Ned's Atomic Dustbin

Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Ned's Atomic Dustbin performing at Wolverhampton's Wulfrun Hall, December 2012. Left to right: Alex Griffin, Dan Worton, Matt Cheslin, Jonn Penney, Rat
Background information
Origin	Stourbridge, England
Genres	Alternative rock, power pop, Grebo, indie punk
Years active	1987–1995 (original line up) 2000–2008 (reformation line up) 2008–present (original line up)
Labels	Furtive Sony Columbia Spitfirepink
Website	www.nedsatomicdustbin.com
Members	Jonn Penney Alex Griffin Dan Worton Gareth "Rat" Pring Matt Cheslin
Past members	Andy King Martin Warlow Wiz Floyd Tracey 1987-1989

Ned's Atomic Dustbin are an English rock band formed in Stourbridge in West Midlands in November 1987. The band took their name from an episode of The Goon Show. The band are unusual for using two bass players in their lineup: Alex Griffin plays melody lines high up on one bass, and Mat Cheslin plays the regular bass lines on the other. This gives the band a tense and highly driven sub-hardcore sound featuring distorted effects-laden guitar and energetic drums.

The band was formed while at sixth form college and they recorded their first album while some of the members were still teenagers. This led to a strong teenaged fanbase with a reputation for enjoying crowd surfing and moshing at their gigs. The band was also noted (and occasionally ridiculed) for their early image, which consisted of uniformly crimped hair and a predilection for sporting shorts and band or skateboard T-shirts. "The Neds" (as their fans referred to them) were well known for their own distinctive T-shirts, reportedly producing over 86 different designs within three years (1987–1990). (In 2009, Jonn Penney stated, "We're still adding designs - old habits die hard".)

Ned's Atomic Dustbin quickly gathered a strong fanbase after being offered a support slot by local heroes The Wonder Stuff on their 1989 and 1990 UK tours. During 1990, Ned's Atomic Dustbin signed with Birmingham based indie label Chapter 22 Records for their debut release, The Ingredients EP, followed by a single, "Kill Your Television", which reached No. 92 and No. 53 respectively in the UK singles chart . "Kill Your Television" also topped the UK independent singles chart. This, combined with their acclaimed live reputation, drew a huge crowd to their afternoon appearance on the main stage of the Reading Festival in August 1990. The buzz created was significant enough to catalyse the interest of major record labels. One final single for Chapter 22 followed, "Until You Find Out", but distribution problems meant that many fans were left unable to purchase copies, thus stunting its chart progress. It eventually stalled at No. 51. Frustrated, the band finally decided to sign to Sony Records, on the proviso that they be allowed to release their music through their own Furtive label - thus regaining a higher degree of creative control while still enjoying the benefit of the major label's distribution and advertising clout.