Everybody Knows The Monkey
Brummie Indie Rock with Mighty Mighty, Everybody Knows The Monkey 🙉...
Catch it at the YouTube Link here: 'Everybody Knows The Monkey'.
This track was released on their own 'Girlie Records' label in 1986, evidently for the eye-watering sum of approximately £40!
The Band & Formation
They were:
Russell Burton – Bass and vocals
Mick Geoghegan – Guitar
Pete Geoghegan – Vox organ and guitar
D J Hennessy – Drums
Hugh McGuinness – Vocals and harmonica
They were formed in Birmingham in 1985 and built up a following on the local Birmingham pub and club scene of the day. They released the above song and 'Is There Anyone Out There' in 1986 on their own record label before signing to Chapter 22 Records an Indie Label set up by Craig Jennings in the early part of the '80s who released music by bands such as Pop Will Eat Itself, The Mission, The Wildflowers and Ned's Atomic Dustbin. The label is active today and the latest release is by rock/punk band called Yur Mum catch their song 'Tropical Fuzz' at the link.
It's The Law
Mighty Mighty were also lucky enough to be featured on the NME C-86 Compilation with the song 'Law', also released in the same year as the other songs mentioned. Sounding a bit The Smith's influenced with the vocals and similar to the African Highlife sound with the guitar as featured in my other post at Self-Drive Indie Rock.
Evidently the lead singer when interviewed said that the "only difference between them and The Smith's was that they write 2 minute pop songs whilst Might Mighty write 3 minute pop songs".
The NME compilation featuring at the time new sounds from bands like Primal Scream, The Mighty Lemondrops, The Soup Dragons, Half Man, Half Biscuit etc.
Throwaway
'Like Bubble Gum When The Flavour's Gone🎵...'
Fast jangle pop with the single 'Throwaway' reaching the dizzy heights of #7 in the UK Indie Charts in 1986.
They managed to score three 'Peel Sessions' the one on 25th March '86 included the track above and one 'Janice Long Session' in '86-'87
Little Wonder
They released only one album 'Sharks' in 1988 before disbanding. The album was re-issued in 2000. Firestation Records released their second 'lost' album called 'The Betamax Tapes' in 2012 and the band released a third album 'Misheard Love Songs' in 2019 on the same label.
More Info
More information and details of Mighty Mighty and other Birmingham bands at:
birminghammusicarchive.com
Video Source Thanks
Video Source Monkey: [email protected]
Video Source Throwaway: [email protected]
Video Source Law: [email protected]
Video Source Little Wonder: [email protected]
Picture Thanks
Photo by Ayush Sharma on Unsplash