Intastella

Intastella were an English alternative rock band from Manchester, England, who evolved from the earlier band Laugh. They had four top-75 hits in the UK during the 1990s.

Intastella
Also known asLaugh
OriginManchester, England
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1985 – late 1980s (as Laugh)
1990 – 1997 (as Intastella)
LabelsRemorse, Sub Aqua, MCA, Planet-3
Past membersMartin Wright
Ian Bendelow (Laugh)
Martin Mittler
Spencer Birtwistle
Stella Grundy (Intastella)
Lil' Anthony (Intastella)

History

Laugh was formed in 1980 by graphic designer Tim Gudgeon and medical student Simon Frampton. They wrote all the songs that the band performed in numerous gigs across Manchester and Liverpool until Frampton had to leave in 1984 to complete his medical training (he was to become a well known GP in Ormskirk) [1] Auditions to replace his distinctive voice produced the line-up of Martin Wright (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ian Bendelow (guitar), Martin Mittler (bass guitar), and Spencer Birtwistle (drums, later a member of The Fall).[2] Their debut release was "Take Your Time Yeah!", a flexi-disc included with Debris magazine in December 1985, with three further singles following prior to their only album, Sensation No. 1 (1988).[2] The band had two placings on the UK Independent Chart with "Paul McCartney" (which featured Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon)[3] (#44) and "Time to Lose It" (#19), and recorded two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show.[4][5]

In 1990 the band parted ways with guitarist Bendelow and discovered singer Stella Grundy and dancer Lil' Anthony, changing their sound to a more dance-oriented style and changing their name to Intastella.[2] They signed to MCA Records and hit the lower reaches of the UK Singles Chart with their first release, "Dream Some Paradise".[2] Two follow-up singles fared similarly, and in late 1991 the band's debut album, Intastella and the Family of People was issued.[2] The band's momentum was lost after Grundy broke her arm in a motorcycle accident, and they were dropped by MCA, returning in 1993 on the Planet-3 label with the Drifter EP, on which they worked with Shaun Ryder.[2] The band's biggest hit came in 1995, with "The Night" reaching #60 in the UK, preceding their second album, What You Gonna Do featuring Manchester Harpist Katie Brett on the track "I'll Be Forever".[2] Further singles followed during 1996 and 1997 but none repeated their earlier success. One of these, "Grandmaster", was used on the soundtrack of the 1997 film Love in Paris. A final album, Nuphonia, was released in 1997.

Grundy later emerged with a new band, Stella & the Doggs.

On 30 November 2019, the death of Anthony Green, Little Anthony was announced[6]. On 2 December, Marc Riley played People by Intastellar as a tribute.[7]

Discography

Laugh

Albums
  • Sensation No. 1 (1988), Sub Aqua

Singles, EPs
  • "Take Your Time Yeah!" (1985), Debris (flexi-disc)
  • "Take Your Time Yeah!" (1986), Remorse (12")
  • "Paul McCartney" (1987), Remorse (7") - UK Indie #44[4]
  • "Time To Lose It" (1988), Remorse (7") - UK Indie #19[4]
  • "Sensation No.1 EP (1988), Sub Aqua (7"/12")

Intastella

Albums
  • Intastella and the Family of People (1991), MCA
  • What You Gonna Do (1995), Planet-3
  • Nuphonia (1997), Planet-3
  • Intastella Overdrive (2002), Castle Music - compilation

Singles, EPs
  • "Dream Some Paradise" (1991), MCA - (UK #69)[8]
  • "People" (1991), MCA - UK #74[8]
  • "Century" (1991), MCA - UK #70[8]
  • Drifter EP (1993), Planet-3
  • "Point Hope" (1994), Planet-3
  • "The Night" (1995), Planet-3 - UK #60[8]
  • "Grandmaster" (1996), Planet-3
  • "Past" (1996), Planet-3
  • "Skyscraper Koolaid" (1997), Planet-3
  • "Soon We'll Fly" (1997), Planet-3
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References
  1. "GP appointed to lead Macmillan cancer programme". Westlancashireccg.nhs.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  2. Strong, Martin C. (1999) The Great Alternative & Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1, p. 362
  3. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave, Virgin Books, ISBN 0753502313, p. 242
  4. Lazell, Barry (1998) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4, p. 131
  5. Laugh at the BBC's Keeping It Peel site, retrieved 2010-03-22
  6. "'I don't think he will ever be forgotten': The beloved 'star employee' of Hacienda known as Little Ant has passed away". Manchester Evening News. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  7. "Marc Riley". BBC 6 Music. 2 December 2019.
  8. Intastella, Chart Stats, retrieved 2010-03-22
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