Backbeat Band

• Formed: 1993
• Disbanded: 1994
• Genres: Rock

Biography

An alt-rock supergroup of sorts, the Backbeat Band came together for a brief moment in 1993-94 to record and promote the soundtrack to Backbeat, Iain Softley's 1994 fair-to-midlin film chronicling the Fab Four's pre-Beatlemania era in England and Hamburg. Consisting of Afghan Whigs vocalist Greg Dulli, R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills, Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Sonic Youth vocalist/guitarist Thurston Moore, Gumball guitarist (and prolific producer) Don Fleming, and Soul Asylum vocalist Dave Pirner, the Backbeat Band punctuated the steak-and-potato days of '90s alt-rock with a set of vibrant interpretations of songs the Beatles covered during performances in their pre-Brian Epstein leathers at grimy venues such as Liverpool's Cavern Club and Hamburg's Star Club. Recording the soundtrack's dozen numbers in 1993, the Backbeat Band played one confirmed "gig" during their time together: a blink-and-you-missed-it stage appearance at the MTV Movie Awards on June 10, 1994. ~ Charles Hodgkins, All Music Guide