Music like the darkside

The Darkside (or Darkside) were an indie rock band formed in 1989 by former members of Spacemen 3. After releasing two studio albums they split up in 1993.

The band formed in Rugby in 1989 and was led by Pete Bain (aka Bassman), who had left Spacemen 3 just before their 1989 album Playing With Fire. Bain was then joined in the new outfit by his former bandmate, drummer Sterling Roswell (aka Rosco). Vocals were initially handled by Nick Haydn but his departure forced Bain to assume them. The group were signed to Beggars Banquet Records offshoot Situation Two throughout their existence.

Contrary to much of what is written about the band, Haydn has always claimed he was a founder member, once played with Spacemen 3 himself and wrote most of the band's early material (although credited to 'The Darkside' on record labels), and also played guitar as well as being the lead vocalist. Hayden left the band shortly before he was due to go on stage at a gig in Oxford. Hayden then formed the Oxford band Flite 118 whose set list included much of the early The Darkside songs such as "Highrise Love", "Ocean of Fire" and "Can't Think Straight".