Guided By Voices

Active since the '80s, Guided By Voices have spanned several decades while frequently changing their lineup. Founded by singer Robert Pollard and his high school friend, guitarist Mitch Mitchell, the band was initially just an after-work hobby. They also released a few EPs, though these didn't make much of an impact. In 1992 they released "Propeller", which caught the attention of local producer Robert Griffin, who decided to offer them a deal. This marked the start of a very positive period for their career, allowing them to become a well-known name in the indie rock scene. Following the success of 1996's "Under the Bushes Under the Stars", which included a collaboration with Steve Albini among others, they signed to Matador Records, one of the most important independent labels. It was a very fruitful period for them, and Pollard also began pursuing several solo and side projects. In 2004 the band broke up. A first reunion attempt came in 2010 with a lineup made up of members from the '93-96 era, leading to the release of some critically acclaimed albums such as "Class Clown Spots A UFO" and "Let's Go Eat The Factory". However, the band broke up again in 2014. In 2016 Pollard once again tried to reform the group together with Gillard and March, with whom he had already collaborated in the early 2000s, and two new members, Shue and Bare Jr, on bass and guitar respectively. After a brief settling-in period, the band proved to be extremely tight-knit and prolific on record (since 2019 they've put out an average of 3 albums a year).