Back in the early 1990s, music critics were tipping American Music Club as the next big US breakthrough. Yet despite their ability to mix crashing epics with quiet introspection, they failed to become the next Nirvana or REM and slipped quietly away. But ten years on, they're back with a brand new album and UK tour which visits Birmingham Academy tomorrow. "We played a show a few nights ago where someone came up to us afterwards and said we were the missing link between 1980s and 1990s rock - whatever that means," sniggers vocalist and songwriter Mark Eitzel, discussing their legacy. "We used to have Radio-head and Pearl Jam come to our shows, but we were never the Pixies!" Formed in 1983, it wasn't until 1991's Everclear album that the San Francisco band began to make serious waves internationally before calling it a day in 1995. "We split for three reasons," recalls Eitzel. "We lost our pedal steel guitarist, had a restrictive contract with our management, and we couldn't decide how to fire them." Eitzel embarked on a solo career while the others worked on their own projects until a session with drummer Tim Mooney and Eitzel brought guitarist Vudi and bassist Danny Pearson back together last year, although the roots of the reunion go back further. "I called Vudi about six years ago as I was playing a show near him, but he showed up at the bar and didn't want to play. Then I called him about two years later and he said 'absolutely not'. "Eventually he said he might be interested in considering the idea," says Eitzel of the long held plans for an AMC reunion. "Then Tim said to me 'if you're ever in town, lets do something', so we did and I sent the results to Vudi who said 'this is actually quite interesting . . . . . . . . . . . . .'" The results can be heard on last year's Love Songs For Patriots album, a compelling collection that in no way dents AMC's existing reputation. And despite pursuing a variety of band and solo side-projects, Etizel stresses that American Music Club continue to have a future well beyond this tour. "I have 11 songs for a solo album recorded now," says Eitzel, "I also have a band in Chicago and they're great, but American Music Club is better, so we're hoping to do another record in March." * American Music Club play the Academy tomorrow. Ring 0870 771 2000. | 
