Lush (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 in London, England |
| Founder | Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, Steve Rippon, Chris Acland |
| Defunct | 1996 (first dissolution), 2016 (final dissolution) |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, United States, Japan |
Key people | Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, Steve Rippon, Chris Acland, Phil King, Justin Welch |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, singles |
Number of employees | 5–6 (band members) |
Lush was a rock group originating from London in 1987. The founding members were Miki Berenyi (vocals, guitar), Emma Anderson (vocals, guitar), Steve Rippon (bass), and Chris Acland (drums). In 1991, Phil King took over bass duties from Rippon. They are recognized as pioneers of the "shoegazing" genre. The band dissolved in 1996 following Acland's passing.
Between 2015 and 2016, they briefly reassembled with Berenyi, Anderson, King, and Justin Welch, embarking on tours and releasing an EP featuring new tracks.
Origins and initial style (1987–1988)
Initially formed in London under the name Baby Machines in 1987, the lineup included Meriel Barham (vocals), Anderson (guitar, vocals), Berenyi (guitar, vocals), Rippon (bass), and Acland (drums). Their sound drew inspiration from acts such as Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Beach Boys, and garage rock exemplified by the Nuggets compilation.
Anderson and Berenyi, who had been friends since their school days in the early 1980s, had previously published the Alphabet Soup fanzine. Both briefly played bass in various bands before joining Barham and Acland to form Baby Machines. Shortly after Rippon joined, the band changed their name to Lush and made their live debut at the Camden Falcon on 6 March 1988. Barham departed later to join Pale Saints, with Berenyi stepping into the role of lead vocalist.
According to Anderson, their early music was "kind of punk rock," focusing on loud guitar sounds with subdued vocals due to stage nerves. Berenyi recalled that they initially composed "crappy riot grrrl anthems" but soon transitioned toward more reflective and expressive songwriting, marking a deliberate shift that improved their commercial prospects.
Scar, EP releases and Spooky era (1989–1993)
In 1989, Lush secured a contract with 4AD Records and launched their first six-track mini-album, Scar. Garnering critical praise alongside dynamic live shows quickly established them as a significant presence in the late 1980s and early 1990s UK indie scene. Anderson reflected on their swift progression from amateurs to signed musicians.
The British music press soon classified them within the "shoegazing" movement. In 1990, they issued the EPs Mad Love, produced by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, and Sweetness and Light, produced by Tim Friese-Greene. These releases, together with Scar, were compiled into Gala for distribution across US and Japanese markets. The band also recorded a session for John Peel's radio show and contributed a rendition of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" to the anti-poll tax compilation Alvin Lives (In Leeds).
Lush expanded their reputation through extensive touring, including a performance at Glastonbury Festival in June 1990, as well as tours in Japan later that year and a spring 1991 US tour alongside Ride. Preceding their first full-length album of original material was the Black Spring EP released in October 1991. Their debut studio album Spooky arrived in January 1992. Produced by Guthrie, it featured layered guitar effects reminiscent of Cocteau Twins’ signature sound. Although critics were divided—some felt Guthrie’s production diverged from Lush’s original intent—the album achieved commercial success, reaching number seven on the UK Albums Chart. The lead single "For Love" became their initial UK top 40 entry; it was partially re-recorded and remixed by Mark Freegard, who also produced its accompanying B-sides, including Anderson’s sole lead vocal performance on "Astronaut". Additionally, Gil Norton remixed "Superblast!" for release as a Japanese single.
Following the recording of the "For Love" EP, bassist Rippon departed to concentrate on writing; his book Cold Turkey Sandwich was never published. He was succeeded by Phil King. In summer 1992, Lush toured the United States as part of the second edition of Lollapalooza, having been personally invited by organizer Perry Farrell, frontman of both Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros.
Split, Lovelife and dissolution (1994–1997)
Initially, Lush sought Bob Mould to produce their sophomore album, but he withdrew due to challenges in selecting tracks. The process of completing Split proved to be a source of frustration for the band. The album was recorded with Mike Hedges at Rockfield Studios in Wales and subsequently mixed at both Abbey Road Studios and Hedges' own studio in France. Dissatisfied with the initial sound, the band and Ivo Watts-Russell from 4AD enlisted Alan Moulder to remix the project. Uncommonly, two EPs from the album—"Hypocrite" and "Desire Lines"—were released simultaneously on 30 May 1994, yet neither managed to enter the UK Top 40. When Split was released on 13 June 1994, it did not achieve the commercial success of its predecessor, Spooky.
Acting on management’s guidance, Lush concentrated efforts on breaking into the American market but did not succeed. A third EP from Split, intended to include "Lovelife" and "The Childcatcher," was ultimately abandoned by management; however, "The Childcatcher" surfaced on various compilation albums. The cancellation of tours in both Japan and the UK further impeded their momentum. Subsequently, the band parted ways with manager Howard Gough and began crafting a new album under fresh management that also emphasized US market success.
Their fourth studio release, Lovelife, launched in March 1996 and produced by live engineer Pete Bartlett, showcased a stylistic shift toward a less guitar-centric sound aligned with prevailing Britpop trends. This album became their highest-selling record, featuring popular singles such as "Single Girl," "Ladykillers", and "500 (Shake Baby Shake)." A notable collaboration included Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, who performed a duet with Berenyi on the track "Ciao!".
Rather than leveraging their UK achievements, management arranged a challenging US tour alongside the Gin Blossoms, which led to exhaustion within the group and increased internal pressure. Anderson contemplated leaving, expressing a preference for smaller-scale projects, while Berenyi favored continuing the band’s trajectory.
In September 1996, Lush performed their final concert before hiatus in Japan. The following month brought tragedy as drummer Acland died by suicide. This event precipitated an extended break for the band, culminating in an official announcement of their disbandment on 23 February 1998.
Post-breakup activities (1998–2014)
Following the band's dissolution, Berenyi took on roles as a production editor within prominent magazine publishing houses. In 1998, Anderson established Sing-Sing (band) alongside Lisa O'Neill; they released two albums before disbanding in 2008. Anderson resided in Hastings, engaging in various capacities including music management, public relations, accountancy, and booking. King contributed as bassist for the Jesus and Mary Chain and worked as a picture researcher for Uncut.
Reunion and subsequent split (2015–2016)
In September 2015, Anderson hinted at a reunion via social media, which was officially confirmed on 28 September with news of Lush's reformation featuring Anderson, Berenyi, King, and drummer Justin Welch (Elastica), who had been a close friend of Chris Acland.
To commemorate their return, 4AD issued a limited edition red vinyl double LP of Ciao! Best of Lush on 7 November 2015. This was followed by Chorus, a comprehensive five-disc CD box set compiling nearly all of their work alongside rare tracks and demos. For Record Store Day 2016, 4AD released Origami, an exclusive five-LP colored vinyl box set containing remastered albums accompanied by refreshed artwork created by Chris Bigg.
Lush announced a London performance at the Roundhouse scheduled for 6 May 2016; due to rapid ticket sales, an additional date was added. Plans also included North American shows confirmed through a tour announcement in January 2016—their first in twenty years.
On 15 April 2016, Lush unveiled the Blind Spot EP—their first new recordings since 1996—produced by Jim Abbiss and Daniel Hunt (Ladytron). On 18 October 2016, bassist King exited the band; Michael Conroy (Modern English (band)) stepped in for their final concert at Manchester Academy on 15 November 2016, where Lush officially disbanded once more.
Recent activities (2018–present)
In September 2018, the group Piroshka was established, comprising Berenyi, Welch, Conroy, and ex-Moose member K.J. "Moose" McKillop. Their first album, Brickbat, was issued by Bella Union on 15 February 2019, followed by their sophomore release, Love Drips and Gathers, on 23 July 2021.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lovelife was spotlighted in Tim Burgess's #TimsTwitterListeningParty on 14 May 2020, with Berenyi providing insights through tweets.
Berenyi released her memoir titled Fingers Crossed on 29 September 2022 via Nine Eight Books, chronicling the history of Lush. In 2023, she supported the book’s launch with live discussions and performances as part of the Miki Berenyi Trio, serving as the opening act for Gang of Four.
On 11 August 2023, 4AD reissued vinyl editions of the albums Spooky, Split, and Lovelife. Subsequently, Anderson debuted her solo album Pearlies through Sonic Cathedral on 20 October 2023.
The Miki Berenyi Trio released their album Tripla under Bella Union on 4 April 2025.
Members
- Emma Anderson – guitar, vocals (1987–1996, 2015–2016); percussion, melodica (1996)
- Miki Berenyi – guitar, vocals (1987–1996, 2015–2016); percussion, melodica (1996)
- Steve Rippon – bass (1987–1992)
- Chris Acland – drums, percussion, guitars (1987–1996; deceased 1996)
- Meriel Barham – vocals (1987–1988)
- Phil King – bass (1992–1996, 2015–2016); vocals (1996)
- Justin Welch – drums, percussion (2015–2016)
Timeline
<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:80 top:5 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1987 till:11/25/2016 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:1987 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1987
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_album id:Lines2 value:gray(0.7) legend:EP,_mini_album id:bars value:gray(0.95)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
BarData =
bar:MB text:Meriel Barham bar:MB2 text:Miki Berenyi bar:EA text:Emma Anderson bar:SR text:Steve Rippon bar:PK text:Phil King bar:CA text:Chris Acland bar:JW text:Justin Welch
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:MB from:start till:07/01/1988 color:vocals bar:EA from:start till:10/17/1996 color:guitar bar:EA from:start till:10/17/1996 color:vocals width:3 bar:EA from:09/01/2015 till:end color:guitar bar:EA from:09/01/2015 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:MB2 from:start till:07/01/1988 color:guitar bar:MB2 from:start till:07/01/1988 color:vocals width:3 bar:MB2 from:07/01/1988 till:10/17/1996 color:vocals bar:MB2 from:07/01/1988 till:10/17/1996 color:guitar width:3 bar:MB2 from:09/01/2015 till:end color:vocals bar:MB2 from:09/01/2015 till:end color:guitar width:3 bar:SR from:start till:04/01/1992 color:bass bar:PK from:04/01/1992 till:10/17/1996 color:bass bar:PK from:09/01/2015 till:10/18/2016 color:bass bar:CA from:start till:10/17/1996 color:drums bar:J W from :09/01 /2015 till:end color :drums
LineData =
layer :back at :10 /09 /1989 color :Lines2 at :02 /26 /1990 color :Lines2 at :10 /15 /1990 color :Lines2 at :10 /07 /1991 color :Lines2 at :01 /27 /1992 color :Lines at :06 /13 /1994 color :Lines at :03 /04 /1996 color :Lines at :04 /15 /2016 color :Lines2
</timeline>
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart rankings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart |
UK Indie Chart |
AUS ARIA Charts |
NL Dutch Charts |
SWE Sverigetopplistan |
US Billboard 200 | ||
| Spooky |
|
7 | 13 | – | 68 | – | – |
| Split |
|
19 | 12 | – | – | – | 195 |
| Lovelife |
|
8 | 14 | 100 | – | 41 | 189 |
Mini albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart rankings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK Indie |
AUS | NL | SWE | US | ||
| Scar |
|
– | 3 | – | – | – | – |
Compilations
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Gala |
|
| Cookie |
|
| Topolino |
|
| Ciao! Best of Lush |
|
| Chorus |
|
| Origami |
|
Singles and EPs
Non-album tracks featured on singles and EPs
Non-album songs:
- Mad Love EP: "De-Luxe" 3:26 / "Leaves Me Cold" 2:55 / "Downer" 2:39 / "Thoughtforms" 2:43
- "Sweetness and Light" [b/w "Sunbathing" 2:47 / "Breeze" 3:09]
- Black Spring EP: "Nothing Natural" 5:58 / "Fallin' in Love" 2:44 / "God's Gift" 4:13 / "Monochrome" 5:08
- "For Love" [b/w "Starlust" 4:21 / "Outdoor Miner" 2:46 / "Astronaut" 2:37]
- "Hypocrite" [b/w "Love at First Sight" 5:12 / "Cat's Chorus" 3:23 / "Undertow (Spooky Remix)" 9:13]
- "Desire Lines" [b/w "White Wood" 4:14 / "Girl's World" 4:56 / "Lovelife (Suga Bullit Remix)" 8:15]
- "Single Girl" CD1 [b/w: "Tinkerbell" 3:06 / "Outside World" 4:05 / "Cul de Sac" 3:39]
- "Single Girl" CD2 [b/w: "Pudding" 3:56 / "Demystification" 3:39 / "Shut Up" 3:46]
- "Single Girl" 7" [b/w "Sweetie" 2:39]
- "Ladykillers" CD1 [b/w: "Matador" 3.01 / "Ex" 3.14 / "Dear Me (Miki's 8-Track Home Demo)" 3.06]
- "Ladykillers" CD2 [b/w: "Heavenly" 2:53 / "Carmen" 3:19 / "Plums And Oranges" 6:19]
- "Ladykillers" 7" [b/w "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend" 3:19]
- "500 (Shake Baby Shake)" CD1 [b/w: "I Have the Moon" 3:52 / "Piledriver" 3:07 / "Olympia (Acoustic Version)" 3:16]
- "500 (Shake Baby Shake)" CD2 [b/w: "I'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind" 2:19 / "Kiss Chase (Acoustic Version)" 2:54 / "Last Night (Hexadecimal Dub Mix)" 6:31]
- Blind Spot EP: "Out of Control" 4.22 / "Lost Boy" 3.18 / "Burnham Beeches" 3:07 / "Rosebud" 3:59
Additional appearances
- Cover of “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” included on Alvin Lives (In Leeds) Anti Poll Tax Trax (1990, Midnight Music).
- “Tiny Smiles” featured on the Volume Two compilation (1991, Volume).
- Live recording of “Starlust” performed at the NME Stage during Glastonbury Festival, released on In a Field of Their Own (1992).
- Demo version of “Desire Lines” available on The 13 Year Itch compilation (1993, 4AD).
- Original recording of “The Childcatcher” included in the All Virgos Are Mad compilation (1994, 4AD).
- Demo of “Tinkerbell” featured on Volume Ten compilation (1994, RTM/Pinnacle).
- Cover rendition of Elvis Costello’s "All This Useless Beauty” found on his maxi-single for “Distorted Angel” (1996).
- “Undertow (The Spooky Mix)” included in the soundtrack for Doom Generation (1995, Warner Bros.).
- Covers of Wire’s “Mannequin” and “Outdoor Miner” contributed to tribute albums Whore (1996) and A Houseguest's Wish (2004).
- “I Have the Moon” featured on the soundtrack Nowhere: Music from the Gregg Araki Movie (1997, Mercury Records).
- Instrumental tracks “Light from a Dead Star” and “Desire Lines” included in the Joyride soundtrack (1997, 4AD/Warner Bros.).
- “Last Night (Darkest Hour Mix)” part of the City of Industry soundtrack (1997, Polygram).
- My Bloody Valentine remix of “Sweetness and Light (The Orange Squash Mix)” included on the Splendor soundtrack (1999, Astralwerks).
- Levi’s commercial titled “Atlas Bakery” featured the track “Undertow” (2002).
- Instrumental version of “Light from a Dead Star” used in the trailer for the film Solaris (2002).
- “Monochrome” appeared on Late Night Tales: The Flaming Lips, curated by The Flaming Lips (2005, Azuli Records).
- Sing-Sing’s interpretation of “Sunbathing” included on Never Lose That Feeling Volume Two compilation (2005, Club AC30 Records).
- “Sweetness and Light” part of the shoegaze collection Sci-Fi-Lo-Fi Vol.3 (2009, Soma Records).
- The song “Ladykillers” featured within the soundtrack for the video game NCAA Football 06.
- Tracks “De-Luxe” and “Sweetness and Light” made available as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series.
External links
| Title | Details | Top chart rankings | From album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US Alt. | |||
| Mad Love |
|
55 | – | |
| Sweetness and Light |
|
47 | 4 | Gala |
| "De-Luxe" |
|
– | 14 | |
| Black Spring |
|
– | – | Spooky |
| "Nothing Natural" |
|
43 | 22 | |
| "For Love" |
|
35 | 9 | |
| "Superblast!" |
|
– | – | |
| "Hypocrite" |
|
52 | – | 'Split' |
| "Desire Lines" |
|
63 | – | |
| "Single Girl" |
|
21 | – | 'Lovelife' |
| Ladykillers |
|
22 | 18 | |
| 500 (Shake Baby Shake) |
|
21 | – | |
| Blind Spot |
| |||
| "Live at KCRW – Morning Becomes Eclectic" |
| |||
- Articles with short description
- 4AD artists
- British dream pop bands
- London-based rock groups
- Musical groups formed in 1988
- Musical groups disbanded in 1996
- Musical groups reunited in 2015
- Musical groups dissolved in 2016
- British shoegaze bands
- English musical quartets
- Britpop bands
- English alternative rock bands
- Female-led musical ensembles
- Mixed-gender quartets
- Musical groups disestablished in 1996