The Mighty Lemondrops, Indie Rock

Happy Indie Head

Indie Rock With The Mighty Lemon Drops

 

Happy Head, sounding very much like Echo & The Bunnymen to me, but still fantastic.

Band & Formation

They were formed in Wolverhampton and were a post punk band influenced by psychedelic music and bands such as The Bunnymen, which were (and still are) one of my favourite bands. Below The Bunnymen's live version of 'Do It Clean' I can get an idea of where the Mighty Lemon Drops got their inspirations from.

Catch their The Mighty Lemon Drops 1985 track 'Like An Angel' at the youtube link. This track sounding like a cross between The Doors and The Bunnymen.

They were:

  • Paul Marsh - Guitar/Vocals
  • Dave Newton - Guitar
  • Tony Linehan - Bass
  • Keith Rowley - Drums

Originally Martin Gilks (The Wonderstuff) was beating the skins in 1985 and was replaced by Rowley.

Out Of The Ashes

They were formed out of the the ashes of several bands one being a band called Active Restraint. Catch their track 'Terror In My Home' below:

Vocalist Marsh, Guitarist Newton and Bass Linehan were all in the band, this appears to have been a one off by them.

Wonderful article describing the band here at last.fm

This track was released in 1982 on 'The Sticky Label' an independent record label set up in the Wolverhampton area where the band were from.

The band were to eventually split and some of the members go on and become 'The Mighty Lemon Drops'.  The other band were The Wild Flowers here with the 1983 track 'Melt Like Ice'

Confectionery Passions

The Wildflowers first single was released on the Future Records Label, the label being the sister of No Future Records. As a band they finally called it quits in 1997 releasing 5 albums and 6 singles. And becoming the first British Band to be signed by the American Record Label 'Slash Records'.

One of the members of the Wild Flowers, Dave Newton (Guitar) went on to form 'The Mighty Lemon Drops'. Before they took on the name they were first called 'The Sherbet Monsters' (clearly a passion for confectionary going on here!).

 

My Biggest Thrill

 
 
The Mighty Lemon Drops with 'My Biggest Thrill'
 
And finally, 'The Other Side Of You'...
 

Not An Indie Label

 
The above track sounding in similar vein to 'Like An Angel' still awesomely punchy though. Both this and the previous track being released as singles in 1986 and on the album 'Happy Head' which was also released in the same year on the 'Blue Guitar' label which was actually a subsidiary of major label Chrysalis Records.
 
They appear to have notched up 8 albums and 16 E.P./Singles during their time, Linehan left the band in 1989 and was replaced by Marcus Williams who was originally in Indie Band 'The Blue Aeroplanes'. They lasted as a unit they called it quits in 1993.
 
I am feeling that although for the majority of their time they were signed to Sire and Chrysalis records (both fairly major labels) they didn't get the recognition they deserved, looking at Chart positions for the releases of singles and albums they appear to have only hit the highs of #34 for the album 'World Without End'. Frustrating as they were a really good, solid band.
 

Cum On Feel The Noize

 

Wolverhampton seems to be a place for some famous artists and bands over the years including:
  • Glam Rockers Slade
  • Kevin Rowland (Dexy's Midnight Runners)
  • Metal Band Cloven Hoof
  • Mod Revival Band The Circles
  • Multi Instrumentalist Ben Christophers
  • Rock Band Babylon Zoo
 

Video Sources & Thanks

Fatal Charm [email protected]

This Moments [email protected]

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