Guided by Voices

Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices performing in 2016. Left to right: Bobby Bare Jr., Mark Shue, Kevin March, Robert Pollard, Doug Gillard.
Background information
Origin	Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Indie rock indie pop slacker rock jangle pop lo-fi garage rock[1]
Discography	Guided by Voices discography
Years active	1983–2004 2010–2014 2016–present
Labels	Scat Matador TVT Guided by Voices, Inc. Fire Rockathon Records
Members	Robert Pollard Doug Gillard Kevin March Mark Shue Bobby Bare Jr.
Past members	Mitch Mitchell Tobin Sprout Jim Pollard Timothy Payton Earick Kevin Fennell Don Thrasher Greg Demos Dave Swanson Jim Macpherson Nate Farley Tim Tobias Dan Toohey James Greer Chris Slusarenko Jon McCann Leland Cain Paul Comstock Nick Mitchell Steve Wilbur
Website	gbv.com (website) gbvdb.com (database)

Guided by Voices (GBV) is an American indie rock band formed in 1983 in Dayton, Ohio. It has made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard. The most well-known lineup of the band consisted of Pollard (lead vocals), his brother Jim (guitar, bass), Mitch Mitchell (lead guitars), Tobin Sprout (vocals, rhythm guitars), Kevin Fennell (drums), and bassist Greg Demos. Noted at first for its lo-fi aesthetic and Portastudio four-tracks-to-cassette production methods, Guided by Voices' music was influenced by early post–British Invasion garage rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, punk rock and post-punk. The band has had a prolific output, releasing 35+ full-length albums along with many other releases, and has garnered a dedicated cult following. Their songs are known for their frequent brevity and for ending abruptly or intertwining with homemade sound effects.

Guided by Voices initially disbanded in 2004. In 2010 the "classic" lineup reunited to perform at Matador Records' 21st anniversary party, subsequently touring and releasing six new albums. GBV broke up a second time in 2014, but Pollard again rebooted the band with a new album and a new lineup in 2016.