Elastica

Formed in London in 1992, Elastica were the most crush-inspiring gang of the 90s Britpop set. Their DM’s, eyeliner, jeans and leather jackets non-look set a new standard in what-the-fuck-you-staring-at attitude, while singer Justine Frischmann’s legendary fringe became a haircut almost as copied as Jennifer Aniston’s.

Frischmann had impeccable credentials. She had been in Suede, lived with Blur‘s Damon Albarn and was the coolest frontwoman since Chrissie Hynde.

Her songs, unburdened by solos or concepts, just sped by. “If you want to hear the chorus again,” she declared, “rewind it”.

She was a girl heartbreakingly cool enough to inspire some of the era’s anthems, such as Suede‘s Animal Lover, and later – after the death of the Britpop party – Blur‘s Tender and No Distance Left To Run.

Elastica quickly rose to prominence after the release of their debut single Stutter in November 1993, and the band’s next three singles charted in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart.

Their self-titled debut album (1995) was an immediate success and broke records for the fastest-selling debut album in the UK. The album also found success in the US.

Connection was Elastica’s biggest song. The crude, blarting, irresistible riff caused heads to instantaneously snap and limbs to jerk in the direction of the nearest danceable surface.

The band were accused of plagiarism, though when some similarity (not to say identicality) was noted between the riff and the Wire track Three Girl Rhumba.

Sadly, legal nastiness ensued, and Elastica eventually settled with Wire out of court.

Their second proper album, The Menace, was released in April 2000.

It was less well received critically or commercially, which – coupled with interpersonal disputes, frequent line-up changes (the band’s members changed several times, with Frischmann and drummer Justin Welch being the only members who remained in Elastica from its formation to its dissolution) and Frischmann’s heroin addiction – led to their breakup in 2001 (after the release of farewell single, The Bitch Don’t Work.)

After Elastica split, Frischmann turned to art, moving to San Francisco to study Contemplative Art. She went on to exhibit her artworks all across the US.

Justine Frischmann
Vocals, guitar
Donna Matthews
Guitar
Annie Holland
Bass
Justin Welch
Drums
Sheila Chipperfield
Bass
David Bush
Keyboards
Paul Jones
Guitar
Sharon Mew
Keyboards