Easterhouse, a British indie rock group formed in Stretford near Manchester in 1982, emerged from the local Manchester scene with founding members Andy Perry and Ivor Perry. Their early releases, the EP In Our Own Hands (1985) and singles "Whistling in the Dark" (1986) and "Inspiration" (1986), established the band’s jangly guitar sound and left‑wing lyrical focus, with "Whistling in the Dark" reaching number 2 on the UK Indie Chart. In 1986 the group signed with Rough Trade and issued their debut album Contenders, which included the track "1969" and reached number 3 on the UK Indie Chart. After the departure of Ivor Perry, the band released Waiting for the Redbird in 1989 under Rough Trade/Columbia; the single "Come Out Fighting" entered the US Modern Rock chart at number 5 and gained moderate airplay in the United States. The band’s activity tapered after the late 1980s, with a brief reunion performance in 2005. Post‑band careers saw Ivor Perry form The Cradle and later work on various independent projects, while Gary Rostock pursued electronic music. Easterhouse’s discography, particularly Contenders and Waiting for the Redbird, remained referenced in retrospectives of mid‑1980s British indie rock.
