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Suede: formed 1989, London, UK. Current members: Brett Anderson (vocals, 1989-2003; 2010-), Mat Osman (bass, 1989-2003; 2010-), Simon Gilbert (drums, 1991-2003; 2010-), Richard Oakes (guitar, 1994-2003; 2010-), Neil Codling (keyboards, 1996-2001; 2010-).
Former members: Justin Welch (drums, 1989-91), Mike Joyce (drums, 1991), Bernard Butler (guitar, 1989-94), Alex Lee (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, 2001-03).
Aka The London Suede. Suede was the new hype already before releasing anything. They had been labelled "The Best New Band in Britain" by the English music press (who has always been notoriously "good" at hyping new artists). In the initial state of a line-up, Mike Joyce, former member of The Smiths, played drums for a short period, although, he left the band before they made any major releases. After a decline in their sales and after two poorly received albums, the band split in 2003. In 2004, Brett and Bernard (together with 3 other band members) formed The Tears, a band that lasted until 2006. In 2010 Suede was officially a band again. My first acquisition of Suede was the debut. I believe, I bought it second-hand round about 1994 but before their second album was released. I enjoyed it... some but eventually found it too strange and extravagant, too "glamourish" and resold it to buy something else, I guess. After listening to Dog Man Star, I was impressed, and rebought the debut. The only albums, I have bought upon their release were Coming Up, Head Music, and Sci-Fi Lullabies. The other albums have been bought some time after their original release. I have always had ambivalent emotions for their music. Some of their songs are utter beauty, and I love the electric energy on i.e. Sci-Fi... and the early period, and although I enjoy their harmonic (lost) love songs, I also think it too much at times. Their strength is both the energetic 'pop/rock' songs and the slow ballads, but sometimes the 'glam' 'pop' and Brett's wining phrasing are sometimes... over the hill. You really have to be in the mood for this music, but when you are, it's really great.
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