Beatnik Filmstars

Beatnik Filmstars were a British rock band formed in Bristol in 1990 by Andrew Arthur Jarrett. Their debut album Maharishi was released in 1991. By the early- to mid-1990s, they had transitioned to a lo-fi sound with albums such as Laid Back & English (1993) and Astronaut House (1995). The band’s lineup evolved over time, including notable members John Austin and Tim Rippington on guitar. Their 1997 album Phase 3, released on their own Mobstar label in the UK and No Life Records in the US, garnered comparisons to bands like Guided by Voices and Sebadoh. Beatnik Filmstars played shows in the US in 1995 including dates with The Flaming Lips. Despite critical acclaim, the band struggled commercially and disbanded in 1998. Jarrett reformed Beatnik Filmstars in 2004 with a new lineup, releasing several albums before disbanding again in 2008.