Elastica

Elastica
Elastica in 2000
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Alternative rock, Britpop
Years active	1992–2001, 2017–present
Labels	Deceptive, Geffen, Atlantic, Wichita
Associated acts	Suede, Me Me Me, Spitfire, Wire
Past members	Justine Frischmann Justin Welch Donna Matthews Annie Holland David Bush Sheila Chipperfield Paul Jones Sharon Mew

Elastica were an English alternative rock band that played punk rock, post-punk and new wave-influenced music. They formed in 1992, and are best known for their 1995 album Elastica, which produced singles that charted in the United Kingdom and the United States. They split in 2001, though in January 2017 there was speculation the band were reforming.

In mid-1992 ex-Suede band members Justine Frischmann and Justin Welch decided to form a group. By the autumn of that year, bassist Annie Holland and guitarist Donna Matthews were added. After initially gigging under names such as "Onk", the band settled on the name "Elastica" in October 1992. Elastica released their first single, "Stutter," in October 1993, which benefited from the promotional efforts of BBC Radio 1 DJ and Deceptive Records label boss Steve Lamacq, who had discovered the band earlier in the year. In 1994, Elastica released two UK Top 20 singles ("Line Up" and "Connection") and performed on numerous radio shows. In addition, Frischmann's relationship with Blur frontman Damon Albarn made tabloid headlines.

Elastica's first LP, Elastica, was released in March 1995, and entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1; it became the fastest-selling debut album since Oasis' Definitely Maybe. This record was held for over ten years when it was surpassed by the Arctic Monkeys' debut record in 2006. The album was preceded by their fourth single "Waking Up" which went to No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart, their highest placing therein.