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AGM | VH1.com | MTV | MSN | Yahoo | Matador | Rolling Stone |

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The band that we now know and love were formed in Stockton, CA. Stephen Malkmus formed the band with childhood friend Scott Kannberg in 1989. From this they were then able to become indie rock superstars. Of late many people have sited them as influces including Radiohead.



The first release was the 7" EP slay tracks (I am still trying to get hold of this, if anyone knows where i can get a copy please contact me.) This was recorded with Gary Young a 40 year old drummer. He appeared on the EP. It was released on their label of Trebel Kicker. The EP was just credited to "S.M" and "Spiral Stairs". John Peel got a copy and started playing it on his radio 1 slot. At this time the band were somthing of an enigma due to them doing no press and the names they had given themselves.



The next release was Demolition Plot J-7 in 1990. Young joined the band and they moved to drag city records. No concerts were performed in this time untill 1991 when perfect sound forever was released.



Mark Ibold was added to the line up. Young had bad timekeeping and so a second drummer named Bob Nastanovich, who had attended college with Malkmus was also addded. Slanted and Enchanced was released with this line up. Mainly done by Malkmus and Spiral Stairs. The band never recoreded together instead it was all pieced together. The album was greatly hyped prior to its release not by the band or the label. The hype was created purley by word of mouth. When released the album was accompined by a national tour.



The next album release was to be an EP watery domestic. This was a very good EP released to help cement the following the band were building. To add to this Westing (By Musket and Sextant) an album containing the band early EPs was issued and it was to be Young's last release in Pavement. He was replaced by Steve West a friend of Nastanovich.



February 14, 1994 saw the release of Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. "Cut Your Hair" was the big release from this it was a big indie hit and nearly got commerical succes MTV picket it up. It was given great reviews and was seen as haveing better production techniques than anything done before.



Wowee Zowee was released it got a mixed reception. Malkmus really liked it and so did some of the press but the fans initially rejected it. It was mainly an experemental album and a concept designed by Malkmus. He defended it and said i think to VH1 "It's still a warm and open record if people are willing to join us'. Personally I thought it rocked.



Brighten The Corners was released in 1997. Many people were looking at them after Blur has ventuted into a new direction. Many people thought they were in the Pavement groove, and so much pressure was applied to change the direction of the band. The album produced was heavy on production values and a great contrast to Wowee Zowee.



The final Pavement album was released in 1999 (although Matador released the DVD and re-issue of Slanted in 2002). Terror Twilight was never really pushed or highlted as an album. The band seemed to be going through turmoil. So as we all know what happened next the band split. But looking back i can see now evidence of the band actually anouncing that it had split. They just said that they were on hiatus. So hopefully one day they might decided that they want to reform and that day i hope to be there to bathe in Pavement glory!!!



Gareth Clare