Four-member group (Paul Breuer, Stuart Hilton, Mike Dodd and Jon Carricker) from south London Cottonmouth were a sneeringly great, scratchily perfect punk pop band gushing forth with terse, bitter-sweet melodies, mix a little of the Only Ones and coupled with a heavy dose of wry wit and verve. It's simple, back-to-basics, garage rock 'n' roll.
After two singles (“Stand By Your Man” and “Shirts & Skins”), they were stolen from Fire by Atlantic Records, who thought they could turn them into another Foutains Of Wayne (who, you might well ask). What a sad ending.
“Bespoke” was the English band's debut full-length released as Junior Cottonmouth, change the name change the substance, even these two singles were recording again for the radio friendly market without chance. There’s a second one album “Corporation Pop” as yet unreleased, waiting for a powerpop disco empresario.
Cottonmouth - Something Scratching [7" Fire Records 1995]
Schoolmates Mickey Trenter (bass) and John Ruscoe (lead guitar) formed the Space Maggots in 1984. The line up was completed with Toad Tyler on Drums, Andrew Brunning on vocals and Clive Watling playing guitars . Early shows included support slots for The Stupids and the Annihilated.
The band quickly started to gain popularity in the Ipswich area, made a demo tape and luckily Yves and Alain from Vinyl Solution liked what they heard and asked them to record for the label. This prompted more gigs out of the Ipswich area and many London shows began to happen. Playing Oxford Street`s 100 Club, Camden`s Dingwalls and several shows at The Fulham King`s Head Igloo club with the `new look` Stupids, Birdhouse, Hard Ons, the Abs etc. They also spent a completely mental weekend in Paris with the Perfect Daze.
During the summer of 1987 all around the age of 17, the Maggots spent four days in RMS Studio Croydon recording their debut 6 song EP `Leave it`. The record was released in November that year.
1988 saw `You Drag Me Down`, a storm of punkpop a la Barracuda, released in Spain as a 7" single. The band continued to promote the record with it receiving good reviews all round as well as airplay on the John Peel show. On March 29th 1989 the Space Maggots played what was to be their last gig at The Old Times. They proved to be an influence on the next generation of punk pop that had been started by the Perfect Daze, continued by the Space Maggots and then taken a step further by the likes of the Senseless Things and Mega City Four.
Space Maggots - You Drag Me Down [7" Twins Records 1988]
From Bristol, England. Led by Spider McCallum (vocals) with Leigh Alexander Williams (guitar), Kat Dav (guitar), Age Blackmore (bass) and Jason Collins (drums). A great combination of psychedelic and punk, this band was the first unsigned act to ever play England's prestigious Reading Festival!. Their sound was definitely of the moment and their music, while unique, didn't withstand the constantly changing UK music scene. Signing a major deal with Virgin subsidiary Hedd Records they were left in limbo when the company folded. Fortunately, their Pat Collier-produced master tapes were rescued and released in Cherry Records with all their anger and energy intact. Released two Albums : Psych Out 1990, Peace Crazies 1992.
The Seers - Sun Is In The Sky [7" Hedd Records 1989]
The Godfathers were founded by brothers Peter (vocals, guitar) and Chris Coyne (bassist) in London in 1985. Were joined by guitarists Kris Dollimore and Mike Gibson and drummer George Mazur. Coming ten years after Britain's punk explosion, they nevertheless built on that music's rage and force. Their debut album, Hit by Hit, was released on the indie label Link in 1986 and followed by Birth, School, Work, Death on Epic in 1988, his masterpiece which
includes this “Love Is Dead”, despite its title is actually an upbeat anthem. The lp a punked-up update on the gritty, R & B influenced sonic maelstorm of the Yardbirds, Troggs, early Stones, and countless other British bands of the pre-Revolver era. Note is a group with three guitarists. Unusual.
Two more albums “More Songs About Love & Hate” (1989), featured the popular college radio track "She Gives Me Love," and “Unreal World”, on Epic in 1991, more of the same, but without a "Birth, School, Work, Death".
The Godfathers - Love Is Dead [7" Epic Records 1988]
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