Rehearsal VI

Another unveiling - Miki's 12-string Rickenbacker Model 370/12 with Fireglo finish. 

Rehearsal IV & V

Emma's Thinline Telecaster!

Miki's Gibson Firebird non-reverse!

Rehearsal - And It Begins...

And now... A more recent photo from Lush. Looks like someone's been rehearsing.

We haven't seen Miki's 12-string Gibson ES-335 Sunburst for awhile. It's a beauty. Besides the obvious influence it imparts to Lush's sound, the instrument has a sweet, acoustic tone, and is one of the most versatile guitars you can find. It's perhaps the prettiest axe of the 12-string arsenal. You can find more about her here and here.

Mile End, London :: October 11, 1991

Twenty short years ago...

Lush at QMC, October 11, 1991, photos by Alastair Indge of Select

LUSH plays Mile End, London at Queens Mary College, the third and eastern leg in their North-South-East-West four-nighter tour of London, part of the Black Spring tour. They are joined by bands Spirea X and Rockinbirds.

A review in Select magazine declares that "Right from the first song the harmonies were dead centre and the guitars were in your bedroom making tracks for your pillow. Hey! They can play!" in reference to how far they had improved and tightened up as a live band.

On the new "exciting" songs (just released on the Black Spring ep and their up-coming first full-length album) the reviewer adds "...the excellence of those songs proves that The Year of Living Drunkenly was not entirely wasted." No explanation needed for that reference ;)

According to Neil of Neil's Lush Video Page, a video recording was made of the show. He has listed the night's set list as follows:


LUSH - 11.10.1991
SETLIST

• Stray
• Bitter
• Breeze
• Laura
• God's Gift
• Scarlet
• Ocean
• Nothing Natural
• For Love
• Covert
• De-Luxe
• Downer
• Sweetness And Light
• Monochrome
• Leaves Me Cold

DURATION - 55 MINUTES


PS. I always especially love pics of Miki with her Gibson ES-335 Sunburst, like the shot above. Besides the obvious influence it imparted to Lush's sound - the instrument has a sweet, acoustic tone, and is one of the most versatile guitars you can find - it's perhaps the prettiest axe of the 12-string arsenal.

Chris Played Drums, and How He Played!

I haven't found any definitive information for Chris's equipment other than that it was obviously Yamaha. Drummers just don't get enough respect!

What is known that he played it skillfully, and hard, drawing on his early garage/punk experience. He was the driving force and power that kept the music from ever being accused of being too lightweight or fluffy.

I also believe that I read that at least one of his kits was passed on to a cousin who also played.

If I can learn more about Chris's drumkit(s) I'll update this entry with the information asap.

A bit of trivia: Between July and October 1991, while the band worked on their debut album, 'Spooky', producer Guthrie was taken with the idea of swamping the mix with swirling, phased guitars. Chris was also persuaded, perhaps against his better judgement, to forsake his normal drum-kit for a set of Simmons electronic pads, and to play to a click-track.

Phil Has The Big Sound

Phil and his friendly Fender American Standard Series Precision Bass electric guitar

  Maple Fretboard, Black, 3-Ply W/B/W Pickguard

This series was a revolution for bassists when it first arrived in 1951, and delivers an electrified thick range of sound

Approx. 1996

I don't have any specifics of Phil's instrument other than it's the classic and famous electric bass of all time, and the best. I'm a bit biased since my own is the same make as well - blast away!

You may also notice that unlike many bassists, it appears that Phil prefers to strum with a guitar pick rather than pluck at the bass strings with his fingers.

You might also spy that Phil has used several Precisions judging from the finish on the body, including the one I most associate with him, the all-over black with a white pick board. Otherwise, it's all the same.

A  Fender P.B. similar to Phil's

Phil and his Bass in 1992

Emma Strums a '60s Gibson

Emma's vintage 1960's Gibson SG Standard, with Melody Maker neck... but where?

Why can't I locate one single photo of Emma with this guitar??

An example of a typical Gibson SG Standard

Emma Hefts a Strat

Emma weaving a symphonic superblast on her 1990's Fender Stratocaster American-built electric guitar.

The Standard Strat with classic styling that includes three single-coil pickups.

A Strat similar to Emma's
(except for the fret board)

Emma, Axe Heroine

Emma and her Fender Telecaster Thinline (natural) electric guitar, of the Classic 1972 reissue production series.

Known as the Tele this model has a semi-hollow ash body, maple neck and fingerboard, and two humbucking pickups, in a natural wood finish. The Thinline series Tele is not only lighter weight but has a sound all its own.

A Tele Thinline similar to Emma's

Miki's ES-335/12 TDS

Miki and her Gibson ES-335 Sunburst, Block Neck
photos circa 1992

Okay, be warned, this definition is a technical one...
an ES-335/12 TDS = 12 strings,
T: Thin, D: Double (2 Pick Ups), S: Sunburst.



update!
Found a 'new' image with the 335...

Miki + '65 Firebird = Hotroddin'

Miki's Gibson Firebird electric guitar
More specifically, a non-reverse 1965 vintage Gibson Firebird 1, for all you axologists out there. These guitars have a sound sweetly reminiscent of the 1960's

Miki Got Twelve-String - Rickenbacker 370/12

Miki and her Rickenbacker Model 370/12
12-string, Fireglo finish

Miki + 12-String Epiphone Riviera = Musical Bliss

Miki and her
Epiphone Riviera 12-String Electric Guitar
in axology, this would be a one-time 1993 run Epiphone Riviera XII made in Nashville
These models have a ringing sound, perfect for Lush's haunting melodies
(ed. note: Miki may be the only person in the world to have a Riviera 12 of this series)

Teamed-up with her Gibson Firebird, a Marshall 1960B Straight Cabinet (4x12), and five Boss pedal set-up (Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive, Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, Boss DS-1 Distortion, Boss GE-7 Equalizer, Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive) Miki can "create just about anything we do on records. Plus I just love all those cool bright colors!" - circa 1994

Thanks to guitargeek.com for the specifics!

Emma's Setup

Here's a diagramatic (there's that word again) for Emma's stage setup, also based upon her interview with GuitarGeek.com. This was the equipment she would have been using during the 1994 tour season. Pretty impressive toys, huh? :O

We'll dig further into the subject of Emma's assorted axes in another post...

Meanwhile, click on the thumbnail at left and have a better look.

Miki's Setup

A diagramatic (is that even a word?) for Miki's stage setup, based upon her interview with GuitarGeek.com. This was the equipment she used during the 1994 tour season.

By 1996 her lineup of guitars seemed to have expanded. But we've went over that subject in other posts ;P

Click on the thumbnail at left, because you'll ruin your eyesight trying to read it at this resolution.