Lush was a British shoegazing band formed in 1988 by Steve Rippon, Emma Anderson, Meriel Barham, Chris Acland, and Miki Berenyi. Barham left almost immediately and eventually settled in fellow shoegazing band Pale Saints. In 1989, Robin Guthrie helped the band sign to 4AD and release the Scar EP. Critical praise for Scar and a wildly popular live show established Lush as one of the best-selling bands in the new shoegazing genre of pop music. That year, the EPs Mad Love and Sweetness and Light followed.
In 1990, the LP Gala (which combined the material from their first three EPs) was released by Reprise in the United States. This was the first exposure of Lush in North America. In 1992, Lush released their second LP Spooky made up of completely new material. Spooky was produced by Robin Guthrie and featured a sound very similar to Guthrie's band Cocteau Twins, with walls of sound and a great deal of flange. Reviews were mixed and critics of the album claimed that Guthrie's production took the original sound away from the band's creative vision. At this time, Rippon left the band in order to concentrate on writing. His book, Cold Turkey Sandwich, was a fictionalized chronicle of his time in touring. Unfortunately, his book was rejected by publishers and he was replaced by Phil King. Also in 1992, Lush toured America as part of the Lollapalooza festival.
In 1994, the LP Split was released. This album featured a more industrial sound and moved somewhat away from Lush's original material. However, Split sold poorly and the band lingered on the fringe of obscurity thereafter.
Fortunately, Lush adapted to the newly popular sounds of Britpop shortly after and released the LP Lovelife. Lovelife became the biggest seller of their career and spawned the hit singles "Ladykillers" and "Single Girl".
Tragically in 1996, drummer Chris Acland hung himself in his parents' house after suffering from depression; and in 1998, the three remaining members of Lush decided to disband.
Since then, Emma Anderson has since formed the new group, Sing-Sing.
