Main content

Suede - Dog Man Star

Episode 3 of 3

Music critic Pete Paphides tells the story behind Suede's 1994 album, Dog Man Star. From May 2012.

Music critic Pete Paphides tells the story behind three 'follow-up' albums - from Dexys Midnight Runners, Fleetwood Mac and Suede - with tales of musical pressure, creative differences, personal politics and mixed results.

Programme 3: Suede - Dog Man Star

In 1991, Suede was named "the best new band in Britain", with a string of hit singles and a universally acclaimed debut album, 'Suede'. Flamboyant singer Brett Anderson and incendiary guitarist Bernard Butler became feted as song-writers. David Bowie was amongst their fans.

The scrutiny that followed took its toll on their relationship. Determined to write a dissolute conceptual masterpiece, Anderson exiled himself in a gothic pile in North London while Butler questioned the paraphernalia that came with pop stardom.

Bereavement and clashes over the album's producer heightened the tension and, with just one part to complete on the album, Butler walked out for good. Suddenly, having blazed the trail for Britpop, they returned with an album deemed out of step with its sunny positivism.

But almost two decades on, Suede's second album Dog Man Star reappeared to a plethora of 5 star reviews.

Producer: Laura Parfitt
A White Pebble Media Production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 Dec 2018 05:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 31 May 2012 11:30
  • Sat 8 Dec 2018 07:30
  • Sat 8 Dec 2018 17:30
  • Sun 9 Dec 2018 05:30

Featured in...

Radio 4 on Music

Re-releasing music documentaries from the Radio 4 Archive.