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February 2021
February 28, 2021 (6 Photos)

Tiger Bay is 27 today

The idea was to take traditional folk tunes and add modern electronic production. With short story lyrics. A guaranteed winner in the year of Parklife and Definitely Maybe. What were we thinking?

I think It stands up today but, to be honest, must have seemed a bit confusing at the time. I remember It went down well in Scandinavia.

Bob Stanley - February 2021

Bob and I rented a cottage deep in the Gloucestershire countryside to hatch plans and write lyrics. We thought we'd found the most off the beaten track hideout possible, but when we signed the visitors book we saw Bill Drummond from the KLF had stayed there just before us.

Pete Wiggs - February 2021

I've always thought it a bit spooky that although children were the last thing on my mind at that time I ended up having a little boy who looked identical to the boy on the cover. He's 16 and nearly 6 foot now!

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

What's your favourite song from Tiger Bay?

Tiger Bay is available on vinyl, double CD and a super deluxe triple vinyl boxset from all good record shops

Cover painting by Peter Mennim after Welcome Bonny Boat by James Clarke Hook

(saintetienne, tigerbay, heavenlyrecordings, 1994, likeamotorway, palemovie, coolkidsofdeath, marblelions, hugmysoul, bobpetesarah) 		Pictures
February 27, 2021

London 1998

Photograph by Hamish Brown

(saintetienne, bobpeteandsarah, sarahcracknell, bobstanley, petewiggs, by, hamishbrown, hpsauce14, for, goodhumor, london, 1998) 		Picture
February 26, 2021

Polka Dots

This is a Steve Double picture. He was always really creative with back drops and sets and I remember him bringing a 60s bubble car into his studio for an NME shoot once.

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

Photograph by Steve Double

(saintetienne, sarahcracknell, petewiggs, bobstanley, by, stevedouble, drdouble, for, nme, newmusicalexpress, bobpetesarah) 		Picture
February 25, 2021

Malmo

We were drawn to Sweden even before we went to Malmo to record Good Humor. I think there's a pop sensibility that runs through both Swedish and British music and we felt the connection. Paul (Kelly) came over while we were recording at Tambourine and took some photos of us around town. I'm wearing a pair of vintage Levi Sta Prest in this pic that I bought in a shop called Flying A - I spent a fortune in that shop!!

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

Photograph by Paul Kelly

(sarahcracknell, saintetienne, malmo, sweden, by, paulkelly, paulkellyfilm, flyinga, levis, levisstaprest, thriftshopcoat, whilstrecording, goodhumor, tambourinestudios, bobpetesarah) 		Picture
February 24, 2021 (Two Photos)

Where did you buy Home Counties?

(monorail-music, roughtrade, driftrecordshop, bellaunionvinylshop, therecordcafe, truckmusicstore, foppofficial, spillersrecords, picadillyrecordsmanchester, sisterraysoho, jumborecords, friendyrecords, banquetrecords, fopp, hmv, homecounties, saintetienne) 		Pictures
February 23, 2021

Old record boxes. 		Picture
February 22, 2021 (Six Photos)

So Tough is 28 today

So Tough must have more samples on it than any other album of ours. Just the clips - or skits - between the tracks took months for our manager Martin to clear, poor soul. It was a way of getting quotes from some of our favourite singers (Suggs, Roy Harper, Marc Almond, David Essex!) on there alongside bits of our favourite films (Peeping Tom, Billy Liar). And a bit of Alan Bennett juxtaposed with my sister's Muttley laugh. The sort of thing you do when you're young and stupid! But I'm really glad we did it.

Bob Stanley - February 2021

You're In A Bad Way was our first top twenty hit and I remember purposely not wanting to know it's chart position in advance so I could find out by listening to the chart rundown on Radio One, which used to be on Sundays. It was a brilliant feeling when it was announced as a new entry at number twelve, but tears of joy turned to tears of laughter when the DJ left the CD single running at the end and Richard Attenborough, from Brighton Rock, chimed in saying I hate you ya little slut, you make me sick. Ooops! Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

What's your favourite song from So Tough?

(sotough, saintetienne, avenue, hobartpaving, chickensoup, calico, marioscafe, leafhound, sarahcracknell, photographedby, derekcracknell, bobstanley, petewiggs, bobpetesarah) 		Pictures
February 21, 2021

Power Trio

Photograph by Hamish Brown

(bobstanley, sarahcracknell, petewiggs, saintetienne, by, hamishbrown, hbsauce14, for, goodhumor, bobpetesarah) 		Picture
February 20, 2021

The teams that meet in caffs

Photographed by Joe Dilworth

(stanleyandwiggs, saintetienne, bobstanley, rocking-bob, petewiggs, needhamsound, by, joedilworth, lament.for.cement, eggandchips, marioscafe, foxbasealpha) 		Picture
February 19, 2021

Paul Kelly did all the photography for my first solo alum Lipslide - apart from the sleeve for the first single Anymore. I really love all the pictures he's taken of the band and myself over the years not to mention his video's, films and sleeve art. Such a talent.

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

What's you favourite song from Lipslide?

(sarahcracknell, saintetienne, lipslide, paulkelly, paulkellyfilm) 		Picture
February 18, 2021 (3 Photos)

Chekhov Warp Dub

A year since the great man passed away I might tell an Andrew Weatherall story. I was, as usual, quite tongue tied in his presence and found myself asking nervously if he'd bought any good synthesisers recently. He replied that he was waiting for the Chekov Warp. Oh yeah that's meant to be good I responded. I took this exciting news back to the studio with Tom and Dubby to blank faces. A year or so later it occurred to me that he was in fact waiting for the cheque off Warp. Aah so good. Bless. We named this remix in respect.

Ed Simons - The Chemical Brothers - 19th February 2021

Sleeve photography: Paul Kelly

(edsimons, eddyboysimons, thechemicalbrothers, tomrowlands, stevedub, steven_dubs, andrewweatherall, likeamotorway, chekhovwarpdub, chekhovwarpmix, heavenlyrecordings, heavenlysundaysocial, tigerbay, saintetienne, bobpetesarah) 		Pictures
February 17, 2021

Sylvie

Poster art by Phantom Industries
(Paul Kelly and Steve Rowland with Simon Goddard)

(sylvie, sylvievartan, saintetienne, goodhumor, 1998, by, phantomindustries, paulkelly, paulkellyfilm, steverowland, stevefrankroland, with, simongoddard, creationrecords, bobpetesarah) 		Picture
February 16, 2021

Village Of The Damned

This picture was taken as part of the shoot for the back cover of Nothing Can Stop Us. I'm not sure how I was persuaded to wear the wig but I look a bit like an extra from Village Of The Damned.

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

Photographer: Joe Dilworth

(sarahcracknell, petewiggs, bobstanley, by, joedilworth, lament.for.cement, for, nothingcanstopus, seveninchsingle, 7inch, with, billyfury, meetbillyfury, villageofthedamned, johnwyndam, foxbasealpha, saintetienne) 		Picture
February 15, 2021 (3 Photos)

Instores

These pictures bring back memories of signing sessions over the years: worrying no-one's going to show up, subsequently meeting lots of lovely fans and record shop people, the smell of sharpies , pre gig nerves, post previous night's hangover, trying to write coherent messages without inadvertently offending anyone...

Pete Wiggs - February 2021

Thankfully we've never had a Spinal Tap/Artie Fufkin moment where nobody showed up!

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

If we've signed any records for you over the years we'd love see those posted with saintetienneofficial or saintetienneinstore

Photographers:
HVM Manchester - March 1994 - Angus Ashford
HMV Sheffield - April 1993 - Roger Sargent
Tower Records Tokyo - May 1993 - Paul Kelly

(saintetienneofficial, saintetienneinstore, saintetienne, at, hmv, hmvmanchester, hmvsheffield, towerrecords, towerrecordstokyo, japan, by, paulkelly, paulkellyfilm, rogersargent, rogersargo, angusashford, sotough, tigerbay, bobpetesarah) 		Pictures
February 14, 2021

Foxbase Alpha

Me and Pete made the Foxbase Alpha sign and took the cover photo at the bottom of Dartmouth Park Road with my trusty Canon AV1. We credited Joe Dilworth with the cover shot so it sounded more professional (I don't think we ever checked with him if that was OK). But then we did get Joe to take some shots mocking up prep for the cover, after we had taken the cover shot. I think this is on Parliament Hill.

Bob Stanley - February 2021

Photograph: Joe Dilworth

We were overwhelmed and moved by everyones answers to Monday's competition and feel blessed to have such loyal and lovely fans. It was of course extremely difficult to pick just three favourites but here goes....

richardcrampton
paulbjoseph1
shaunofsalop

Please contact us here as soon as forthcoming shows are announced and we'll be happy to sort your free tickets out.

Lots of love
Sarah, Pete and Bob xxx

(bobstanley, rocking-bob, petewiggs, needhamsound, celinanash, by, joedilworth, lament.for.cement, hasselblad, parliamenthill, fake, leopardskincoat, peta, foxbasealpha, saintetienne) 		Picture
February 13, 2021

Zipcode

Photograph by Aude Prieur

(saintetienne, bobpeteandsarah, bobstanley, petewiggs, sarahcracknell, photographedby, audeprieur, odaleronin, above, citysnacks, holborn, london, zipcode, goodhumor) 		Picture
February 12, 2021

The Lanes, Brighton

Photograph: Elaine Constantine

(saintetienne, brighton, 1998, by, elaine_constantine, sarahcracknell, wearing, kiehls, hairproducts, bobstanley, wearing, duffer, ipcressfile, coat, petewiggs, wearing, denim) 		Picture
February 11, 2021

It's Good To Be Back!

In January 1998 I accompanied Bob, Pete and Sarah on a short radio tour. We flew up to Glasgow and then worked our way down by car stopping at various local radio stations on the way. I think this was in Leeds or Manchester and between records we were chatting to the DJ who told us wistfully that she'd been too young to ever see the Stone Roses play live. I remember feeling very old.

Paul Kelly - February 2021

Does anyone know the presenter or the station in this picture?

Photograph: Paul Kelly

(sarahcracknell, reads, thelatestissue, of, melodymaker, mm, duringa, radiointerview, for, goodhumor, 1998, sylvie, loosethatgirl, bobpetesarah, saintetienne, paulkelly, paulkellyfilm) 		Picture
February 10, 2021 (3 Photos)

Method Of Modern Love

Hard to believe that this single turns 12 today. Produced by Richard X and originally released on 9th February 2009.

(methodofmodernlove, purepop, saintetienne, producedandwrittenby, richardx, richardxbm, blackmelody.com, with, hannarobinson, prime, petehofmann, heavenlyrecordings #hvn185, thisistomorrow, bobpetesarah) 		Pictures
February 9, 2021

Seattle October 2nd 2017

Tonight's venue is conveniently located right across the road from the beautiful Art Deco Hotel Deca where we stay and when I return they're putting up our name on the old style American tiled cinema sign out front. Alas the day takes a darker turn as word filters through about the shooting in Las Vegas closely followed by the news of Tom Petty.

Mike Monaghan (drums) - October 2nd 2017

Photograph: Mike Monaghan
taken from the his viewfromthedrumstool.tumblr.com blog

(seattle, neptunetheatre, hoteldeca, mikemonaghan, mikegpmonaghan, drummerboy, drummer, for, saintetienne, onthe, 2017, goodhumor, tour, viewfromthedrumstool, blog, tompetty, bobpeteandsarah) 		Picture
February 8, 2021 (3 Photos)

Live And Dangerous

We've missed not playing live shows and are looking forward to announcing some tour dates at some point later this year. What was your favourite Saint Etienne concert or event and why? We'd love to know. We have three pairs of tickets to give away for our three favourite answers. Those can be redeemed against any forthcoming Saint Etienne show. You just need to tell us which - once announced - that you'd like to go to. The competition is open for 6 days and we'll announce the winners at the bottom of this Sundays Instagram post.

Lots of love
Sarah, Bob and Pete xxx

(bobpeteadsarah, saintetienneofficial, royalfestivalhall, thefillmore, theforum, ica, thehacienda, roskilde, brixtonfridge, irvingplaza, glastonbury, houseofblues, thelondonpaladium, manchesterritz, bennicassim, thebritishlibrary, olympiaparis, lollipopfestival, shepherdsbushempire, boweryballroom) 		Pictures
February 7, 2021

Pale Movie

This was taken in Nerja, Spain by Jamie Fry during a break between takes for our Pale Movie video

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

Photograph by Jamie Fry

(sarahcracknell, saintetienneofficial, by, jamiefry, jamiefryphotography, jimfry77, nerja, spain, videoshoot, for, palemovie, tigerbay, heavenlyrecordings, vintagebibajacket, biba-pari-vintage-collection, rayban, aviator, sunglasses, agualanjaron, lanjaron, bobpetesarah) 		Picture
February 6, 2021

Mick Bund

I first met Mick when I was 15, he was a year older, I was playing a gig in a hall in Windsor and he came along to watch. We hit it off straight away and I soon asked him to join the band on bass. He and I had our own band together for about 4 years after that.

He was more than a bandmate to me, he really was like my brother, I don't have any siblings so he was the closest thing. We moved to a flat on the King's Road in Chelsea with another two friends when I was 17, Mick and I then moved to the Archway Road, Fulham Palace Road and full circle back to Windsor. I shared a flat with him for seven years and we never had a cross word, not once. We also never got fruity!

He was an incredibly talented singer songwriter, a couple of songs I wrote with him are Marble Lions, Sushi Rider and You Know I'll Miss You When You're Gone, but there are many more. Very sadly he passed away a couple of years ago and it broke mine and many others hearts, he was funny, charming, warm and kind and I miss him every day.

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

(mickbund, sarahcracknell, bff, from, selectmagazine, select, costaltown, marblelions, sushirider, lullaby, youknowillmissyouwhenyouregone, felt, mexico70, straightouttawindsor) 		Picture
February 5, 2021

The New Musical Express

Pete, Sarah and Bob pose for an NME feature shoot in October 1992.

Phil Nicholls, the photographer, came to the Heavenly office in Monmouth Street. He put a blanket over the window and shot us against it. Lawrence (Felt, Denim) was there and he always said this was the first picture where we looked like a proper band.

Bob Stanley 2014

Photograph by Phil Nicholls

(petewiggs, needhamsound, sarahcracknell, bobstanley, rocking-bob, saintetienne, by, philnicholls, philnichollsphotography, forthe, nme, nmemagazine, 1992, sotough, bobpetesarah) 		Picture
February 4, 2021

We Accept Luncheon Vouchers

This was taken by my lovely friend Matthew who is sadly no longer with us. We got on really well and had a lot of fun while he took pictures, he also photographed me for the cover of ID magazine. I remember the velvet suit, I bought it in a thrift store in New York, I wonder if I could squeeze in to it now...

Sarah Cracknell - February 2021

Portrait by Matthew R Lewis

https://matthewrlewisportraits.co.uk/discount/STETIENNE

prints available with a discount by quoting STETIENNE

(sarahcracknell, saintetienne, by, matthewrlewis, matthewrlewisportraits, londoncafe, cafe, marioscafe, cafesociety, todaysspecial, luncheonvoucher, lv, commingtoyouvia, anew, saintetienneshop, soon, bobpetesarah) 		Not Available
February 3, 2021

Excavate!

The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall

Bob Stanley and Tessa Norton announce details of their new book about the Fall which will be released on April 1st 2021.

Excavate! is a definitive insight into the ever-influential world of Mark E. Smith and the Fall, featuring never-before published essays and ephemera from fans, collectors and the artist and band themselves.

Pre-order signed copies from Rough Trade today..... https://bit.ly/3re0N1d

(excavate, thewonderfulandfrighteningworldofthefall, anewbook, by, bobstanley, rocking-bob, and, tessanorton, veryspecificvideotapes, thefall, markesmith, faberbooks, fabersocial) 		Picture
February 2, 2021 (Four Photos)

Interlude - Subpop - 2001

Interlude mopped up the b-sides from Sound Of Water and a few bits we recorded between SOW and Finisterre.Beggars Banquet in Canada had suggested we record something in French, presumably for the Quebec market, but after we sent them our attempt they never got back!

Stevie was a late 70s Brian Wilson song about his fondness for Stevie Nicks that came out on a Marina comp called Caroline Now. Bar Conscience was an attempt to soundtrack hangover guilt.

Bob Stanley - February 2021

Do you have a favourite song from Interlude? We'd love to know which.

(interlude, saintetienne, stevie, stevienicks, brianwilson, subpop, mantrarecordings, beggarsbanquet, 2001, orangevinyl, ossiefreemantle, jumpingbeanbag, marina, bobpeteandsarah) 		Pictures
February 1, 2021 (Two Photos)

Shopping

Photography by Rachael Cassells

(sarahcracknell, shopping, for, secondhandclothes, berlin, 1999, by, rachaelcassells, soundofwater, saintetienne, bobpeteandsarah) 		Pictures

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