History
Formation
The group formed in 1981 amid the peak of theSingles
The band released a series of singles from 1982–1986, starting with "Something Going On" and B-side "I Wonder Why" in 1983. The latter record was later separately released by Rough Trade after McRobbie travelled to see Geoff Travis at the label's office in London, where he insisted that they were "the next big thing out of Scotland." The band then released "Million Tears" in 1984, "I'm Alright With You" in 1985, and "Truck Train Tractor" in 1986, all on other labels after their relationship with Rough Trade declined as the label focused more heavily on their other artists such as "shinier new signings"''Up for a Bit with the Pastels''
Their debut album, ''Up for a Bit with The Pastels'' (Glass Records, Glass, 1987; re-issue Paperhouse (record label), Paperhouse, 1991) moved from garage pop-punk through to ballads with synth orchestra splashes. The album launched to industry praise, with praise from acts including The Jesus and Mary Chain, Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, and Nirvana (band), Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, but the record did not "set the world alight" as some had expected. In 2003, it was named the 37th best Scottish album by ''The Scotsman.'' The Guardian describe the album as integral in helping "to inspire confidence in the Glasgow scene (showing) that bands didn’t have to move south but could let the record industry come to them." The album is attributed by the paper as attributable to the later release of Glaswegian output including Belle and Sebastian's ''Tigermilk'', Mogwai's ''Young Team'', Franz Ferdinand (band), Franz Ferdinand's Franz Ferdinand (album), self-titled arrival, and even Chvrches.Departures and ''Sittin' Pretty''
The band's 1989 follow-up, ''Sittin' Pretty (The Pastels album), Sittin' Pretty'' (Chapter 22, 1989) was harder but less eclectic. Reports started to appear in the UK music press that the group was splitting up, and Taylor, Hayward and Simpson all departed. Eventually it became clear that a new line-up was configuring around original members, McRobbie and Wright (Aggi), now joined by Katrina Mitchell. This line-up is probably the best known of The Pastels' various phases, and often featured either David Keegan (of Shop Assistants) or Gerard Love (of Teenage Fanclub) on guitar. They signed with the then emerging Domino Recording Company, Domino Records and completed two albums, ''Mobile Safari'' (1995) and ''Illumination (The Pastels album), Illumination'' (1997), with the musical approach of the latter described as "mellowed and evolved into a form of gently psychedelic off-kilter pop, adorned with orchestral instrumentation." A remix set featured My Bloody Valentine (band), My Bloody Valentine, Jim O'Rourke (musician), Jim O'Rourke and others on the album, ''Illuminati (The Pastels album), Illuminati'' (1998). The band also featured that year on the soundtrack for the film ''The Acid House (film), The Acid House''. In 2000, Wright left the group to focus on her career as an illustrator though she still provides artwork for the group. Their next release was The Last Great Wilderness (album), the soundtrack to David Mackenzie's ''The Last Great Wilderness'' (Geographic, 2003). It featured a track recorded in collaboration with Pulp (band), Pulp's Jarvis Cocker. In 2006 The Pastels developed and completed new music for a theatre production by Glasgow-based company, 12 Stars. In 2009, The Pastels, in collaboration with Tenniscoats from Tokyo, Japan, released an album called ''Two Sunsets,'' which critics called "a playful, spontaneous and spellbinding must-hear." In 2013 they released their first album proper in sixteen years, ''Slow Summits,'' again through Domino. The Guardian described the album as "their most complete set since Up for a Bit, with its 10 summery, groovy flute and french-horn-licked songs, trippy in the sense of the kind of trip that lands in a pile of freshly mown grass." The album was shortlisted for the 2013 Scottish Album of the Year Award. The Pastels now operate their own Geographic Music label through Domino Recording Company, Domino, and are partners in Glasgow's Monorail Music shop.Legacy and influence
Despite their contrarian musical approach, the Pastels soon after forming enjoyed an emerging fanzine culture identified with the group's sound and image, and slowly started to influence a new wave of groups, as well as gathering the attention of NME and other UK media. The band features in the book ''Postcards from Scotland'' detailing the 1980s and 1990s independent music scene in Scotland. The band Black Tambourine has a love song to Stephen Pastel, Throw Aggi off the Bridge. Talulah Gosh have a song called Pastels Badge. During the early 2000s the band continued to receive attention, particularly in Japan where they became "incongruously wrapped up in the hype surrounding Britpop in Japan, jostling for position in magazines with the likes of Blur (band), Blur and Manic Street Preachers."Band members
Current
* Stephen McRobbie (or Stephen Pastel) – guitar, Singing, vocals (1981–present) * Katrina Mitchell – Drum kit, drums, vocals, guitar, keyboards (1989–present) * Tom Crossley – flute, Keyboard instrument, keyboards (1990s–present) * Alison Mitchell – trumpet (2003–present) * John Hogarty – guitar (late 2000s–present) * Suse Bear – bass (2010s–present)Former
* Brian Taylor (or Brian Superstar) – guitar (1981–1992) * Martin Hayward – Bass guitar, bass, vocals (1982–1989) * Bernice Simpson – drums (1983–1989) * Annabel Wright (or Aggi) – vocals (1984–2000), keyboards (1984–1990), bass (1990–2000) * Eugene Kelly – backing vocals, violin, guitar, autoharp (1987–1989) * David Keegan – guitar (1992–2000) * Gerard Love – guitar / bass * Jonathan Kilgour – guitar (1994–1997) * Norman Blake – guitar, bassContributors
* Gerard Love – guitar, bass guitar, drums * Norman Blake (Scottish musician), Norman Blake – guitar, bass guitar, vocals * Colin McIlroy – guitar * Charlie Dinsdale – drums * Chris Gordon – drums * Michael Giudici – bass guitar * Sandy Forbes – drums * Dean Wareham – guitar * Maureen McRoberts – saxophone * Darren Ramsay – trumpet * Francis MacDonald – drums * Liz Dew – bassDiscography
Studio albums
* ''Up for a Bit with The Pastels'' (1987) * ''Sittin' Pretty (The Pastels album), Sittin' Pretty'' (1989) * ''Mobile Safari'' (1995) * ''Illumination (The Pastels album), Illumination'' (1997) * ''Slow Summits'' (2013)Compilation albums
* ''Suck On'' (1988) * ''Truckload of Trouble'' (1994) * ''Illuminati (The Pastels album), Illuminati'' (1998) * ''Summer Rain'' (2013)Soundtracks
* ''The Last Great Wilderness (album), The Last Great Wilderness'' (2003)Singles
With Jad Fair
* Jad Fair and The Pastels – ''This Could Be the Night EP'' (Paperhouse (record label), Paperhouse, 1991) * Jad Fair and The Pastels – ''No. 2 EP'' (Paperhouse (record label), Paperhouse, 1992)With Tenniscoats
* The Pastels and Tenniscoats – ''Two Sunsets'' (Geographic, 2009) * The Pastels and Tenniscoats – ''Vivid Youth / About You'' (Geographic, 2009)With Sonic Youth
* The Pastels and Sonic Youth – ''Sonic Youth and the Pastels Play The New York Dolls'' (Glass Modern, 2021)See also
* Culture in Glasgow * Music of Scotland * Creation (record label) *References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pastels, The Alternative rock groups from Glasgow British musical sextets Creation Records artists Scottish indie rock groups Scottish alternative rock groups Musical groups established in 1982 Scottish indie pop groups British jangle pop groups Scottish post-punk music groups Scottish art rock groups Glass Records artists 1982 establishments in Scotland Homestead Records artists