1992 in British Music

The Story of 1992

Britpop's foundations were being laid, even if nobody knew it yet. Suede released 'The Drowners', their debut single, introducing a glamorous, sexualised, distinctly British alternative to grunge. Blur's 'Popscene' and their debut album 'Leisure' showed a band finding their voice. The scene in Camden was buzzing. But 1992 was also the year of the Madchester hangover – the Roses were suing Silvertone, Happy Mondays were falling apart, and the music press was declaring guitar music dead. Rave was evolving into jungle, with 4hero, Goldie and the Reinforced Records crew pushing breakbeats to new extremes. The Prodigy's 'Experience' was a landmark of hardcore rave. Underworld were reinventing themselves as electronic pioneers. Massive Attack's 'Blue Lines' was still reverberating, trip-hop becoming the sound of Bristol. Take That were the biggest pop act in Britain, launching the boyband revival. East 17 were their competition. The CD was now dominant, killing the vinyl single. The industry was booming on CD reissues while wondering where the next guitar band would come from. They didn't know Suede and Blur were already waiting in the wings.