Pusherman

Formed in 1994, the eclectic UK alternative group Pusherman built an early following through appearances at underground all-night events across London. The lineup featured Andy Frank on vocals alongside Meredith ‘Yank’ Reid (b. 1965, Wichita, Kansas, USA, d. 28 April 2000, London, England; vocals, harmonica), Bo Ellery on bass, Martin Hoyland on guitar, Tony Antoniou on guitar and Harry Harrison on drums. Content to maintain this low-key path, the musicians were eventually noticed by producer Owen Morris, who brought them into the studio for a demo session. Those recordings secured a deal with his Ignition Records imprint and a run of nationwide shows, among them dates on Melody Maker’s Maker Shaker tour. Following support performances for the Manic Street Preachers in Paris and New York, the band issued its debut single ‘Whole’, which the New Musical Express named single of the week. Released solely as a promotional item, the track remained unavailable to the public until the September 1996 arrival of the single ‘Chase It’ and the full-length album Floored. Bolstered by live dates with the Levellers, Floored drew strong notices from reviewers, even as certain observers questioned the group’s drug-themed lyrics and chosen name.