'Love Spit Love' was a musical group founded in
1992 by singer
Richard Butler following the initial disbanding of the
Psychedelic Furs.
History
When the Psychedelic Furs disbanded in 1991, Butler moved to
New York. Butler contacted guitarist
Richard Fortus, whose band, Pale Divine, had been the opener on the Furs' final US tour. The two began to collaborate on what Butler expected would become his first solo record. The duo enlisted drummer
Frank Ferrer to help develop the material. As the songs took shape, however, Butler opted to push the project into a new band.
[1] The band's name was taken from a 1991 performance art exhibit in New York, which featured three naked couples (of varying sexual orientation) openly engaged in acts of affection.
To record their debut album, the band brought in Butler's brother (and Furs bandmate) Tim to fill in on bass. (Butler also co-wrote six songs on the album.) The completed
self-titled album was released in August of 1994 on Imago Records. The debut album's lead single, "Am I Wrong", was warmly received at alternative radio and
MTV. (The song eventually appeared on the soundtrack to the 1995 movie ''
Angus''.)
Richard Butler and Fortus undertook a series of promotional tour dates in the summer of 1994, performing acoustically. For a fall 1994 tour, the band enlisted bassist Lonnie Hillyer. The fall touring included an appearance on ''
The Jon Stewart Show'', where the band performed second single "Change in the Weather".
Near the end of 1995, the band was approached by the music supervisor of the movie ''
The Craft'', who inquired if the band might record a cover of
The Smiths' "
How Soon Is Now?". After initial reluctance, the band recorded the song, and it was released as a single from the movie's soundtrack in 1996. Some years later, Warner Bros utilized the band's cover as the theme song for the television series ''
Charmed''.
[2]
For most of 1995 and 1996, the band found themselves in a precarious situation with their label. Imago Records, which was founded as a joint venture between
Terry Ellis and
BMG, lost its distribution deal with BMG at the end of 1994. Ellis retained the contracts to the label's bands and hoped to find a new distributor. By 1996, however, the label went bankrupt, leaving the band to find another home. Later that year, Love Spit Love signed with
Maverick Records. In the meantime, Chris Wilson replaced Hillyer on bass.
The band's second album, ''
Trysome Eatone'', was released in August of 1997. The album spawned two singles, "Long Long Time" and "Fall on Tears".
After touring in support of the album, Love Spit Love spent the rest of the 90s idle, before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2000.
[3] That year, the Psychedelic Furs decided to reform, with both Fortus and Ferrer joining the reformed lineup. Fortus later spent time as a supporting guitarist for
Nena and is currently a member of the reformed
Guns N' Roses along with Ferrer.
Discography
★ ''
Love Spit Love'' (1994) #195 US
★ ''
Trysome Eatone'' (1997)
Singles
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Chart positions' | 'Album' |
| Billboard Hot 100 | Modern Rock Tracks |
| 1994 | "Change in the Weather" | - | #31 | ''Love Spit Love'' |
| 1994 | "Am I Wrong" | #83 | #3 | ''Love Spit Love'' |
| 1997 | "Long Long Time" | - | #33 | ''Trysome Eatone '' |
| 1997 | "Fall On Tears" | - | #39 | ''Trysome Eatone '' |
References
1. Ankeny, Jason. "Love Spit Love". ''All Music Guide''.
2. Harris, Will. "A Chat with Richard Butler". ''Bullz-Eye''. April 16, 2006.
3. Flinn, Sean. "Back in the Pink". ''Choler Magazine''. August 2, 2000.
External links
★
Maverick Records: Love Spit Love
★
Love Spit Love: Love Spit Love