Bush

About Bush

Bush emerged from London in 1992, right when grunge had already conquered America but hadn't quite saturated the UK. Gavin Rossdale formed the band with guitarist Nigel Pulsford, bassist Dave Parsons, and drummer Robin Goodridge. They had the interesting problem of being British guys playing a distinctly American sound, which meant they'd find their audience across the Atlantic rather than at home.

Their 1994 debut "Sixteen Stone" took a while to catch fire, but once it did, it really caught. "Everything Zen," "Little Things," and especially "Glycerine" became inescapable on alternative radio. "Glycerine" was the ballad that separated them from heavier grunge acts, with Rossdale's vocals doing that quiet-to-loud thing over acoustic guitar. The album eventually sold six million copies in the US, though British critics were largely dismissive, viewing them as grunge carpetbaggers.

"Razorblade Suitcase" arrived in 1996, produced by Steve Albini, which gave it a rawer, more abrasive sound than its predecessor. "Swallowed" and "Greedy Fly" pushed harder than anything on "Sixteen Stone." The album debuted at number one and went triple platinum, proving they weren't a one-album act. "The Science of Things" in 1999 showed them trying to evolve beyond the grunge template with songs like "The Chemicals Between Us," incorporating electronic elements and a more polished production.

By 2001's "Golden State," the grunge moment had thoroughly passed, and the album didn't connect the same way. The band split in 2002, with members pursuing other projects. Rossdale married Gwen Stefani, which probably kept his name in magazines more than his music did for a while.

Bush regrouped in 2010, initially as a Rossdale solo project that reclaimed the band name. Chris Traynor replaced Pulsford on guitar, and the lineup has shifted over the years, with Rossdale as the consistent core. They've released a steady stream of albums since returning: "The Sea of Memories," "Man on the Run," "Black and White Rainbows," "The Kingdom," and "The Art of Survival."

The later material doesn't chase trends but doesn't really reinvent anything either. They've settled into being a reliable rock band that knows what it does well. They tour consistently, often on package bills with other bands from their era, playing festivals and amphitheaters.

The critical reassessment never really came for Bush. They remain somewhat caught between being too successful to be cool and not influential enough to be canonized. But "Sixteen Stone" keeps finding new listeners, and their streaming numbers suggest plenty of people still want straightforward rock songs with big choruses. Rossdale is still fronting the band, still writing songs about relationships and alienation, still doing that thing where he half-swallows certain syllables.

Bush shows are straightforward alternative rock gigs. Rossdale still owns the stage with that understated presence, and crowds mostly sing along to the 90s hits. Energy stays locked in that mid-tempo groove where people can actually think about the lyrics. Not particularly wild, but solid.

Known for Glycerine, Comedown, Greedy Fly, Swallowed, Mouth

See Bush Live