Hipsway were formed in Glasgow in 1984 by ex-Altered Images guitarist Johnny McElhone on bass, and featuring Grahame Skinner (vocals), Pim Jones (guitar) and Harry Travers (drums). Their music was characterized by Skinner's deep vocals and Jones' tight guitar playing. They were quickly signed up by Mercury Records and by 1985 had released their first, eponymously-titled album. The single, "Honeythief", made number 17 in the UK Singles chart, and also reached the Top 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another song from the album, "Tinder", became well-known in Scotland as the soundtrack to a McEwan's Lager commercial.


However, McElhone left to found Texas, and by the time the second album Scratch the Surface was recorded, Travers had also left (to be replaced by Stephen Ferrera) and released in 1989. The band split up shortly afterwards.