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The Mock Turtles

 
Artist: The Mock Turtles
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Similar Artists:

The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, Ride, Catherine Wheel, The Boo Radleys

Influenced By:

David Bowie
  • Formed: 1985, Manchester, England
  • Disbanded: 1993, Manchester, England
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Can You Dig It?: The Best of the Mock Turtles", "Two Sides

Biography

With 1990's "Can You Dig It?" the Mock Turtles scored one of the more enduring singles to emerge from the so-called Madchester scene. More than a decade later, the song and group returned to prominence thanks to a hugely popular advertising campaign for British mobile operator Vodafone. The Mock Turtes were led by singer/guitarist Martin Googan, the older brother of famed British television comedian and actor Steve Coogan. Bassist Steve Green, keyboardist Krzysztof Korab, and drummer Steve Cowen completed the lineup, which channeled influences spanning from folk-rock to psychedelia to glam. The Mock Turtles issued their debut single, "Pomona," in 1987. Contributions to Imaginary Records tribute LPs celebrating the Byrds, the Kinks, and Captain Beefheart followed, but in early 1989 Green and Korab exited, with bassist Andrew Stewardson, guitarist Martin Glynn Murray, and keyboardist Joanne Gent signing on for "The Wicker Man," a single inspired by the cult horror classic of the same name. With 1990's "Lay Me Down" the Mock Turtles began incorporating the club-inspired rhythms that would come to define the Manchester sound in the months to follow, and that June the band issued its first full-length effort, Turtle Soup, to significant critical acclaim. Major label Siren soon extended a contract offer, and for their label debut the Mock Turtles reworked the "Lay Me Down" B-side "Can You Dig It?" The record proved a Top 20 chart hit, accompanied by an appearance on the BBC's Top of the Pops. A slick second album, Two Sides, nevertheless failed to earn much attention and in 1993 Coogan dissolved the group to form Ugli with Green and Korab. After more than a decade out of the limelight, the Mock Turtles enjoyed a commercial renaissance when Vodafone licensed "Can You Dig It?" to promote its wireless services. The single was quickly reissued to radio, followed by a greatest-hits compilation featuring eight brand-new recordings. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: The Mock Turtles
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
For the comic opera of the same name, see Mock Turtles (opera).
The Mock Turtles
Origin Middleton, Greater Manchester, England
Genres Alternative rock
Britpop
Indie rock
Madchester
Years active 1985 – present
Labels Imaginary Records
Siren Records
Virgin Records
Members
Martin Coogan
Martin Glynn Murray
Andrew Stewardson
Steve Cowen
Joanne Gent

The Mock Turtles are a Manchester based indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their best-known song is "Can You Dig It?"

Contents

History

Led by former Judge Happiness singer Martin Coogan, older brother of Steve Coogan, the band began to pick up attention around 1990, with tracks such as "Lay Me Down" and "And Then She Smiles" on the Imaginary label. It was "Can You Dig It?", however, which gained them wider attention. Originally a b-side to "Lay Me Down", the band's new record label, Siren, re-issued it with additional guitar work, and "Can You Dig It?" breached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Follow-up

The Mock Turtles, however, were unable to follow up the early success and were dropped by their label, three members briefly joining up as Ugli in the mid 1990s, remaining in limbo until Vodafone used "Can You Dig It?" for an advertising campaign in 2003. This saw the band make a comeback with Fatboy Slim doing a remix of the song, taking the track to #19 in the UK. Eight new tracks were included on a new Greatest Hits album, together with older songs from their early 1990s peak.

Recent activities

Coogan was presenter of the breakfast show on The Revolution in Oldham until the station was bought by Steve Penk, who took over the show himself having 'flipped' back to its original Adult Contemporary format.

Now Coogan, along with fellow ex-Revolution DJs including Mani, Mike Joyce and Alex Carter, are launching an internet service called Radio Republic to pick up where The Revolution left off. Coogan's brother Steve is understood to be backing the new service. From 27 October 2008, Martin Coogan and Phil Beckett present a regular late programme on 103.6FM Tameside Radio. This programme is known as 'Radio Republic' and serves as a possible temporary measure until the new radio station is launched in the near future.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilation appearances

  • Beyond the Wildwood - A Tribute to Syd Barrett (LP/CD) - "No good trying" Imaginary Records 1987
  • Fast 'n' Bulbous - A Tribute To Captain Beefheart (LP/CD) - "Big Eyed Beans From Venus" Imaginary Records 1988
  • Shangri-La - A Tribute To The Kinks (LP) - "Big Sky" Imaginary Records 1989
  • Time Between - A Tribute To The Byrds (CD) - "Time Between" / "High" Imaginary Records 1989
  • Indie Top 20 Volume X (2xLP/CD) - "Lay Me Down" Beechwood Music 1990
  • Ouch. Relativity Sampler (CD) - "Mary's Garden" Relativity 1991
  • Fifteen Minutes: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground (CD) - "Pale Blue Eyes" 1994

References

  1. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 373. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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