Spearmint

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London, United Kingdom (1995 – present)

Spearmint is a London-based band, founded in 1995 from the ashes of a project called ‘Laverne and Shirlie’. Their sound can be said to be classic British , with some influences.

The founding members were Shirley Lee (lead vocals, guitar), Simon Calnan (vocals, keyboards), Martin Talbot (bass) and Ronan Larvor (drums). Talbot left soon afterward, to be replaced by James Parsons. Richard ‘Dickon’ Edwards later ended up joining as second guitarist, though leaving in 2000 to form Fosca. Parsons then took over second guitar duties, with Andy Lewis joining on bass.

Spearmint have released eight albums and many singles, all on their own label, hitBack, having a minor success with 1997’s Sweeping The Nation and A Trip Into Space, both of which grazed the UK Top 75. We’re Going Out received some airplay on BBC Radio 1 and was remixed by long-time Pet Shop Boys prodcuer Stephen Hague.

Their most recent studio album, Paris In A Bottle, was released in the summer of 2006.

During the initial few months of gigs around the homes of the band members in south-east London, Spearmint put out a run of 500 white label 7” singles featuring “Somebody” and an early version of “I Can’t Sleep” on their own hitBack label. The song featured an unauthorised The Beatles sample, which should have made them infamous at the very least. It was not to be, but it was fiery enough to get a manager on board.

The original bass player left later that year, so the band advertised in Melody Maker for a new bass player and met James. He’d just parted ways with previous band Supersaurus and was really looking to play guitar, but they persuaded him to play bass with promises of records, glamour and riches, and he joined.
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Top Albums

  • A Week Away (Special Edition)
    Spearmint Play
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  • A Week Away
    Spearmint
    Buy
  • A Different Lifetime
    Spearmint
    Buy
  • My Missing Days
    Spearmint Play
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Top Tracks

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  • VelzelvuL

    I tried that cause I heard of it in 500 days of summer)

    last month

  • blixt

    marry me, Shirley.

    March 2012

  • kanto_sho

    The reason why Nations is #1 is properly because the song is available at the rough trade compilations.

    December 2011

  • Colton56

    Why is Sweeping the Nation at #1? That song blows

    November 2011

  • astarish1

    the best !

    December 2010

  • abiflip

    I LOVE Spearmint!!

    November 2010

  • leechgatherer

    Holy jesus fuck. I'm so happy Levitt name-dropped them in 500 Days. I just listened to A Week Away for the first time and I think it's one of the best albums I've listened to this year. It's incredible.

    August 2010

  • sdonoh

    I was disappointed they weren't on the (500) days soundtrack, but I'm glad the reference has brought so many here. Spearmint are virtually unknown even here in the UK, and deserve so much more.

    July 2010
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String Bean Jen's photo of spearmint from the ICA 30th September

16 Oct 2009 | from telleyjims.blogspot.com/

Spearmint Originally uploaded by String Bean Jen String Bean Jen's photo of spearmint from the ICA 30th September

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