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Elastica was an English rock band formed in London in 1992 by Justine Frischmann and Justin Welch following their departure from Suede. The band was influenced by punk rock, post-punk, and new wave. Although the line-up changed several times during the band’s existence, Frischmann and Welch remained members throughout its entire history.
Elastica first gained significant attention with the release of their debut single "Stutter" in November 1993. Their following three singles all reached the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart. The band’s debut album "Elastica" was released in 1995 and achieved immediate commercial success, entering the UK Albums Chart at number one and becoming the fastest-selling debut album in the United Kingdom at the time. The album also achieved success in the United States and produced the band’s highest-charting US Billboard Hot 100 single, "Connection". The band later became involved in controversy after accusations of plagiarism relating to similarities between some of their songs and works by Wire and the Stranglers. The disputes were resolved through out-of-court settlements.
Frischmann and Welch formed Elastica in mid-1992 and were soon joined by bassist Annie Holland and guitarist Donna Matthews. The group initially performed under several names before adopting the name Elastica in October 1992. Their early success was supported by promotion from BBC Radio 1 DJ and Deceptive Records label owner Steve Lamacq. In 1994 the band released the singles "Line Up" and "Connection", both of which reached the UK Top 20. During this period, Frischmann’s relationship with Blur singer Damon Albarn attracted tabloid attention.
"Elastica" was released in March 1995 and became the fastest-selling debut album in the United Kingdom since Oasis’s "Definitely Maybe". The record stood for more than a decade until it was surpassed by Arctic Monkeys’ debut album "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" in 2006. The album was preceded by the single "Waking Up", which reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and became the band’s highest-charting single in the United Kingdom.
Several songs by the band drew comparisons with earlier works by other artists. The chorus of "Line Up" was noted for its similarity to Wire’s "I Am the Fly", while the synthesiser introduction of "Connection" resembles the guitar riff from Wire’s "Three Girl Rhumba". The song "Waking Up" was also compared to the Stranglers’ "No More Heroes". These issues were resolved through out-of-court settlements between the parties involved.
In the mid-1990s Elastica also achieved exposure in the United States. "Stutter" and "Connection" received airplay on modern rock radio and both entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at numbers 67 and 53 respectively. Their debut album also charted and was later certified gold. After performing at the 1995 Glastonbury Festival, the band joined the Lollapalooza tour and spent much of the following year touring extensively in North America. In August 1995 Annie Holland left the band due to exhaustion and was temporarily replaced on tour by session bassist Abby Travis. Holland was later replaced by Sheila Chipperfield in 1996, and around the same time keyboardist David Bush, formerly of the Fall, joined the group.
After further performances and recording demos during the first half of 1996, Elastica began work on a second album later that year. By 1998 Donna Matthews had left the band and was replaced by guitarist Paul Jones of Linoleum and keyboardist Mew. Around the same time Sheila Chipperfield departed and Annie Holland returned to the group.
In August 1999 Elastica released a self-titled six-track EP titled "Elastica", which compiled recordings from various earlier sessions and represented the band’s first new material in more than four years. After re-recording many of these songs and adding new compositions, the band resumed live performances. Later in 1999 they left their international distributor Geffen and subsequently signed with Atlantic Records.
Their second studio album, "The Menace", was released in April 2000 but received a less favourable critical and commercial response than their debut. In February 2001 Deceptive Records closed due to financial difficulties, and Atlantic Records dropped the band shortly afterwards because of low sales. After unsuccessful attempts to record a third album, Elastica announced their amicable break-up in October 2001, citing exhaustion from touring and disappointing sales of "The Menace". Their final single, "The Bitch Don't Work", was released in November 2001 by Wichita Recordings.
Following the band’s dissolution, Justine Frischmann moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 2005 and studied art at Naropa University before later relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area. Donna Matthews formed the band Klang in 2004 and later became a pastor in Totnes. Annie Holland settled in Brighton. Justin Welch and Mew married and live in Hastings; Welch later performed as drummer for Lush during their 2015–2016 reunion shows and joined the band Piroshka, with whom he released two albums. Paul Jones later worked in artists and repertoire at Rough Trade.
In January 2017 the band’s official Facebook page shared photographs showing Matthews, Holland, and Welch visiting Abbey Road Studios in London to work on a remaster of their debut album "Elastica" with mastering engineer Sean McGee. Frischmann also contributed to the project. The remastered album was reissued in April 2017 for Record Store Day.
Studio albums Elastica (1995) The Menace (2000)
Elastica was an English rock band formed in London in 1992 by Justine Frischmann and Justin Welch following their departure from Suede. The band was influenced by punk rock, post-punk, and new wave. Although the line-up changed several times during the band’s existence, Frischmann and Welch remained members throughout its entire history.
Elastica first gained significant attention with the release of their debut single "Stutter" in November 1993. Their following three singles all reached the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart. The band’s debut album "Elastica" was released in 1995 and achieved immediate commercial success, entering the UK Albums Chart at number one and becoming the fastest-selling debut album in the United Kingdom at the time. The album also achieved success in the United States and produced the band’s highest-charting US Billboard Hot 100 single, "Connection". The band later became involved in controversy after accusations of plagiarism relating to similarities between some of their songs and works by Wire and the Stranglers. The disputes were resolved through out-of-court settlements.
Frischmann and Welch formed Elastica in mid-1992 and were soon joined by bassist Annie Holland and guitarist Donna Matthews. The group initially performed under several names before adopting the name Elastica in October 1992. Their early success was supported by promotion from BBC Radio 1 DJ and Deceptive Records label owner Steve Lamacq. In 1994 the band released the singles "Line Up" and "Connection", both of which reached the UK Top 20. During this period, Frischmann’s relationship with Blur singer Damon Albarn attracted tabloid attention.
"Elastica" was released in March 1995 and became the fastest-selling debut album in the United Kingdom since Oasis’s "Definitely Maybe". The record stood for more than a decade until it was surpassed by Arctic Monkeys’ debut album "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" in 2006. The album was preceded by the single "Waking Up", which reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and became the band’s highest-charting single in the United Kingdom.
Several songs by the band drew comparisons with earlier works by other artists. The chorus of "Line Up" was noted for its similarity to Wire’s "I Am the Fly", while the synthesiser introduction of "Connection" resembles the guitar riff from Wire’s "Three Girl Rhumba". The song "Waking Up" was also compared to the Stranglers’ "No More Heroes". These issues were resolved through out-of-court settlements between the parties involved.
In the mid-1990s Elastica also achieved exposure in the United States. "Stutter" and "Connection" received airplay on modern rock radio and both entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at numbers 67 and 53 respectively. Their debut album also charted and was later certified gold. After performing at the 1995 Glastonbury Festival, the band joined the Lollapalooza tour and spent much of the following year touring extensively in North America. In August 1995 Annie Holland left the band due to exhaustion and was temporarily replaced on tour by session bassist Abby Travis. Holland was later replaced by Sheila Chipperfield in 1996, and around the same time keyboardist David Bush, formerly of the Fall, joined the group.
After further performances and recording demos during the first half of 1996, Elastica began work on a second album later that year. By 1998 Donna Matthews had left the band and was replaced by guitarist Paul Jones of Linoleum and keyboardist Mew. Around the same time Sheila Chipperfield departed and Annie Holland returned to the group.
In August 1999 Elastica released a self-titled six-track EP titled "Elastica", which compiled recordings from various earlier sessions and represented the band’s first new material in more than four years. After re-recording many of these songs and adding new compositions, the band resumed live performances. Later in 1999 they left their international distributor Geffen and subsequently signed with Atlantic Records.
Their second studio album, "The Menace", was released in April 2000 but received a less favourable critical and commercial response than their debut. In February 2001 Deceptive Records closed due to financial difficulties, and Atlantic Records dropped the band shortly afterwards because of low sales. After unsuccessful attempts to record a third album, Elastica announced their amicable break-up in October 2001, citing exhaustion from touring and disappointing sales of "The Menace". Their final single, "The Bitch Don't Work", was released in November 2001 by Wichita Recordings.
Following the band’s dissolution, Justine Frischmann moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 2005 and studied art at Naropa University before later relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area. Donna Matthews formed the band Klang in 2004 and later became a pastor in Totnes. Annie Holland settled in Brighton. Justin Welch and Mew married and live in Hastings; Welch later performed as drummer for Lush during their 2015–2016 reunion shows and joined the band Piroshka, with whom he released two albums. Paul Jones later worked in artists and repertoire at Rough Trade.
In January 2017 the band’s official Facebook page shared photographs showing Matthews, Holland, and Welch visiting Abbey Road Studios in London to work on a remaster of their debut album "Elastica" with mastering engineer Sean McGee. Frischmann also contributed to the project. The remastered album was reissued in April 2017 for Record Store Day.
Studio albums Elastica (1995) The Menace (2000)
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