Dodgy

From the start, Dodgy showed little interest in earning critical respect. Embracing their position as the jesters of Brit-pop, the group built a following through buoyant, eccentric punk-pop that drew comparisons to the early Who as well as the Stone Roses. Although several U.K. singles charted, most notably "Staying Out for the Summer," the band's offbeat British wit kept them from securing an American contract for quite some time. They nevertheless retained a committed cult audience well into the late '90s by continuing to issue memorable, lighthearted power-pop songs.

An initial lineup came together in the late '80s after Nigel Clarke (vocals, bass) and Mathew Priest (drums) relocated from Birmingham to London. While holding down temporary work, they advertised for a guitarist and eventually enlisted Andy Miller. Dodgy performed regularly during the following years, among other venues making frequent appearances at the Dodgy Club, the site of their first live show. In 1991 the trio launched their own Bostin' label, issuing singles such as "Summer Fayre" and "Easy Way." By the close of 1992 the band had built a substantial following that drew major-label interest, leading to a contract with A&M and the May 1993 release of their debut, The Dodgy Album. British critics responded favorably, and Dodgy soon became fixtures on the Camden pop circuit then led by Blur.

The fall of 1994 brought the single "Staying Out for the Summer," Dodgy's first Top 40 entry and a stepping stone to the breakthrough album Homegrown, which arrived to strong reviews in October. After a full year of touring in 1995, the band returned in summer 1996 with Free Peace Sweet, their most successful release to that point and the source of the hits "In a Room," "Good Enough," and "If You're Thinking of Me," the last of which reached number 11.

Clarke departed shortly after Free Peace Sweet, prompting Priest and Miller to recruit vocalist David Bassey, bassist Nick Abnett, and keyboardist Chris Hallam. This lineup issued Real Estate in 2001 before the group disbanded, only to see the original trio reconvene for a 2008 tour. Over the ensuing years the three musicians maintained an active schedule of festival appearances and headline dates, culminating in the February 2012 release of Stand Upright in a Cool Place. The band remained productive, issuing its sixth album, What Are We Fighting For, in 2016.