A Mad Love for 20 Years

Twenty years ago today, Lush came into its own through the release of a four track EP titled "Mad Love."
Released 26 February, 1990, 4AD, UK
Recorded at September Sound and The Church, London, December 1989.


De-Luxe 3:26
Written By - E. Anderson
Leaves Me Cold 2:55
Written By - M. Berenyi
Downer 2:39
Written By - E. Anderson
Thoughtforms 2:43
Written By - E. Anderson

Bass - Steve Rippon
Drums - Chris Acland
Guitar, Backing Vocals - Emma Anderson
Guitar, Vocals - Miki Berenyi

Producer, Engineer - Robin Guthrie
Engineer - Lincoln Fong
Art Direction, Design - Vaughan Oliver
Art Direction, Design [Assistance] - Chris Bigg
Photography - Jim Friedman

The Body Paint Poster - February 24, 1990

The February 24th, 1990 edition of the NME treats us with the once-infamous, now famous Gigglers With Attitude fold-out poster, featuring all four members attired in body paint that spells out the name "LUSH".

The Lillies

The Lillies
An indie rock band formed in 1991 as a one-time collaboration between members of the bands Cocteau Twins, Lush and Moose.

And here's what the the Lillies were about - a recording with the very memorable little title:

"And David Seaman Won't Be Very Happy About That"

Background
Although originally from the Lake District, Chris was a keen Tottenham Hotspurs football fan. Miki was a huge fan as well, and the Lillies' 3-1 trouncing of local rivals Arsenal in the 1991 FA Cup semi-finals was an occasioned to be celebrated. So how do musicians best express their praise of such a victory? They co-create a specially recorded track aptly and humorously entitled 'And David Seaman Will Be Very Disappointed About That', and have it pressed-up on a flexidisc to be glued to issue 24 of 'The Spur', a football fanzine. The sound bites used throughout the song deal with a goal Gary Lineker scored for the Spurs against Arsenal.

Joining forces with Kevin McKillop and Russell Yates of Moose and the Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins they became the Lillies - effectively a super-indie rock band. And Simon wrote the song. The lyrics? "Three-one, three-one, three-one!" Miki's sole lyrics, vocalized all the way through.

The track was recorded at the suggestion of The Spur’s editor Stuart Mutler. After rejecting suggestions that they should record a cover version of an old football song, such as "Nice One Cyril", they decided to come up with an original song.

Yates said of the track: “…we’ve all been Spurs fans for years, and for myself making this flexi has probably made me more proud than making any Moose record”

The Lillies
"And David Seaman Will Be Very Disappointed About That..."
Release : September, 1991
Flexidisc insert, The Spur #24

Live 1990 in Surloire, France from 'Sparky The High Voltage Wire'

From the 7" Sparky The High Voltage Wire. Live at St. Sebastian 2/1/1990 in Surloire, France.

Sing Sing - A Modern Girl

Lush : Second Sight (demo)

Lush : Second Sight (Demo)



Some very early Lush

Ringing It In

Happy New Year!

Lush "For Love", live at Glastonbury Festival '92

Sweetness and Light

Twenty years ago today Lush issued their second release, an EP titled "Sweetness and Light" - richly developing the sound that would set them apart.
15 October, 1990, 4AD, UK
Recorded at the Greenhouse. Mixed at Wessex Studios, London August 1990.


Sweetness And Light 5:19
Written By - Emma Anderson
Sunbathing 2:47
Written By - Emma Anderson
Breeze 3:09
Written By - Miki Berenyi


Backing Vocals - Emma Anderson
Bass - Steve Rippon
Drums - Chris Acland
Guitar - Emma Anderson, Miki Berenyi
Percussion - Phil Overhead
Vocals - Miki Berenyi

Producer - Tim Friese-Greene
Engineer - Ed Buller
Photography - Jim Friedman
Design - Chris Bigg, Vaughan Oliver

A Scar Unblemished

Twenty years ago today, Lush was introduced to the world through an LP titled "Scar."
9 October, 1989, 4AD UK
Produced and engineered at Blackwing Studios, London, July 1989.


Baby Talk 2:16
Written By - Miki Berenyi
Thoughtforms 2:41
Written By - Emma Anderson
Scarlet 3:26
Written By - Emma Anderson & Miki Berenyi
Bitter 2:01
Second Sight 2:39
Etheriel 3:24
Written By - Emma Anderson & Miki Berenyi

Bass - Steve Rippon
Drums - Chris Acland
Guitar, Backing Vocals - Emma Anderson
Vocals, Guitar - Miki Berenyi
Written-By - Anderson* (tracks: A2, A3, B3) , Berenyi* (tracks: A1, A3 to B3)

Producer, Engineer - John Fryer, Lush
Photography - Jim Friedman
Design [Sleeve Design] - Christopher Bigg, Vaughan Oliver

The Natural Flamy Red Hair

In the early days, the natural flamy red hair wasn't always red. Can you just imagine our beloved Red-Headed One in a striking shade of green or blue? And Emma was no slouch about her tresses either. Emma dyed her hair three different colors in one day just because she didn't fancy it (at least that's how the story goes).

Now that's dedication.

Quoth Miki, about the fab famous flamy red hair...

Miki: "The hair-dye was by Directions and called Poppy Red."


Miki: "One particularly sweaty gig in Hoboken (Maxwell’s, was it?)—it must have been early on because Steve [Rippon] was still in the band. The venue was so stifling all the dye ran out of my hair all over my face and neck. I looked like I’d been hit over the head with an axe."


Miki: "They just want to see my naturally flamy hair, that all. You're all just jealous."
Emma: "No, they don't."
Miki: "No, No! of Course not. They're really, interested in lyrics and what Chris' choice of drum pedal is, I mean come ON! This band would be nowhere if it wasn't for my naturally flamy hair!"
Emma: "Next time we need to lay down a rhythm track we'll get your hair to do it eh?"


Quoth the rest...
In the January 28, 1989 issue of Melody Maker, Chris Roberts pens that "Miki has purple hair and sings like a cutlass."

Lush Interview 1992 March

Interview with all four upbeat and beaming, during the Lollapalooza tour.

Lush: Their 1st TV Appearance

They're all so relaxed and comfortable in this early interview.

Lush - KCRW SNAP Session 7-12-90