Obsessed with the classic US power pop of Big Star and The Raspberries, Glasgow's Teenage Fanclub formed in 1989 around the trio of Norman Blake (guitar, vocals), Raymond McGinley (guitar) and Gerard Love (bass). With Francis McDonald on drums (later replaced by Brendan O'Hare), the 'Fannies' released 'A Catholic Education' on Creation in 1990, a clear-cut gem in the midst of the muddy grunge and dull shoegazing that was prevalent at the time. Wilfully perverse, but always with an eye on classic guitar pop, the band could flit from the glory of the 'God Knows It's True EP', to the deliberately obscure instrumental album 'The King'. They signed to Geffen the same time as Nirvana did, with 'Bandwagonesque' marking a career high and topping a number of end of year lists. Despite frequent label changes, the Fannies continue to release well-received albums, the latest being 2005's 'Man Made'.
