The Seahorses

The Seahorses formed in York in 1996, John Squire assembling Chris Helme, Stuart Fletcher, and Andy Watts following the Stone Roses' acrimonious dissolution. Squire's guitar playing was as fluid and melodic as ever, and Helme's warm, expressive vocals gave the band an immediate identity that was distinct from the Stone Roses while drawing on the same melodic tradition.

They were signed to Geffen Records and released their debut album 'Do It Yourself' (1997) to strong commercial success — a melodically generous Britpop record that reached number two in the UK and produced 'Love Is the Law', 'Blinded by the Sun', and 'Hello'. The album showed that Squire's gift for melodic guitar playing was fully intact, and the band's combination of Britpop energy and melodic directness made it one of the more enjoyable British albums of the late 1990s.

The Seahorses dissolved in 1999 following internal tensions. They are remembered as one of the more enjoyable acts of the late-1990s British indie scene — a band whose combination of Squire's melodic guitar playing, Helme's warm vocals, and the melodically generous 'Do It Yourself' produced music that deserves more credit than it typically receives.