Elastica have teased their return after 25 years, telling fans that they have been “busy behind the scenes”.
The Britpop band split up in 2001, but yesterday (July 31), they shared a vintage photograph on their official Instagram account, alongside a cryptic message suggesting that new activity is on its way.
“Missed us?” They wrote. “We’ve been busy behind the scenes, but we’re back. Keep your eyes peeled, there are some exciting things in the works.”
They have not revealed whether their plans involve new music, live performances or archive re-releases, but it would represent their first significant action since they released the remastered version of their classic self-titled debut album for Record Store Day 2017.
Elastica were formed by guitarist and singer Justine Frischmann and drummer Justin Welch in 1992 after their departure from Suede, joined in the original line-up by guitarist Donna Matthews and bassist Annie Holland.
After winning the Best New Band prize at the 1994 NME Awards, their debut album became one of the defining releases of the Britpop era, topping the UK Albums Chart and including the singles ‘Connection’, ‘Line Up’ and ‘Stutter’. It went on to be named as one of NME’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
After a turbulent five-year wait, Elastica returned with their second and final album ‘The Menace’ in 2000, with Frischmann confirming that the group had split the following year.
Reunion rumours were sparked in January 2017 when Matthews, Holland and Welch were pictured together at Abbey Road Studios, but it later emerged that they had been working on the remastered reissue of ‘Elastica’ that year.
Frischmann also revealed in 2017 that M.I.A. had asked the band to reunite for her Meltdown Festival in London, and though she said she was “tempted” by the offer, the reunion did not end up taking place.
Earlier this year, former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur recalled being invited to join Elastica during the ’90s, after Holland experienced difficulties with heroin withdrawal. She had been due to play at Lollapalooza, but Hole’s management prevented her from accepting the invite.
“It was a very cool offer, but not cool that I had to say no,” she told NME. “When Elastica came out with that Britpop post-punk attitude combined with pop catchiness, they were an exciting anomaly.”
