An early version of the band had released a single, 'Catcher In the Rye', shortly after leaving school, and their second single, the anthemic 'Abstain' entered the UK top 75. They went on to record three further singles and one album.
On the back of the 1991 LP, a series of energetic and exciting live dates were embarked upon, (although I do recall a badly matched tour of Universities that saw them supporting shoegazing scenesters Chapterhouse), and the music press were beginning to hint at a possible breakthrough for the band, whose sound had evolved into aggressive R & B power pop, not entirely dissimilar to that of the Jam, with hints of the Kinks, Hendrix and the Beatles thrown in.
Unfortunately, the band failed to capitalise on this opportunity, and called it a day in 1992 just as they were being tipped for bigger things.
After the split, Phil Hopper became an actor, Paul Bassett reappeared in Orange Deluxe, and Tara Milton continued with The Nubiles.
Their main stumbling block to success was probably due to being out of step with the 'baggy' scene favoured by the music press at the time. Ironically, These Animal Men forged an equally trailblazing but unsuccessful path to critical acclaim in the New Wave revival of the mid-90's, and Oasis, a band with similar influences, found massive popularity and kickstarted the Britpop revolution half a decade later, and had Five Thirty not signed to the Warner Bros affiliated East West label things may well have been different (they were small fish in a big pond - the reverse of Oasis on Creation).
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE FIVE THIRTY: The Jam, The Vibrators, The Who, The Kinks, 60's Mod, The Beatles, Oasis, These Animal Men, Mo Solid Gold.
http://www.bombast.freeserve.co.uk/fivethirty/530