The wonderfully titled Velvet Crush was formed in Rhode Island, USA, in 1989, by Ric Menck (b. USA; drums), Paul Chastain (b. USA; vocals/bass), and Jeffrey Borchardt (b. Wisconsin, USA; guitar). Growing up in Illinois, Chastain and Menck were obsessed with their illustrious power-pop predecessors Big Star and the Raspberries. Menck started his own Picture Book label, and the two men also recorded as solo performers and under the band names the Reverbs and Pop The Balloon. They joined forces in the late 80s as, variously, Choo Choo Train, the Springfields and Bag O'Shells. Meanwhile, Borchardt was running his band, the White Sisters, in Milwaukee, but corresponding regularly with Menck, who was releasing White Sisters material on Picture Book.

Listen to Velvet Crush at Finetune.

• (1999)  Free Expression
• (1994)  Teenage Symphonies to God

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