Alpinestars (band)
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Richard Woolgar, Glyn Thomas |
| Headquarters | Manchester , United Kingdom |
| Products | Electronic rock music |
Alpinestars was an electronic rock duo originating from Manchester, established in 1999 by Richard Woolgar and Glyn Thomas.
Formation and Early Years (1995–1999)
Richard Woolgar and Glyn Thomas first crossed paths in 1995 while rehearsing in adjacent bands. Discovering a stronger mutual connection, they both departed their respective groups to create an electronic music project initially called "Maxim." Although Maxim never produced any official recordings, this endeavor led to an opportunity to perform live under the name "Alpinestars," a title inspired by Thomas's mountain biking interests. Their well-received live act resulted in a contract with Faith and Hope Records.
EP Releases (1999–2000)
The duo introduced themselves in August 1999 with the limited edition EP Las Vegas, which included the track "Interlaken," gaining significant airplay on BBC Radio 1. They subsequently released two additional EPs: Silicon Chick in November 1999 and Kitzbuhel Weekend in March 2000. Notably, a single from Kitzbuhel Weekend earned the distinction of "Single of the Week" by NME magazine.
B.A.S.I.C. and White Noise Era (2000–2003)
In July 2000, Alpinestars issued their first commercial single, "77 Sunset Strip," followed by their debut album B.A.S.I.C. ("Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code") in September through Faith and Hope Records. Despite limited distribution, the album was met with positive critical reception and was later re-released in 2003 by Guidance Recordings.
After parting ways with Faith and Hope in 2001, the pair launched their sophomore album, White Noise, in 2002 via Riverman Records and Astralwerks for the US market. Both Woolgar and Thomas shared vocal duties, complemented by Brian Molko of Placebo featuring on the track "Carbon Kid." The group aimed to transcend the conventional sampler duo format.
In a 2002 interview, Thomas highlighted the creative freedom afforded by remaining independent, expressing reservations about how major label contracts might restrict emerging artists.
Albums
- B.A.S.I.C. (Guidance Recordings, 2000)
- White Noise (2002)
- Time Spent with Machines (2005) (unreleased)
Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | UK Chart | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Silicon Chick" (EP) | — | |
| "Less Vegas" (EP) | — | ||
| 2000 | "Kitzbühel Weekend" (EP) | — | |
| "77 Sunset Strip" | — | ||
| 2001 | "Interlaken" | 94 | |
| 2002 | "Snow Patrol" | 99 | |
| "Carbon Kid" (featuring Brian Molko) | 63 | ||
| 2003 | "Burning Up" | 84 | |
| "—" indicates releases that did not enter the charts. | |||
Appearances in Video Games
- "Jump Jet" was included in the soundtrack of Midnight Club II.
- "Snow Patrol" featured on SSX 3.
- "Carbon Kid" appeared in Project Gotham Racing 3, APB Reloaded, and Test Drive Unlimited.