Beatnik Filmstars
| Beatnik Filmstars | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Bristol, England |
| Genres | Lo-fi, indie rock |
| Years active | 1990–1998, 2004–2008 |
| Labels | La-Di-Da Mobstar Merge The Track & Field Organisation The international Lo-Fi Underground Slumberland |
| Associated acts | The Groove Farm Kyoko Bluebear |
| Website | beatnikfilmstars |
| Past members | Andrew Jarrett Jon Kent Jeremy Butler Andy Henderson John Austin Tim Rippington Ian Roughley Jerry Francis Tom Adams Geoff Gorton Maurice Roache |
Beatnik Filmstars were a British Lo-fi pop group formed in Bristol in 1990. After splitting up in 1998, going on to side projects Kyoko and Bluebear, they re-formed in 2004, releasing several more albums before splitting again in 2008.
Singer Guitarist Andrew Arthur Jarrett started Beatnik Filmstars when the band he was previously in (The Groove Farm) split up. Formed in 1990, the first line up also featured former Groove Farm members Jon Kent (guitar) and Jeremy (Jez) Butler (Drums) along with bass player Andy Henderson.
The band's first album Maharishi was released in 1991. It found them getting lumped into the shoegazing scene, with songs that featured loud/quiet/loud passages, and swirly guitar sounds. But Jarrett was more influenced by US sounding bands and the band soon broke away from their 'shoegaze' phase.
Their second and third albums (Laid Back & English and Astronaut House) found them experimenting with more Lo-Fi sounds and guitar noise. Released on the UK indie label La Di da Records, and newly formed La Di Da/Caroline Records in the USA. The band had now changed line up with John Austin and Tim Rippington (formerly of The Flatmates and 5 Year Plan) both joining as guitarists replacing Kent. And Ian Roughley taking over drums. While Henderson was replaced by Jez Francis on bass. By the time the band had released their next album Beezer (a collection of singles and sessions) on the US label Slumberland, Tom Adams had replaced Roughley on drums. The band's first US tour was supporting The Flaming Lips after hooking up with US management Hellfire.
The next album Phase 3 was to be one of the band's biggest sellers. Released on their own Mobstar label in the UK and the independent No Life Records in the US, reviews commented on the lo-fi recording quality and the pop style songs, with one reviewer calling the band "the English Guided By Voices", and others making similar comparisons. The band were also compared to Sebadoh, Pavement, Sonic Youth, and The Fall.John Peel was a big supporter of the band on their home turf and between 1994 and 1998 they recorded five Peel sessions, as well as once being invited to sit in and chat with him during one of his broadcasts. The next album In Hospitalable was released on US label Merge Records. Again reviews were mostly positive, although most referred to the album title as In Hospitable!.
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