1989-92   The seeds of the New York band Codeine were sewn in 1989 when John 
		Engle and Stephen Immerwahr recorded a tortuous, 9-minute version of the 
		Harry Nilsson classic "Without You." With help from friends Bitch Magnet, the 
		German label Glitterhouse signed the band in 1990. They in turn convinced 
		Sub Pop to branch out from the Northwest and grunge and sign the band.
		Codeine's first release Frigid Stars LP, recorded in a basement on an 
		8-track, came in the spring of 1991. In the fall the band toured Europe with 
		friends Bastro. In 1992 the mini-album Barely Real was released, 
		featuring the piano work of David Grubbs (Bastro) and a cover of MX-80 Sound's 
		"Promise of Love." Having finally lost drummer Chris Brokaw to the band 
		Come, Codeine enlisted the aid of Josh Madell (drummer of New York's 
		Antietam) for a second tour of Europe that fall.

      1993    Following a foray to the West Coast with Josh, the band went through the
		process of auditioning a full-time drummer. "It was like stepping on kittens," 
		says John. "It was really hard watching them try to play at our speed." Finally,
		Douglas Scharin was found. The band then moved to Louisville, Kentucky for
		the summer to break Doug in and prepare for the band's first extensive U.S. 
		tour. "There's definitely something in the water there," says Stephen about 
		Louisville. "There's a fine music scene, and both the people and rent are 
		much kinder than in New York."
		
		After a Midwest and East Coast tour, the band recorded the "Tom" single in	
		Chicago, aided by the guitar work of the delightful Mr. Grubbs (now of Gastr 
		del Sol). In the fall the band returned to New York, did additional touring with
		Mazzy Star and the Grifters, and finally completed their new album, 
		The White Birch.

      1994    Compared to the group's first record, The White Birch's sound is drier 
		and more organic, with sung vocals (as opposed to the more "spoken-word"
		delivery of Frigid Stars LP). But the overall impact and effect remain just
		as powerful, thanks to the production work of Mike McMackin (who has 
		engineered and co-produced almost all of the band's work to date). Trying to
		understand the enormity of experience, feeling lost or sensing it in others,
		betrayal - these are some of the themes that run through The White Birch.

		Following the release of The White Birch on April 4, 1994, the band toured
		the UK and Europe with label-mates The Spinanes.  In July, Codeine played a week of
		dates on the West Coast. The group's last show of the tour, in Santa Rosa, CA, ended 
		up being their final performance.
	 
      2004	An excellent fan site, with lyrics, photos, links, and
		more, can be found here. (http://www.pry.com/codeine/).   



discography
the song links are wave files usually around 30 seconds long

Frigid Stars  CD/CS
D, Gravel Bed, Pickup Song, New Year's, Second Chance, 
Cave-in, Cigarette Machine, Old Things, 3 Angels, Pea


Realize / Broken-Hearted Wine 7" 


The White Birch  LP/CD/CS
Sea, Loss Leader, Vacancy, Kitchen Light, Washed Up, 
Tom, Ides, Wird, Smoking Room


Barely Real  CD
Realize, Jr, Barely Real, Hard To Find, W., Promise Of Love


Tom / Something New  7"