Grass Show was formed in 1995 in England by the trio of musicians who later adopted the name Grass Show (originally The Grass Show). The group emerged from a shared interest in Britpop and 1990s indie rock, with each member contributing guitar, bass, and vocals. Their first single, "I Stole Your Girl Away", was released in Sweden and marked the band’s initial entry into the music market. In 1995 the follow‑up single "Illusion" and a cover of Ace of Base’s "All That She Wants" broadened their exposure. The debut album Something Smells Good In Stinkville was issued on 20 May 1996 in Europe, followed by a UK release on 16 October 1996 under Food Records; the album was re‑issued with altered artwork and track listing, swapping "Sympathetic Television" and "Illusion" for the b‑side "Alice" and the new track "Getting You Out of My Head". Three singles—"Out of the Void", "1962", and "Freak Show"—were released before the album’s June 1996 launch, but the group was subsequently dropped by the label when the tracks failed to achieve commercial success. After a hiatus, the band returned in 2001 with the six‑track EP Vertigo, which was later expanded for a 2003 Japanese release.