Originally performing in Boston based band Anastatia Screamed, singer and guitarist Chuck Graning moved to Rhode Island in 1993 with his then-fiance Tanya Donelly (from Throwing Muses & Belly). Whilst there he met Joyce Raskin who played bass and the pair began songwriting whilst searching for a drummer, who eventually arrived in the form of Jud Ehrbar.

Scarce rapidly gained a reputation with energetic live shows, and were more noticeable amongst their peers for wearing glamourous outfits when everyone else at the time performed in jeans and checked shirts. Raskin would appear in ball-gowns and Graning in black or gold suits. They stood out musically as well, with a blend of Pixies/Hole guitar rock topped off with Graning's Bowie/Iggy styled vocals (they would later cover Bowie's 'Ashes To Ashes' and make it sound like their own!).

The band became the subject of a bidding war after only 5 gigs, although contractual problems that arose due to Graning's former band prevented them from grasping any worthwhile deal early on. Several independent singles emerged before they signed to A & M in 1994.

When Ehrbar left to form his own band, Scarce recorded the debut album 'Deadsexy' with a sesssion drummer, and support slots with Echobelly, Grant Lee Buffalo, Pavement and Hole in 1995 gained them many new fans, especially in the UK. They were scheduled to perform at the Reading Festival the same year, but bad luck would soon make this impossible.  When Graning failed to show for a practise session, the band visited his home only to find him unconscious, and after rushing him to hospital it was discovered that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

The debut album was released in 1995 in the UK, but all U.S. releases were postponed whilst Graning re-learned how to talk, walk and eventually, play the guitar. A partially re-recorded version was released in 1996 in the U.S., but by this time their troubles had forced the band apart and they split..

Graning went on to relase a solo album and toured in Germany and Switzerland in 2001.


IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE SCARCE:  Girls Against Boys, The Afghan Whigs, Helium, Shudder to Think, Sugar, Belly, The Breeders, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Hüsker Dü, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, Hole.
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