Ride

Formed in 1988 by Oxford art college students, the influential quartet Ride was signed to Alan McGee's now-legendary Creation label based on the strength of their live set. Combining distortion-drenched guitars with melodic vocals, frontmen Mark Gardener and Andy Bell helped shape the "shoegazer" sound that was pioneered by My Bloody Valentine. While Ride's first two albums were largely well received and defined the band's identity, subsequent releases found them experimenting with poppier sounds and losing their audience. After the group's demise in 1996, band members pursued various musical projects, with Bell eventually joining Oasis as bass player.

• rock
• alternative/indie