San Francisco's short-lived power pop band Jellyfish was a project of drummer/ singer/ songwriter Andy Sturmer, keyboard player/multi-instrumentalist Roger Joseph Manning Jr., "Band Witchdoctor and Mime" Chris Manning (who has been credited as a bass player) and guitarist/bassist Jason Falkner.
Sturmer and Roger Manning formed Jellyfish after the break-up of their previous band Beatnik Beatch. Prior to joining, Falkner had performed on and written songs for Vermillion by acclaimed Paisley Underground band The Three O'Clock. Drawing heavily from the Paisley Underground, Queen, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, XTC, Cheap Trick, Wings, and Badfinger, Jellyfish released their debut album Bellybutton in 1990. Frustrated with simply being the guitar player, Jason Falkner left the band after the release of this album. Chris Manning also left the band around this time. Sturmer and Roger Manning recruited Tim Smith and a small handful of studio musicians (including Jon Brion) to fill the void and set forth recording their sophomore effort, Spilt Milk. Taking an extremely long time to finish, allegedly due to perfectionism, the record was finally released in 1993. Spilt Milk was much more orchestral than its predecessor, and some have pointed out that it seems to be a mini rock opera following the life and death of a washed up rock star.
The Jellyfish Sound was a potent stew of many sonic ingredients. Obvious influences include the Beatles, SMiLE-era Beach Boys and Queen, but more obscure reference points run the gamut from jazz ("Bedspring Kiss") to Nick Drake (compare Drake's "River Man" to the Spilt Milk track "Russian Hill" -- they're virtually identical, right down to the orchestral arrangement).