Biography

This US band from San Francisco, California, broke into the 90s music scene by brilliantly repackaging the most gaudy elements of 60s and 70s pop with irresistible kitsch appeal. The band's dress sense was particularly colourful, one critic observing that it could have been drawn from the wardrobes of colour-blind charity shop consumers.
Jellyfish was formed by Andy Sturmer (b. Pleasanton, San Francisco, California, USA; drums/vocals), Jason Falkner (guitar), along with brothers Chris Manning (b. Pleasanton, San Francisco, California, USA; bass) and Roger Manning (b. Pleasanton, San Francisco, California, USA; keyboards). Sturmer and Roger Manning were previously in Beatnik Beach, a short-lived funk pop outfit on Atlantic Records. Their debut single, "The King Is Half Undressed", was a classy slice of retro-pop. Allied to their childlike dress sense, the formula guaranteed immediate television exposure. The attendant Bellybutton remains one of the more exciting debut albums of the 90s. Featuring several outright Beatles pastiches and with strange overtones of Earth Opera, the album was produced by Albhy Galuten, his first job since Saturday Night Fever. Subsequent highly commercial singles, "Baby's Coming Back", "I Wanna Stay Home" and "Now She Knows She's Wrong", failed to build on a strong chart platform. Jellyfish were more than happy to be able to play with at least two of their heroes, Ringo Starr and Brian Wilson, following introductions from Don Was.
Line-up changes preceded the release of the band's second and final album, with Eric Dover replacing Falkner and Tim Smith taking over from Chris Manning. (Falkner formed the Greys, who lasted for only one album, before going on to work with Eric Matthews and release some excellent solo albums). The complex arrangements and breathtaking harmonies on Spilt Milk showed definite influences of 10cc, Queen and Badfinger, but again commercial success proved elusive. The band collapsed shortly afterwards. Manning and Dover formed Imperial Drag in 1996.
DISCOGRAPHY: Bellybutton (Charisma/Virgin 1991)****, Spilt Milk (Charisma/Virgin 1993)****.
COMPILATIONS: Greatest (Charisma 1999)****, Fan Club 4-CD box set (Not Lame 2002)***.

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