Steve Hillier formed Dubstar in 1992 in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne with Chris Wilkie. Initially the singer in the act, Sarah Blackwood took over vocal roles from Steve in 1993 after her boyfriend accidentally left a tape of her singing in Steve's flat in Jesmond. Dubstar signed to Andy Ross' Food Records in the summer of 1994 on the strength of re-recorded demos made in Darlington by Graeme Robinson with Sarah singing a collection of Steve’s songs and a cover of Billy Bragg’s St Swithin’s Day. In their seven-year career at Food Records, Dubstar appeared on BBC's Top of the Pops three times, toured the world, released three albums and achieved eight UK Top 40 single releases, seven of which were written by Steve. They also survived the 1990s with their livers (if not their minds) almost intact. 

Steve left Dubstar before the release of their third album Make It Better in 2000 citing professional difficulties with Sarah and the band split. These issues are long resolved.

The act has reformed twice, firstly in 2006-8 and secondly in 2009-13. Steve wrote, recorded and produced two unreleased Dubstar albums in this period. Both provisionally entitled United States of Being, thirty-seven songs were recorded, some of which are available to hear on the Dubstar Archive, including a cover of Bob Mould's 'If I Can't Change Your Mind'.

During the Dubstar’s reformation, activities included:

2010: Dubstar released their cover of The Passions' classic song 'I'm In Love With A German Filmstar' for Amnesty International

2011: Steve completed and released the Dubstar remix of 'Machines' by Parralox

2012: Dubstar released their first new material since the 1990s, a tone poem entitled 'Circle Turns' for Record Store Day. The act also completed a remix of the song "Dog, Cat, Pony' by Newcastle band Pale Man Made. Dubstar also played a special gig at The Cluny in Newcastle upon Tyne to commemorate the legendary Riverside venue, as immortalised in the song Ghost

2013: Dubstar played their sold-out comeback gig at The Lexington in London previewing three new songs which were completed for the unreleased new album, 'Window Pain', 'Superstar' and 'In The End'. The act also performed their final ever gig that year supporting Human League in Tynemouth, Chris's then hometown.

Steve left Dubstar shortly after and has stated in interviews that he accepted that 'the moment for more Dubstar passed a long time ago'.

LOOKING FOR MORE?

You can read the background to every Dubstar song at dubstarofficial.com, including all the unreleased material recorded when Dubstar reformed in 2006.

You can also read blog entries for the Dubstar Archive, a collection of previously unheard Dubstar recordings here.