Alpinestars (band)

Lore & Background

Richard Woolgar and Glyn Thomas met in 1995 while in separate bands sharing a rehearsal space. They formed a short-lived group called Maxim, which produced nothing but brought them to the attention of a local club promoter. Invited to create an hour-long set within a week, they took the name Alpinestars from a mountain bike Thomas owned and performed successfully, leading to a signing with Faith and Hope Records.

The duo debuted in August 1999 with the EP Las Vegas, whose track 'Interlaken' became the most requested on Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 evening show. They followed with EPs Silicon Chick (November 1999) and Kitzbuhel Weekend (March 2000), the latter yielding a single named 'Single of the Week' by NME. Their first commercial single '77 Sunset Strip' appeared in July 2000, and their debut album B.A.S.I.C. was released in September 2000.

After leaving Faith and Hope in 2001, Alpinestars released White Noise in 2002 on Riverman Records and Astralwerks. Both members contributed vocals, and Brian Molko sang on 'Carbon Kid'. The album reflected their desire to move beyond a 'sampler duo mentality'. In a 2002 interview, Thomas discussed the freedom of being unsigned, noting that unsigned bands have total control and that signing a major deal at a young age carries high risk.

Reader's Guide

Alpinestars occupied a niche in early 2000s electronic rock, blending synthesizers and guitars with guest vocalists. Their debut album B.A.S.I.C., though hard to find, received praise from multiple magazines. White Noise expanded their sound and featured the notable collaboration with Brian Molko. The duo's music appeared in several video games, including Midnight Club II, SSX 3, and Project Gotham Racing 3, extending their reach beyond traditional album sales. Their career illustrates the challenges of independent bands in the early digital era: despite critical attention and radio play, they struggled with distribution and label changes. An unreleased album, Time Spent with Machines (2005), marked the end of their recorded output. Their legacy lies in their integration of electronic and rock elements and their brief but notable presence in the UK electronic scene.

Did You Know?

• The band name came from a mountain bike owned by Glyn Thomas.
• Their track 'Interlaken' became the most requested song on Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 evening show.
• Brian Molko of Placebo provided vocals on the song 'Carbon Kid' from White Noise.
• Their debut album B.A.S.I.C. stands for 'Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code'.