The Vaselines

The Vaselines formed in Glasgow in 1986, Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee developing a sound rooted in indie pop and lo-fi that was immediately joyful and melodically direct. Their music was deliberately simple and unpretentious — combining melodic directness with a playful, irreverent spirit that gave them an immediate charm. They recorded for the 53rd & 3rd label and released a series of singles and two EPs before dissolving in 1989.

Their reputation was transformed when Kurt Cobain declared them one of his favourite bands and Nirvana covered 'Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam' and 'Molly's Lips'. The 'Enter the Vaselines' compilation (1992) introduced them to a global audience and established them as one of the most beloved and influential acts of the late-1980s Scottish indie scene. Their combination of joyful energy, melodic directness, and irreverent spirit made them genuinely charming.

The Vaselines reformed in 2008 and have continued to record and perform, releasing 'Sex with an X' (2010) and 'V for Vaselines' (2014) to positive reviews. They are one of the most beloved acts in Scottish music — a duo whose combination of joyful energy, melodic gifts, and irreverent spirit has sustained a devoted following for nearly four decades.