Seeing their formation in February 1992, Anastasia gave their first public performance in a marquee tent at a garden party in April of that same year. The few people who had the stamina to face the noise were very encouraging, and by June, Anastasia had launched themselves onto the local music scene in England, playing their own music in local venues for payment. During that first year, they accumulated enough money to invest in their own PA system and persuade their management to set them up with transportation via a sign-written gig mobile. Soon, Anastasia found themselves styling and spreading their infectious material on the road. Somewhere during their trek, they lost their keyboard player as well as an assortment of female backup singers. They've replaced the drummer four times, replaced the lead guitarist twice, and somehow acquired a sound engineer. They have a keen interest in raising money for charity and investing the rest of their earnings in their recording studio. The studio has paid off with the result of an album released in January 1994 called Vision, which sold quite well at gigs and in the local music shops. Their 1997 13-track CD album Yesterday's Tomorrow includes a packed collection of exciting, original indie rock guitar tracks, composed and arranged by Anastasia and recorded live at NAM Studios. Some of the highlights of their career in the year 2000 included playing the Marquee in London and touring on a regular basis. In 1995, the group won the Severn Sound FM Battle of the Bands and was runner-up in the Live 95 National Battle of the Bands Finals at Earls Court. This was quite an achievement for a young band, who insisted on playing their own style of rock music. They have been regularly featured in the local press and their music has been aired on radio stations in Gloucester, Brazil, and Australia, as well as having performed on HTV's Late & Live Show. Their music is different from the run-of-the-mill guitar-driven band because they feel they've been influenced by life, as well as by such bands as R.E.M. and the Levellers. Though they list such influences, the consensus is that Anastasia has developed their own unique sound. They include quite a variety of songs in two 45-minute live sets, which range from soft love songs to head-bashing, foot-stomping musical raves. In addition, they have been known to go on forever if the audience allows them to. Every song tells a story about life, but it's not what one would consider "traditional folk" music. Their music can not be considered heavy enough to be metal, grunge, or hard rock; therefore, they like to promote themselves on the note that, "Anastasia is, simply, Anastasia." ~ Larry Belanger