History
"They should be made a National institution! ...or instutionalised!" (Losing Today)
Beatnik Filmstars began life in 1991. They have over the years released many
Albums, EP’s, and Singles, which each in turn has been different from the previous
one, but always sounding somehow like the same band, which is in itself a pretty
cool thing to be able to achieve.
They have played live all over the place, with bands you will have never heard of,
and others like The Flaming Lips, Archers Of Loaf, Boyracer, Superchunk, Blur, Hood,
Guided By Voices, The Wedding Present, Heavenly, The Broken Family Band, Lush,
The Fall …etc, etc, etc that you will have.
They have been lucky enough to tour in America a few times. Germany, France,
Holland several times, and not so lucky to have played Belgium on a few
occasions (Joke!).
They have also
played
in
The band were honored to have recorded five sessions for John Peel, and even more so
to have met him, on more than one occasion, and to have been even invited onto his
radio show for a chat.
For too long they became known as ‘The British Guided By Voices’ or ‘The English
Pavement’ due to their love (not to mention need – ie: financially) for Lo-Fidelity
recordings, and releasing lots of songs.
Never
popular enough to cause any real interest from the
got to be a good sign surely?) But popular enough to make and sell over ten full
length albums. With over 5000 copies being their biggest seller to date (Phase 3).
Not bad for a small band with no press agents, managers, publicists,
music
biz pony-tailed-cocaine snorting- brain-dead w***ers, or money, paving the
way…
Beatnik Filmstars even stopped for seven years (1998-2005) because they weren't
enjoying playing music together any longer.
A number of smaller and medium sized record labels have had the pleasure to have
released Beatniks music over the years, and some of them have even paid royalties!
(Only some of them, mind!!!)
Bringing us bang up to date we find the group have matured into an Americana
Influenced, Warm sounding, Country-Tinged, Independent, Strangely odd, Folk singing
punk rock band, with pop hearts and dark souls. Who’s strength lies in their ability
to write beautiful songs with melodies and hooks a plenty. Lyrics that are both sad
and funny, often at the same time. Never taking the easy option. Fiercely independent.
And a nice bunch of friendly chaps to boot. –
Oh
hang on…isn’t that what they’ve always been?