Childhood friends Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs formed Saint Etienne (named after a French soccer team) in England in 1988. Blending '60s British pop with '80s dance club beats, Saint Etienne released two singles in 1990: a cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and a cover of the Field Mice's "Kiss and Make Up," which both became hits in the indie scene. The following year they recruited singer Sarah Cracknell and became a trio. Saint Etienne released their full-length debut, Fox Base Alpha, in the fall of 1991. In 1993 they delivered their critically praised second album, So Tough, followed by the also well-received Tiger Bay in '94. Although they toured successfully in the U.S., their real fame remained in England, where their funky beats, sharp lyrics and breathy vocals ruled the dance club scene.

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