Neurasthenia

Neurasthenia Bio:

Visit our website http://www.neurasthenia.co.uk to download all our songs for free. (You wouldn't want to pay for them!)

Originally known as Maelstrom, Neurasthenia were formed in the early 1990s and included in their ranks most of Stoke on Trent. Maelstroms greatest achievement was to have a noise abatement order served on them by the Environmental Protection Agency. In response, the band found a new rehearsal room, whittled the band members down to 3 and changed the name to Neurasthenia.
Neurasthenia at this time consisted of Carl Greatbatch (vocals), Jurek Biegus (guitar/programming) and Steve Cumberlidge (bass). This newly streamlined band performed their first gig at the now defunct Stoke-on-Trent Wheatsheaf on August 25th 1994 in front of 200 people, made up mostly of ex-band members.

After this and many other successful gigs, Neurasthenia released their first demo, Electrical Chicanery. Following a 4/5 review in the September 2005 issue of Terrorizer, the band found themselves selling out of demos, becoming cover stars of fanzines and even earning radio airtime on Canadian radio station CKUT 90.3FM.

It was around this time that Steve Cumberlidge succumbed to his ever-present stage fright and quit the band. He was replaced by Andy Jones.

After more gigging, including a support slot with Swedens Face Down, the band released their second demo, 'Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition' in August 1996. It was at this time that the band signed a record deal with Holier Than Thou records; however there were difficulties from the start and the band left the label by mutual consent, a little under a year into the contract.

At around the same time as signing the record deal, Neurasthenia were also taken on by the JMG Agency, a part of Copro Productions. This relationship was much more fruitful and after several months JMG offered to manage Neurasthenia full-time. Not long after this, Neurasthenia were approached by Zomba Publishing, who had been alerted to the band on the strength of their live performances.

Unfortunately this coincided with a downturn in the bands fortunes. Disillusioned by the HTT fiasco, Neurasthenia had lost much of their motivation and were looking for a new direction. As such, the band didn't feel they had strong enough material at that time to work out a deal with Zomba, and instead chose to stop touring to work on brand new material

With new songs almost complete, the band were rocked by Carl being diagnosed with throat cancer; it was felt this was an opportune time to put and end to Neurasthenia.

Several years on, Carl is fully recovered and Neurasthenia have decided to reform for old times sake. They have no real plans beyond completing the last batch of songs, getting them recorded and maybe playing the odd gig.