The original line up consisted of Ashley Wood (rhythm guitar/vocals), Paul Lake (lead guitar/vocals), Henry Taprell (bass) and Dave McLean (drums/vocals),[1] with Neil Pond (Harmonica and percussion) joining them onstage and in the studio.
Wood and Lake had met at secondary school in south east London and had previously played together in other bands.
This was followed by several flexi discs between 1988 and 1990, which received international attention; The Chemistry Set were featured in fanzines in the UK, Spain, Italy, Holland, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Japan, USA, Australia and New Zealand, and their tracks were included on compilation LPs in the UK, Spain and Germany.
The band started out on the London gig circuit, playing venues such as The Camden Falcon and The Mean Fiddler, and later toured throughout the UK, Europe and the United States, including playing the CMJ Festival in New York, supporting Hawkwind at Brixton Academy, and touring with Robyn Hitchcock, plus regular gigs at London venues like the Rough Trade record shop, The Marquee and The Borderline.
Following the departure of bassist Henry Taprell and songwriter/vocalist Ashley Wood, the group recruited new members but did not release any further material.