While 1995 will be remembered as a great year for all things Britpop, with Albums by the Charlatans, Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Supergrass and Black Grape all reaching no.1 on the UK album charts, it was also, sadly, a year in which many good bands split or took an extended break. This piece takes a look back on the past glories, reasons for demise and new beginnings of the bands:

Adorable The Cult Ned's Atomic Dustbin Inspiral Carpets
SMASH These Animal Men Ride The Verve

Adorable

Who: Floppy haired moody popsters formed in 1990, released a handful of mesmerising singles (I'll be your Saint, Sunshine Smile, Homeboy ) and glorious debut album (Against Perfection). Released second album Fake which was more subtle but still had its sublime moments. Toured worldwide in 1993 including Australia.

What Happened: Broke up in late 94/early 95 after being dropped by record label Creation, due to luke-warm response by critics and public to Fake. Also rumoured that lead singer Piotr was fighting with Guitarist Kevin over a girl. Played last show in France, in which they performed "Homeboy" twice, including the final song.

What Now: Apparantly Piotr has traded his guitar for keyboards and has a new band Casino, who have demo tapes floating around. It has also been rumoured that the guitarist tried out for Slowdive but didn't cut it, so has got depressed and given up playing guitar altogether (please don't!).

Web Sites: Home Page 1 (fair) | Home Page 2 (poor) | Sony Page (press release only)

The Cult

Who: Formed out of the ashes of the punk/goth Southern Death Cult in 1984. Transformed from goth to hard rock with the watershed Electric LP, (1987). Most successful album was 1989's Sonic Temple after "Fire Women" was a hit in the States.

What Happened: They had been teetering on collapse on other occasions but this really is it. Their demise was probably helped along by average sales of their 6th and final album (The Cult). Thankfully before the breakup in April they played some scorching (quite literally) shows in Australia and elsewhere in early 1994, including the Big Day Out concerts.

What Now: A final compilation will be released in the U.S. and perhaps elsewhere, a 2CD set called High Octane in early 96. This will have two new songs - "In the Clouds" and "Beauty on the Streets". It didn't take Astbury long to form another band, called Holy Babarians who are currently recording an album. They're 'harder', 'heavier' and more 'upbeat' than the Cult, apparently. Billy Duffy briefly joined Vent, Miles Hunt's (Wonderstuff) new group, and played a few dates with them including the Reading festival, but soon departed because of clashes in the musical direction of the band.

Web Sites: Home Page (good) | Holy Barbarians official page

Ned's Atomic Dustbin

Who: Late comers in the Midlands punk-pop-sampler division, which included Pop Will Eat Itself and The Wonderstuff, forming in 1988. First album God Fodder sold over 300,000 copies due to popularity in both UK and US and constant touring. Toured Oz in 1993.

What Happened: The dreaded record company problems again! Third album BrainBloodVolume was released in the US 5 months before the UK due to label difficulties. This resulted in poor sales upon UK release due to imports. Bad reviews didn't help either, as the Ned's were obviously not part of Britpop and weren't 'in', according to the press. Break up got two column inches in an October 95 NME.

What Now: Jon (vox) and Rat (guitar) are making music together, with a Chemical Bros feel. Alex (bass) is going in a techno direction. The others are or will be involved in various bands in the U.K. and U.S.

Web Sites: Sony Home pages (fair) | Home page 2 (good)

Inspiral Carpets

Who: Oldhams finest formed in 1987 with their own record label (Cow), catchy hammond organ, sense of humour and some arresting T-shirts. There was a bidding war for them, before they signed with indie label Mute in 1990. Released debut album Life, at height of Madchester, a movement they were rightly or wrongly associated with. This was a huge success, follow up the more progressive The Beast Inside, proved less successful. Continued to have hits with subsequent albums Revenge of the Goldfish and Devil Hopping. Toured extensively including a trip to Australia in mid 1993.

What Happened: Parted ways with Mute last year (so much for signing with an independent) due to different un-poppy direction the band where planning for next album and decline in record sales. Still involved with Mute publishing. There's been nothing official about a split, only rumours but the signs are ominous (including a letter floating around from singer Tom Hingley about a breakup).

What Now: Compilation album and video The Singles released in October 1995, which if there was any justice in the world would of sold much more (it peaked at #17 in the UK). Let's hope the rumours about the split are only that.

Web Sites: Home page (fair) | Mute page (fair)

Ride

Who: From Oxford art school beginnings in 1988, Ride was one of a crop of heavier guitar bands influenced by My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain. They charted that course over two albums, Nowhere and Going Blank Again before maturing as song writers with 94's more mellow Carnival of Light. Toured Australia in 91/92.

What Happened: Yes unfortunately after weeks of speculation it is official, they have disbanded. Although everyone's being tight lipped at the moment about the split, apparently Mark Gardener left to record a solo album with DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold, and the other members decided not to continue on.

What Now: They will release their fourth album, Tarantula in March, which according to Creation is among their best work (well you would expect them to say that wouldn't you?), with a single "Black Nite Crash" preceding it. A song from Tarantula "Mary-Anne" will be included on Vox's January Creation CD. They will also have a song on the Small Faces tribute album due soon.

Web Sites: Ride 1 | Ride 2 | Ride 3 | Ride 4

S*M*A*S*H

Who: Three piece political punkers who rose to fame as part of 1994's oh-so-brief New Wave of New Wave (NWONW) movement. Slightly controversial singles, antics and tours. Released EP Self Abused and debut album in 1994/95.

What Happened: Split from High Rise records mid 95 on the verge of releasing "Rest of My Life"/"Tidal Wave" single, because of incompatibility problems (translation - lack of success).

What Now: The verdict's out whether they can pull it together and keep going.

Web Sites: Offical page (poor)

These Animal Men

Who: Also part of NWONW. Garnered reputation for touring, partying and taking large quantities of speed (hence the song "Speed King"). Released debut album Come and join the High Society which made slight impact on UK charts. Most recent release was Taxi for these Animal Men EP which failed to set the world alight.

What Happened: Similar to S*M*A*S*H, but still on Hi-Rise records.

What Now: Hooligan has been working on a solo project and also DJ'ing at Uni's in England. The band have been very quiet and could just be taking a sabbatical.

Web Sites: Offical page (poor)

The Verve

Who: Favourite with both the critics and the astute - this powerful, atmospheric band released two albums and numerous singles over their 5 year existence. Toured as part of Lollapoolooza in 1994 and released breathtaking second album Northern Soulin 95, which made #22 on the UK charts. Final single was the appropriately title "History".

What Happened: Less a demise and more of a re-birth. Singer and leader Richard Ashcroft felt underwhelmed by the success of Northern Soul and wasn't getting on with guitarist Nick McCabe and so split the group up. (I guess simply kicking out the guitarist would have been too easy).

What Now: Word's just out that Richard is re-forming the Verve, without the aforementioned guitarist, but with everyone else. He has also added 3 new players (It's gonna be a big, big sound). They're currently recording with producer John Leckie, who produced the first Verve album.

Web Sites:
*The Verve (good) | The Verve 2 | The Verve 3 | The Verve 4 (good) | The Verve 5 (fair) | The Verve (6) (poor)

There you have it, a brief round up of some of the major disintegration's and palpitations of the past year. There were more, true, but these were the ones that mattered. Don't be depressed if like me, some of these are/were your favourite groups - isn't it better to have a few really good albums and memories rather than seeing your heroes slowly decline. No band lives forever, expect perhaps the Rolling Stones.
Remember....the future starts tommorow.

Caleb