rock bands the Fluid and Nirvana. It was released in January 1991 on Sub Pop records and includes two live tracks: "Candy" by the Fluid; and "Molly's Lips", a cover of a song by the Vaselines, performed by Nirvana.

<i>Dum-Dum</i> (album) 1989 studio album by The Vaselines

Dum-Dum is the first full-length album by the alternative rock band The Vaselines, released in 1989. It was recorded at Chamber Studios, Edinburgh, between December 1988 and January 1989. The album was produced by the band and Jamie Watson, and was included in its entirety for their career retrospective The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History.

Secession was a Scottish synth-pop band that was active between 1983 and 1987. The original incarnation comprised Peter Thomson, Jack Ross, Jim Ross and Carole L. Branston. The band used a small pre-programmed drum machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances McKee</span> Musical artist

Frances McKee is a Scottish singer and songwriter known best for her work in the Scottish indie band The Vaselines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugene Kelly</span> Musical artist

Eugene Kelly is a Scottish musician who is a member of the group The Vaselines, a founding member of the now disbanded Eugenius and has had a number of solo releases.

<i>Dying for It</i> 1988 EP by The Vaselines

Dying for It is the second extended play by Scottish indie pop group The Vaselines, released in March 1988. The EP was later included on their career retrospective collection The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History. The song "Teenage Superstars" was later included as the fourth track on their debut album Dum-Dum in 1989. The song "Molly's Lips" is named in tribute to the well-known Scottish television personality Molly Weir.

<i>Son of a Gun</i> (EP) 1987 EP by The Vaselines

Son of a Gun is the debut extended play single by Glasgow alternative rock group The Vaselines. The title-song of the EP came to a wider audience after a Nirvana Peel session version of it, along with "Molly's Lips", was released on their compilation album Incesticide.

Eugenius was an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland that existed from 1990–1998, centred on former Vaselines singer/guitarist Eugene Kelly and featuring members of BMX Bandits and Teenage Fanclub.

"Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" is a song originally recorded by the Scottish alternative band the Vaselines. It was later covered by American rock band Nirvana in 1993 who renamed it "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam".

<i>Oomalama</i> 1992 studio album by Eugenius

Oomalama is the debut album by Scottish pop rock band Eugenius, released in 1992. The band had released one single and an EP on Paperhouse Records prior to this album, however, Oomalama was their first release under Atlantic Records.

Suckle were an indie pop band formed in Glasgow, Scotland in the mid-1990s by former Vaselines member Frances McKee, along with her sister and co-vocalist in the group Marie McKee and another former Vaselines member James Seenan. After early releases, the line-up was completed by Elanor Taylor, Brian McEwan (guitar), his brother Kenny McEwan, and Vicky Morton (bass). The band's first release was the Hormonal Secretions EP in 1997, followed by "Cybilla" in 1998. They were then signed by Chemikal Underground, who issued "To Be King" in 2000, followed by their debut album, Against Nurture, described as "bringing to mind Nick Cave's Bad Seeds fronted by the vocal duo from Stereolab". After a further EP, The Sun Is God, the band split up. The band were also compared to Belle and Sebastian and Clannad during their time together.

<i>Enter the Vaselines</i> 2009 compilation album by The Vaselines

Enter the Vaselines is a compilation album by the indie rock band The Vaselines, released on 5 May 2009 through the record label Sub Pop.

<i>Sex with an X</i> 2010 studio album by The Vaselines

Sex with an X is the second studio album by the Scottish alternative rock band The Vaselines, which was released on 14 September 2010 on Sub Pop. It was their first new album since the release of Dum-Dum over 20 years earlier.

<i>Live at the Paramount</i> (video) 2011 video by Nirvana

Live at the Paramount is a live video and album by American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 2011. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc as part of the 20th anniversary of the band's second album and mainstream breakthrough, Nevermind.

<i>V for Vaselines</i> 2014 studio album by The Vaselines

V for Vaselines is the third studio album by the Scottish alternative rock band The Vaselines. It was recorded at Castle of Doom studios in Glasgow and was released in the UK on 29 September 2014 and in the US on 7 October 2014 through The Vaselines' own label, Rosary Music.

References

  1. ↑ "THE VASELINES SPIN". Spin .
  2. ↑ Everhart, John. "Enter the Vaselines". Undertheradarmag.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography . Canongate. ISBN   0-86241-913-1.
  4. ↑ "The Vaselines: Enter the Vaselines by Eric Schneider - BOMB Magazine". Bombmagazine.org. October 2009.
  5. ↑ "THE VASELINES". Punkglobe.com.
  6. ↑ "Nirvana Covered 3 Songs By Unknown Band The Vaselines & Made Them Millions". Feelnumb.com. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  7. ↑ Albertson, Jeff (2008) ""You Think You're A Man, You Are Only A Boy" Archived 19 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine ", Seattle Times
  8. ↑ Sandford, Christopher (2004) Kurt Cobain, Carroll & Graf, ISBN   978-0-7867-1369-1, p.242
  9. ↑ Q , March 2000
  10. ↑ Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Teenage Superstars". Film.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  11. ↑ NME: The Vaselines set to reform – NME, 7 May 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2008
  12. ↑ "Exclaim! News: The Vaselines Reform". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  13. ↑ "Enter The Vaselines Deluxe Reissue, New Tour Dates". Subpop.com. 17 April 2010. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  14. ↑ "The Vaselines Bio". Sub Pop!. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  15. ↑ Granzin, Amy (5 May 2009). "Enter the Vaselines". Pitchfork . Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  16. ↑ "Enter The Vaselines Deluxe Reissue, New Tour Dates". Bumpershine.com. 30 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  17. ↑ "Primavera Sound 2009 line-up". Primaverasound.com. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  18. ↑ "Mudhoney Support, 2009". Music-News.com. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  19. ↑ "'We've always been underground' | The Cork News". Thecorknews.ie. 15 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  20. ↑ "The Vaselines Announce New Album *V for Vaselines* Share "One Lost Year"". Pitchfork. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  21. ↑ "The Vaselines". SoundCloud.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  22. 1 2 Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1999. Cherry Red Books. ISBN   0-9517206-9-4.
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