Through a busy 1995 the band notched up an Evening Session Single of the Week (with "Kernel") and an NME Single of the Week (with "Plastic Ashtray") then started the new year by recording their first LP "We Are Urusei Yatsura". To coincide with the May release of the album the band embarked on the first of many nationwide tours, supported by Mogwai and Backwater, and having their first brush with real fame by boarding with the original Milky Bar Kid's mother on route.

After playing the CMJ in New York they recorded their next two singles ("Fake Fur" and "Strategic Hamlets") in London at Ray Davies' KONK studio, before heading back to the States for a longer snowy winter tour.

Cue 1997 and while their single, "Strategic Hamlets", nudges the grown up charts the band faced feedback noise disaster as all their guitars are stolen from their van after a gig in Liverpool. After looking into the gaping maw of the 'a capella' circuit they are saved by donations of cheap charity shop guitars from fans and are able to complete their tour with label mates Superstar Disco Club, before rushing straight back into KONK to record their second album, "Slain by Urusei Yatsura". During these recordings, which included the chart bound "Hello Tiger", Che Records encountered their first problems licensing to a major label resulting in the album release being delayed for almost a year.

Far from being idle Urusei spent a surreal summer surviving a series of near death experiences as they played festivals around Britain and Europe, Ian surviving a tent fire at Phoenix to play a 'smoking' gig and the whole band narrowly avoiding being crushed by a collapsing roof while on stage at a Spanish festival. They ended the year supporting the Super Furry Animals and playing a bizarre set of gigs in the former East Germany.