Shudder To Think are an indie rock band formed in Washington, DC, in 1986 by Craig Werden (vocals, guitar), Mike Russell (drums), Stuart Hill (bass), and Chris Matthews (guitar). Although usually associated with DC's punk and emo scenes, Shudder To Think blended their punk influences with pop and glam. Also making the band stand out were Werden's theatrical vocals. The group released their first LP on Sammich Records in 1989 and then moved to Dischord Records for 3 LPs. After the release of 1992's "Get Your Goat", Russell and Matthews left the group and were replaced by Adam Wade (ex-Jawbox) and Nathan Larson (ex-Swiz), respectively. This line-up released a single on Dischord before making the jump to a major label, one of only 2 Dischord acts to ever do so. Their major label debut, "Pony Express Record" received critical acclaim and scored a minor hit with the song "X-French Tee Shirt" but the band failed to find big-time success with a mainstream audience and received backlash from hardcore independent rock fans for leaving Dischord. Things were further complicated as Werden spent the next few years battling Hodgkin's Disease. Shudder To Think returned in 1997 with "50,000 BC" (and with Kevin March replacing Adam Wade) and moved into soundtrack work but split by the end of the decade.Werden, Larson, and March reunited in 2007 with a new bassist and a third guitarist for a show in New York. The group reunited again for a tour in the Fall of 2008 and released a live album in 2009.
The band's first lineup was Craig Wedren (vocals and guitar), Chris Matthews (guitar), Stuart Hill (bass) and Mike Russell (drums). In this incarnation, the band released two singles and one album (Curse, Spells, Voodoo, Mooses, 1989) before being signed by the Dischord label. Three albums were then released (Ten-Spot, 1990, Funeral at the Movies, 1991, and Get Your Goat, 1992), before the band gained greater exposure by touring with Fugazi and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Nathan Larson (guitars) and drummer Adam Wade replaced Matthews and Russell in 1994, immediately prior to a major-label contract with Epic with whom Pony Express Record was released in 1994. The album's angular, mathematical post-modernism earned it an intense cult-like following, marking the record as one of the most original punk albums to ever be released on a major label.
Over the next few years, Wedren successfully battled Hodgkin's Disease, Larson recorded an album with side project band Mind Science of the Mind and Wade left the group. His replacement was Kevin March, formerly drummer with Dambuilders.
Another album, 50,000 B.C. was released in 1997. The band also worked on music for soundtracks including First Love, Last Rites and High Art.
1998, the same year in which the band appeared on several tracks for the film Velvet Goldmine, saw Larson's departure and the subsequent demise of the group, which split that year. Wedren pursued a solo career, including an appearance on the Down to You soundtrack with Didn't Mean to Do You Harm, and contributed backing vocals to Verve pipe's 1999 eponymous album.
Both Larson and Wedren have gone on to create highly-regarded film-music. Wedren also makes solo music, and has recently released his debut album, "Lapland", in 2005. Larson has formed a new band called Hot One.
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