Suede

Suede, known as The London Suede in the United States, is an English rock band from London that forms in 1989 and remains active. The group begins with singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Justine Frischmann and bassist Mat Osman. Its line-up later includes Bernard Butler, Richard Oakes, Neil Codling, Alex Lee, Justin Welch and Simon Gilbert.

Style and early reputation

The band draws on glam rock and post-punk influences and is associated with alternative rock, art rock, britpop, glam rock and rock. It gains early attention from the British music press and is described by Melody Maker in 1992 as “The Best New Band in Britain”.

Albums and career

Suede’s debut album, Suede, appears in 1993 and reaches number one on the UK Albums Chart. It becomes the fastest-selling debut album in nearly a decade and wins the Mercury Music Prize. The record is influential in the development of Britpop, although the band distances itself from that label.

The second album, Dog Man Star (1994), is recorded amid internal tensions. Bernard Butler leaves during its making and Richard Oakes takes his place before the supporting tour. Although it initially underperforms commercially, it later receives strong critical reassessment and is regarded as an important rock album. In 1994, the band is counted among Britpop’s “big four” alongside Oasis, Blur and Pulp.

With keyboardist Neil Codling added, Suede achieves greater commercial success with Coming Up (1996), which reaches number one in the UK, produces five top ten singles and becomes the band’s best-selling album worldwide. Head Music follows in 1999 and also tops the UK chart, though it receives mixed reactions from critics and fans.

Codling leaves in 2001 because of chronic fatigue syndrome and Alex Lee replaces him. The fifth album, A New Morning (2002), comes after the collapse of Nude Records and receives limited commercial and critical attention, after which the band disbands in 2003.

Reunion and later work

Brett Anderson briefly reunites with Bernard Butler in 2004 in The Tears before continuing with solo work. Suede reunites in 2010 for concerts and returns with Bloodsports (2013), which reaches the UK top ten and receives positive reviews. Later albums include Night Thoughts (2016), The Blue Hour (2018), which becomes the band’s first top-five album since Head Music, Autofiction (2022) and Antidepressants (2025).