Originally formed by artist/musician Mike Badger (b. 18 March 1962) in 1984 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, but his departure in 1986 left a line-up comprising songwriter Lee Mavers (b. 2 August 1962, Huyton, Liverpool, England; guitar/vocals), John Power (b. 14 September 1967, Liverpool, Lancashire, England; bass), Paul Hemmings (guitar) and John Timson (drums). Early demo tapes resulted in their signing with Go! Discs in 1987. After a well-received debut single, "Way Out", which hallmarked the band's effortless, 60s-inspired pop, they took a year out before issuing the wonderfully melodic "There She Goes". When this too eluded the charts, the La's, far from disillusioned, returned to the studio for two years to perfect tracks for their debut album. The line-up also changed, with Lee's brother Neil (b. 8 July 1971, Huyton, Liverpool, England) taking up drums and ex-Marshmellow Overcoats guitarist Cammy (b. Peter James Camell, 30 June 1967, Huyton, Liverpool, England) joining the line-up. In the meantime, "There She Goes" became a massive underground favourite, prompting a reissue two years on (after another single, "Timeless Melody'). In late 1990, it reached the UK Top 20. The La's followed that same month, an invigorating and highly musical collection of tunes that matched, and some would argue outstripped, the Stone Roses' more garlanded debut. Its comparative lack of impact could be put down to Mavers" truculence in the press, verbally abusing Go! Discs for insisting on releasing the record and disowning its contents: "That's the worst LP I've ever heard by anyone." Comparisons with the best of the 60s, notably the Byrds and the Beach Boys, stemmed from the band's obsession with real instruments, creating a rootsy, authentic air.
After "Feelin'" was drawn from the album, the La's set about recording tracks for a new work and spent much of summer 1991 touring America and Japan. Little was then heard of the band for the next four years, which took few acquainted with Mavers' studio perfectionism by surprise. The delays proved too much for Power, however, who departed to set up the highly successful Cast (Mavers subsequently expressed his extreme dislike for the band). Back in the notoriously insular La's camp, rumours continued to circulate of madness and drug addiction. A collaboration with Edgar Summertyme of the Stairs was vaunted, but no public assignments were forthcoming. Mavers finally performed a solo acoustic set in 1995, in support of Paul Weller, which went so badly awry that he had the plug pulled on him. In April, he spoke to the New Musical Express about a "second" La's album. Sessions were undertaken in the west London studio owned by Rat Scabies of the Damned, with Mavers playing all the instruments. Predictably, no material from the sessions has ever been released.
At the start of 2005, to the great surprise of most observers, Mavers and Powers announced they were re-forming the La's to play a number of live dates during the summer.
