What happened to Slowdive?

Slowdive may have broken up in 1995 but most of its members still continue to make music. Forever associated with the short lived but much loved shoegazing genre Slowdive released 3 albums and a number of EP’s. For the uninitiated tracks to seek out include ‘Catch The Breeze’, ‘Machine Gun’ and ‘When The Sun Hits’.

Slowdive – Shine (1991 Peel Session)

Rachel Goswell

As well as being every indie boy’s dream girl Rachel Goswell was one half of the vocal team in Slowdive. Goswell is a member of Mojave 3, the alt country (who have recently turned all Powerpop on us) act who have a number of fine albums under their belts. Rachel also released a solo album in 2004 called ‘Waves Are Universal’. Of late she has been stricken with illness and was unable to go on tour in support of Mojave 3’s superb last album ‘Puzzles Like You’.

Rachel Goswell – Warm Summer Sun

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Waves Are Universal [US] Waves Are Universal
Year: 2004

Neil Halstead

Neil Halstead was the dreamy (background) voice in Slowdive, much of his words getting lost in the reverb. His songwriting skills took a pasting when the bands final album ‘Pygmalion’ was a flop (he wrote most of it) and saw the band getting dropped from Creation records. Thankfully more good times were on the way when along with Goswell and Ian McCutcheon he formed Mojave 3 in 1995 signalling a total reinvention of his signature sound. Halstead released a solo record for 4AD in 2002 called ‘Sleeping On Roads’ but Mojave 3 remains his primary focus.

Neil Halstead – Seasons

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Sleeping on Roads [US] Sleeping on Roads
Year: 2002

Christian Saville

Saville was guitarist with Slowdive and played in several bands including the Eternal before settling with his current band Monster Movie who have stayed faithful to shoegaze sound of yore. As other members forked off into quieter sonic avenues Saville has gone on to release 4 albums of panoramic dream pop.

Monster Movie – Waiting

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Last Night Something Happened [US] Last Night Something Happened
Year: 2002

Nick Chaplain

Slowdive’s bass player has vanished and not even google’s all seeing eye can provide any information on his current whereabouts. Anybody out there with any leads (preferably ones connected to a bass guitarist)?

Ian McCutcheon

McCutcheon replaced Simon Scott in 1994 on drums. Slowdive split the following year after the failure of ‘Pygmalion’ but McCutcheon continued his association with Goswell and Halstead with Mojave 3.

Mojave 3 – Stars In The Sky

More Info: Official
Buy Album: [UK] Puzzles Like You [US] Puzzles Like You
Year: 2006

Simon Scott

Simon Scott played drums on most of Slowdive’s recordings from 1990 to 1994. On leaving the band he became a session drummer working with the likes of Chapterhouse and St. Etienne. His own band Inner Sleeve enjoyed a short existence on the Fierce Panda label after which Scott played drums with the much undervalued Lowgold. He currently heads up a shoegaze band named Televise who were formed in 2003 on foot of a brief sighting of Syd Barrett.

Televise – Mercy Seat

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Songs to Sing in A&E [US] Outside Out Ep
Year: 2006

KD

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5 Comments

  1. March 4, 2007
    Reply

    excellent post K, I didn’t realize that Simon Scott was with Lowgold and now heads up Televise….

  2. March 5, 2007
    Reply

    Very informative, thanks. <>Souvlaki<> has become one of my favorite albums in a very short timespan, and I’ll be sure to check out all of these other projects!

  3. March 5, 2007
    Reply

    Just want to point out that Televise’s “Mercy Seat” is a cover of Ultra Vivid Scene (fellow 4ADers). A nice one too!

  4. March 10, 2007
    Reply

    Thanks all – they were a very special band (as were Ultra Vivid Scene) so let’s hope they are not forgotten.

  5. November 29, 2008
    Reply

    From an interview in 2001 with Monster Movie.Sean: I only know Nick. He’s fine, he works for the same company [Sage.com] as us, but he’s more important. He’s too clever to be a musician. Christian: We have tried to get Nick out of retirement, but he is too devoted to snowboarding, mountain biking and other extreme sports. I don’t see [the Slowdive members] anymore, apart form Nick.From http://www.inkoma.com/pages/interviews/monstermovie.html

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