Former Flag of Convenience bandmates Andy Couzens (guitar) and Chris Goodwin (drums) formed the High in 1989 with vocalist John Matthews and bassist Simon Davies. Couzens and Goodwin had also been in an early incarnation of the Stone Roses. The High drew on the Roses' classic, ringing guitar-pop -- albeit mostly without the dance beats -- for their dominant sonic flavour.

The High reformed in early 2015, with John Matthews and Andy Couzens the only original members; they were joined by Tony Meehan (bass), Jack Couzens (drums), and Richard Thomas (keyboards). The new line-up headlined at the Gigantic Festival in Manchester at the Academy 2 on 23 May 2015, as their comeback gig and have played a number of headline shows since.

The band has also been writing and recording new material, and in June 2016 released their first single in 25 years, Kiss the Sun on their own label Thin Line Productions. In 2016, new drummer Jack Couzens left due to schedule clashes and was succeeded by Scott Parkinson. The High have recently appeared on Jon Savage's compilation, Perfect Motion - Jon Savage's Secret History of Second-Wave Psychedelia 1988-93.

In 2020 The High released long sought after recordings; The Martin Hannett Sessions, a collection of previously unreleased demos, as part of Record Store Day.