{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Intastella | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = Laugh | origin = [[Manchester]], England | genre = [[Alternative rock]] | years_active = 1980&ndash;1989 (as Laugh)<br />1990&ndash;1997 (as Intastella) | label = {{hlist|Remorse|Sub Aqua|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|Planet-3}} | website = | past_members = Martin Wright<br />Ian Bendelow (Laugh)<br />Martin Mittler<br />Spencer Birtwistle<br />Stella Grundy (Intastella)<br />Lil' Anthony (Intastella) }}

'''Intastella''' were an English [[alternative rock]] band from [[Manchester]], England, who evolved from the earlier band '''Laugh'''. They had four top-75 hits in the UK during the 1990s.

==History== Laugh was formed in 1980 by graphic designer Tim Gudgeon and medical student Simon Frampton. They wrote all the songs that the band performed in numerous gigs across Manchester and Liverpool until Frampton had to leave in 1984 to complete his medical training (he was to become a GP in Ormskirk).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westlancashireccg.nhs.uk/gp-appointed-to-lead-macmillan-cancer-programme/|title=GP appointed to lead Macmillan cancer programme|website=Westlancashireccg.nhs.uk|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> Auditions to replace his distinctive voice produced the line-up of Martin Wright (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ian Bendelow (guitar), Martin Mittler (bass guitar), and Spencer Birtwistle (drums, later a member of [[The Fall (band)|The Fall]]).<ref name="Strong">Strong, Martin C. (1999) ''The Great Alternative & Indie Discography'', Canongate, {{ISBN|0-86241-913-1}}, p. 362</ref> Their debut release was "Take Your Time Yeah!", a [[flexi-disc]] included with ''Debris'' magazine in December 1985, with three further singles following prior to their only album, ''Sensation No. 1'' (1988).<ref name="Strong" /> The band had two placings on the [[UK Independent Chart]] with "Paul McCartney" (which featured [[The Smiths|Smiths]] guitarist [[Craig Gannon]])<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0753502313}}, p. 242</ref> (#44) and "Time to Lose It" (#19), and recorded two sessions for [[John Peel]]'s [[BBC Radio 1]] show.<ref name="Lazell">Lazell, Barry (1998) ''Indie Hits 1980-1989'', Cherry Red Books, {{ISBN|0-9517206-9-4}}, p. 131</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/l/laugh/ Laugh] at the [[BBC]]'s ''Keeping It Peel'' site, retrieved 22 March 2010</ref>

In 1990 the band parted ways with guitarist Bendelow and discovered singer Stella Grundy and dancer Lil' Anthony, changing their sound to a more dance-oriented style and changing their name to Intastella.<ref name="Strong" /> They signed to [[MCA Records]] and hit the lower reaches of the [[UK Singles Chart]] with their first release, "Dream Some Paradise".<ref name="Strong" /> Two follow-up singles fared similarly, and in late 1991 the band's debut album, ''Intastella and the Family of People'' was issued.<ref name="Strong" /> The band's momentum was lost after Grundy broke her arm in a motorcycle accident, and they were dropped by MCA, returning in 1993 on the Planet-3 label with the ''Drifter'' [[Extended play|EP]], on which they worked with [[Shaun Ryder]].<ref name="Strong" /> The band's biggest hit came in 1995, with "The Night" reaching #60 in the UK, preceding their second album, ''What You Gonna Do'' featuring Manchester Harpist Katie Brett on the track "I'll Be Forever".<ref name="Strong" /> Further singles followed during 1996 and 1997 but none repeated their earlier success. One of these, "Grandmaster", was used on the soundtrack of the 1997 film ''[[Love in Paris]]''. A final album, ''Nuphonia'', was released in 1997.

Grundy later emerged with a new band, Stella & the Doggs.

On 30 November 2019, it was announced that Anthony Green (or Little Anthony) had died.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/i-dont-think-ever-forgotten-17341519|title='I don't think he will ever be forgotten': The beloved 'star employee' of Hacienda known as Little Ant has passed away|date=30 November 2019|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref> On 2 December, radio DJ [[Marc Riley]] played ''People'' by Intastella as a tribute.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bvl9|title=Marc Riley|date=2 December 2019|website=BBC 6 Music}}</ref>

In November 2021, it was announced that guitarist Martin Wright had died.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robb |first1=John |title=Martin Wright (Intastella, Laugh) RIP |url=https://louderthanwar.com/martin-wright-intastella-laugh-rip/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |publisher=Louder Than War |date=30 November 2021}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Laugh=== ====Albums==== *''Sensation No. 1'' (1988), Sub Aqua

====Singles, EPs==== *"Take Your Time Yeah!" (1985), Debris ([[flexi-disc]]) *"Take Your Time Yeah!" (1986), Remorse (12") *"Paul McCartney" (1987), Remorse (7") - [[UK Independent Chart|UK Indie]] #44<ref name="Lazell"/> *"Time To Lose It" (1988), Remorse (7") - UK Indie #19<ref name="Lazell" /> *"''Sensation No.1'' EP (1988), Sub Aqua (7"/12")

===Intastella=== ====Albums==== *''Intastella and the Family of People'' (1991), MCA *''What You Gonna Do'' (1995), Planet-3 *''Nuphonia'' (1997), Planet-3 *''Intastella Overdrive'' (2002), Castle Music - compilation

====Singles, EPs==== *"Dream Some Paradise" (1991), MCA - ([[UK Singles Chart|UK]] #69)<ref name="CS">[https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ Intastella], Chart Stats, retrieved 22 March 2010</ref> *"People" (1991), MCA - UK #74<ref name="CS" /> *"Century" (1991), MCA - UK #70<ref name="CS" /> *''Drifter'' EP (1993), Planet-3 *"Point Hope" (1994), Planet-3 - UK #87<ref name="CS" /> *"The Night" (1995), Planet-3 - UK #60<ref name="CS" /> *"Grandmaster" (1996), Planet-3 - UK #100<ref name="CS" /> *"Past" (1996), Planet-3 *"Skyscraper Koolaid" (1997), Planet-3 - UK #81<ref name="CS" /> *"Soon We'll Fly" (1997), Planet-3

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{discogs artist|Intastella}} * {{imdb name|2173442}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Intastella}} [[Category:1990 establishments in England]] [[Category:1997 disestablishments in England]] [[Category:English alternative rock groups]] [[Category:Madchester groups]] [[Category:Alternative rock groups from Manchester]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1990]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1997]]