ArtistInfo

Tindersticks

Band, *1992 GB, Nottingham
Rock
A.k.a. Rory Commodore

English band formed in 1991 out of Asphalt Ribbons (formed in 1988) by Stuart Staples (vocals), Dave Boulter (organ & accordion), Neil Fraser (guitar), Dickon Hinchliffe (guitar & strings) Al Macaulay (percussion & drums) and John Thompson (bass), who was replaced by Mark Colwill before their first recordings. They recorded six studio albums, two additional soundtrack albums, and many singles in the first stage of their career. After a hiatus between 2004 and 2008, the band's line-up was stripped down to Staples, Boulter and Fraser, eventually settling on a line-up featuring Earl Harvin (drums) and Dan McKinna (bass), with further albums, soundtracks and singles being released. Tindersticks were one of the most original and distinctive British acts of the '90s, standing apart from both the British indie scene and the rash of Brit-pop guitar combos that dominated the U.K. charts. Where their contemporaries were often direct and to the point, Tindersticks were obtuse and leisurely, crafting dense, difficult songs layered with literary lyrics, intertwining melodies, mumbling vocals, and gently melancholy orchestrations. At the start of their career, the group filtered the dark romanticism of Leonard Cohen, Ian Curtis, and Scott Walker through the bizarre pop songcraft of Lee Hazlewood and the aesthetics of indie rock. Later recordings have been marked by the influence of soul music, and their excursions into instrumental soundtrack work (primarily working for director Claire Denis). Though their music was far from casual listening, Tindersticks gained a dedicated cult following in the mid-'90s, beginning with their eponymous 1993 debut album, and continue to release music to a dedicated fanbase.

Members

	David Kitt voc *1975 IE
	Thomas Belhom dr, perc *1969 FR
	Stuart A. Staples voc *1965 GB
	Earl Harvin dr, voc US
	David Boulter *1965
	Dickon Hinchliffe vn *1967 GB
	Neil Fraser eg, g, acg *1962 GB
	Mark Colwill b *1960
	Al Macaulay dr, perc
	Dan McKinna b, voc