According to legend, Suede kicked of the so-called Britpop movement. Question is what this huge revival of British guitar music was all about. Looking back Suede indeed infused British pop with great guitars and a glam image. But in the top years of Britpop they had not much to do with the beer drinking lads looking like the boys next door. So no, Suede was miles away from Oasis, Shed Seven, Cast, The Bluetones, Ocean Colour Scene or whoever.
Probably, Pulp is the only band they can be compared to: 2 or 3 essential albums, and slowly fading out. Only it took Pulp many more years to be successful, and Suede probably grabbed more attention of the media.
This Select cover is supposed to be one of the triggers to start Britpop: pin-up Brett posing in front of a union jack. New bands like Suede or Saint-Etienne are seen as weapons against American grunge. Other names like Denim have now been long forgotten. Ironically in the intro of the article the auteur is saying a question like "Can I get a beer?" should never be asked again. Unluckily, only the following year the Gallagher brothers would do with a couple of boozes again…
The Suede article is portraying the band like the saviours of pop. And Brett is feeling invincible.
Picture by Neil Cooper.
