Saint Etienne

Saint Etienne are an English band from London, formed in 1990. The band consists of Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They became associated with the UK's indie dance scene in the 1990s, beginning with the release of their debut album Foxbase Alpha in 1991. Their work has been described as uniting 1990s club culture with 1960s pop and other disparate influences. The name of the band come from the French football club of AS Saint-Étienne. Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists. They originally planned that Saint Etienne would use a variety of different lead singers, and their 1991 debut album, Foxbase Alpha – influenced by sources such as club culture, 1960s pop, and OMD's Dazzle Ships – features several vocalists, including Moira Lambert and Donna Savage. However, after working with Sarah Cracknell on "Nothing Can Stop Us", they decided to make her the permanent vocalist, and Cracknell has written or co-written many of the band's songs.

Links to Peel
Peel played the band's early singles in 1990 and also had a copy of their debut album, Foxbase Alpha, released in 1991, in his record collection, which according to available playlists, didn't seem to play tracks from, apart from their cover of Neil Young's Only Love Can Break Your Heart, which was released a year before as a single.

In 1993, whilst presenting shows for Jakki Bramble, whilst on holiday, he admitted liking the band's You're In A Bad Way track, which became a UK top 20 hit single, although he never played it on his own shows.

Shows Played

 * Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne
 * 06 June 1990: Only Love Can Break Your Heart (12") Heavenly
 * 03 July 1990: Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix Of Two Halves) (12" - Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Remix)) Heavenly
 * 14 October 1990: Kiss And Make Up (12") Heavenly
 * 1993
 * 09 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles): You’re In A Bad Way (single) Heavenly