Justine Elinor Frischmann (b. 16 September 1969) is an English singer and guitarist, best known as being the lead singer of now-defunct band Elastica.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Suede 3 Elastica 4 Television 5 Personal life 6 External links

Early life

Frischmann was born 16 September, 1969, in Twickenham, Middlesex, England.

She studied architecture at The Bartlett, University College London, where she was a founder member of the English band Suede with then boyfriend Brett Anderson, also from The Bartlett.

Suede

Frischmann played lead and rhythm guitar for the group, but she left in 1991, claiming she did not have enough say in the band's development.

Elastica

Frischmann later formed her own band, Elastica, which emerged in 1993 with the single "Stutter".

In 1995, Elastica was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for their album Elastica.

The band struggled to complete a follow-up album. In later interviews, Frischmann admitted that the group's 2000 release, The Menace, was a result of burn-out following the stress of long periods of touring and heroin addiction.

Television

In 2003, Frischmann co-presented a series called Dreamspaces for the BBC about modern architecture. She also wrote the incidental theme tune for Channel 4's Working It. In 2004 Justine presented the UK's premier and longest running arts programme The South Bank Show and appeared as a judge for the Stirling Prize for Architecture.

Personal life

She split from long term boyfriend Damon Albarn (of Blur) in 1998. She is still good friends with Albarn and Brett Anderson.

Justine is now studying visual arts and psychology at Naropa University.

In 2003, she performed lead vocals on Pleasure's single "Don't look the other way".

In 2005, she helped her flatmate M.I.A. by co-writing all the first demos for her album. She cowrote the music on M.I.A.'s single, "Galang". She has also produced demos for the band White Rose Movement.

External links

• Extensive interview with the Guardian
• Project Elasticated (most comprehensive Elastica fan page)