Lush Walking Interview, Tokyo, Oct. 1994

The Lush Taxi

In 1994, to promote the release of of Lush's newest album Split, the record company obtained a car and transformed it into the "Lush taxi" after a visit to the paint shop. The idea was the band perhaps fictionally drove around for various public appearances in it. Plus the taxi made a spiffy photo prop as well :)

Emma: "Oh yeah, yeah, we've got a Lush taxi now!"
Tell us about the taxi.
Miki: "Well we're not paying for it, for a start. That's the major decision... A Big red thing with lemons on it, and casters on it.
In the style of the album cover?
Miki: "Yes, it's great. We went out in it yesterday, got picked up for free when we fancy it."
And you can have it for a year?
Emma: "Six months..."
Miki: "I think we only get it for beer, then whoever comes out next on 4AD will have the pleasure of owning it after that."

Another interviewer asks about the car...
Emma: "It's a Lush taxi. You know the cars around London, all over? Well we've got a Lush one...You'll see it around maybe. It's going to pick up, you know...Joe Public as well."
Miki: So if you see the Lush taxi, you know, get in, and pay your money, and the bloke who drives it is called Mike. So say Hello Mike!"
He doesn't talk about the weather and bringing back corporal punishment, does he?
Miki: "No, I think he likes Frank Black and Snuff. That's about all you'll listen to from him."

Single Girl (Live) in Tokyo '96

Lush - Single Girl (Live)

Shinjuku Liquid Room, Tokyo, Japan
September 17, 1996

Another Lush Page on Facebook

Lush and Miki Berenyi
"When it rains, it pours..." and we have another new Lush-related page to fan on the social network site Facebook. This page was created by the good people at LushLive.com.

Lush "Lit Up" (Live) Tokyo, Dec. 2, 1994

It's Miki's Birthday!

It's that time again...
Happy Birthday to Miki
You're gonna have a Good Time
Happy Birthday to You!

The First Gig - Camden Falcon - March 6, 1988

Steve Rippon is hastely added to the Lush line-up just in time for the band's first gig at the Camden Falcon on 6th March 1988, supporting the Rosehips. The night passed as smoothly as could be expected.

With that first show under their belt, the band branches out to play other venues on the London toilet circuit.

Be a Miki Fan on Facebook!

Miki Berenyi Fans
a new fan page created by Andy Von Pip of the Von Pip Musical Express
Now live on Facebook you can show your support of the best band in the universe, become a fan of Miki's on the growing social network site.

This new page is a wonderful example that 10 years later, the Lush fans are still around, they are still excited and eager to follow the band they love, and that they are here to stay!

Lush's First Nine : As a Five Piece

Sometimes it's easy to overlook the career Lush had as a Five Piece, after all, it was short-lived. But they did put on quite a few shows, learning how to play and laying down the framework to build upon.

So, without further to-do, here's the complete list of Lush's first nine gigs, all as a 5-piece band (or rather learning to be a band) with Meriel at lead vocals, Emma and Miki on guitars (w/ Miki doing backing vocals), Steve on bass and Chris at drums.

1. Mar 06, 88 Camden, Falcon - first ever gig
2. Mar 19, 88 Camden, Falcon
3. Jun 04, 88 Fullham, Greyhound
4. Jun 12, 88 Brixton, Canterbury Ams (Arms?)
5. Jun 19, 88 Ealing, Collage of Higher Education
6. Jun 22, 88 Finsbury Park, The George Robey
7. Jun 25, 88 Hammersmith, The Clarendon
8. ??? ??, 88 unknown gig
9. Jul 22, 88 Camden, Falcon

Following this gig the band didn't perform again until October 9. It's most likely that at this time Meriel left for Pale Saints and Miki moved over to fill the position, and performing from now on as a four piece. Think of it as a system upgrade from from Lush 1.0 to Lush 2.0. The old Lush was done, a new one begun.

We do have their first demo recordings from that period, but how I wish one photo existed from those first nine!

Fan Club Obscura

Been up to no good again, digging through the ancient historys and recordings of the legend of Lush. I've really been hoping to turn up with enough for a decent post, I guess. So what is my topic this time? It would be concerning the fan club. Yes, there was a Lush fan club back in the day, unbeknownst to me in my isolated little world on the other side of the world (why are such things kept so hush-hush?). I would have dearly loved to have gotten wind of it back then, let me tell you... I did count myself lucky just to live in a town which had several thriving indie label/import shops.

Anyhoos, Bill's Light from a Dead Star site – the Holy Grail of all Lush websites – has as much dirt on this secret society as one can hope to dig... here's a link: We Love Lush was a fan mailing from November 1993, created by the band while they were holed up in Norway while working on the mixing of the yet to be released Split album. Everybody's seen the cartoon of the band from the cover, but the contents are equally intriguing: a lengthy hand written note and lyrics of ALL the current songs. I Especially like Phil's carefully detailed Lush Family Tree – truley fabtabulous stuff!

This mailing also contained the now famous flexi-disk with the tracks "Rupert the Bear" and the "Lit Up" demo, plus a holiday postcard (All links take you directly to Bill's site).

Now, a real prize find of some Lush obscura would be an old copy of "Alphabet Soup," pre-Lush Emma's music fanzine :D

Time to Move On

Feb 23, 1998 - Ten years ago came the official and inevitable announcement. Indeed Lush already had outlived most all of their contemporaries. For a decade their music never faultered as it remained on the leading edge, perhaps too much so for the tastes of some. For the band it was always about living Life, for all it's pitfalls and spectacular glories. Life fed the soul of the music which they made. It had been almost a year and a half since the tragic, shocking loss of drummer Chris Acland, which had brought all Lush endeavors to a sudden and complete halt.

Miki: "For me personally, it was Chris's death, and Chris's death only that finished Lush. I enjoyed being in the band immensely, I'm glad I did it. But that really was a full stop, his personality was such a major part of the band."

Lush was done. Now it was confirmed that it was time for those who remained to move on and make a new life.

Untogether

23 February, 1998
Ten years ago today, after a year of mourning the loss of drummer Chris Acland, the remaining members of Lush officially declare their breakup and that the band will play no more.

Miki Berenyi Post Lush on Spencer And The Cannibals

Oh Miki! It is SO good to see you again after all this time... I miss your face!!! :D

This is a documentary on another band which is only worth viewing since it happens to featuring Miki and Mr. John Peel. Awesome! Thanks Andy!!

Lush "Ciao!" Live in S.F.

Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, California, September 7, 1996

I have the unofficial VHS video of this live performance, produced under the title "Complete Lush." Yes, I admit it, I actually own a bootleg of live Lush *gasp* I would glady, EAGERLY prefer to shell-out for any official video. Perhaps I'd even consider offering up an expendable arm and a leg *hint to the companies* But after all these years I'm beginning to lose hope that this will ever happen.

Anyway.... Here's the set list:

1. Heavenly Nobodies
2. Childcatcher
3. Lit Up
4. 500
5. Single Girl
6. Downer
7. Kiss Chase
8. Deluxe
9. Light From A Dead Star
10. Last Night
11. Hypocrite
12. Runaway
13. For Love
14. Ladykillers
15. Ciao! (with Jarvis)
16. Sweetness And Light

In the video there are some lively exchanges Miki has with the crowds, and a lovely bit in honor of Chris's birthday (the day before Your's Truely). Chris is surprised, all smiles and maybe a bit embarrassed by taking the spotlight.

Bittersweet really, in a month it would all be over...