Guided by Voices In Profile

Songwriter and vocalist Robert Pollard formed the DIY indie rock band Guided By Voices in Dayton, Ohio in 1985. During their 20-year existence, Pollard was the band's only constant member. Until 1993's Vampire on Titus, GBV was merely Pollard's home recording project, and all their early album's were self-released. After winning over critics and fans, they signed to Matador and became one of the key Indie band's of the latter half of the '90s. GBV released 3 albums on TVT from '97 to 2001, before returning to Matador for their final trio of LPs. They played their final show on New Year's Eve, 2004.

Originally comprised of Robert Pollard, his brother Jim, guitarist Tobin Sprout, and bassist Dan Toohey, Guided By Voices formed in 1985. From 1987 to 1992, they self-released five LPs: Devil Between My Toes, Sandbox, Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia, Sam Place The Flay Got Smashed, and Propeller. During this time, Pollard was a schoolteacher, and GBV was a hobby band, with albums released in small quantities and few shows played. However, the blueprint for Pollard's pop hooks, surrealist lyrics, and love for Lo-Fi production was established.

In 1993, the band's sixth LP, Vampire On Titus, began to get the band attention from critics and a larger audience. They signed with Matador in '94 and released the highly beloved Bee Thousand. The prolific Pollard fit 28 songs onto '95's Alien Lanes, another highly rated album. From '96, Under The Bushes, Under The Stars was recorded in a pro studio and produced by Pixies bassist Kim Deal, resulting in a slightly more polished sound. The critics were lukewarm, although the record is among the fans' favorites. After a falling out with Sprout, Pollard fired the rest of the band.

In 1997, GBV signed with major label TVT, and Pollard recruited Cobra Verde as his backing band. Their LP from that year, Mag Earwhig!, bore a cleaner sound, but still retained the feel of classic GBV. Thanks to strong song-writing, the record got high marks. Not so for its follow-up, '99's Do The Collapse. Slickly produced by Ric Ocasek (The Cars), its tone baffled fans and critics alike. Around this time, a new line-up congealed: Doug Gillard on guitar, Greg Demos on bass, and drummer Jim Macpherson. 2001's Isolation Drills returned to a more ragged rock feel and earned positive reviews.

Guided By Voices returned to Matador for 2002's Universal Truths And Cycles. The sound was classic GBV, but the songwriting was uneven, garnering tepid critical marks. Nonetheless, the LP was their only album to crack the Billboard Top 200, hitting #160. Their penultimate album, 03's hard-rocking Earthquake Glue, won back the critics' love once more. GBV's final LP, 2004's Half-Smiles Of The Decomposed, was neither a disappointment nor a great success. Robert Pollard continues to record solo albums much in the style of Guided By Voices.