![\"birmingham-indie-band-mighty-mighty-106971082\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/birmingham-indie-band-mighty-mighty-106971082.jpg?resize=640%2C413&ssl=1\")
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Formed in Birmingham in the mid-80’s, Mighty Mighty are almost exact contemporaries of The Weddoes.<\/p>\n
But while Gedge has continued to release new material, the Mighties have been largely dormant since 1988 – the year they released their debut album Sharks<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n The turn of the century saw a revival of interest in the band, which comprises\u00a0Hugh McGuinness<\/strong>\u00a0(vocals and harmonica),\u00a0Russell Burton<\/strong> (bass and vocals), brothers Mick (<\/strong>guitar) and\u00a0Pete <\/strong>(organ and guitar)\u00a0Geoghegan\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0DJ Hennessy\u00a0<\/strong>(drums).<\/p>\n A 2000 re-issue of Sharks <\/em>was quickly followed by a compilation of BBC sessions and in 2009 the band re-united for sporadic live gigs.<\/p>\n So-called ‘lost’ second album\u00a0The Betamax Tapes\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>preceded a full retrospective\u00a0Pop Can<\/strong><\/em> in 2013.<\/p>\n Now, following a\u00a0successful gig at London’s 100 Club <\/strong>earlier this year\u00a0<\/strong>the band have released the\u00a0Misheard Love Songs <\/strong><\/em>EP, <\/strong>featuring three brand new tracks.<\/p>\n Songsmith Mick, aided by contributions from DJ and soul of brevity Russell, tells Matt Catchpole<\/strong>\u00a0about the comeback, being hated by the music press and key influences on the Mighty Mighty sound.<\/p>\n So the obvious question – why are you back with your first new music in 28 years? \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: A combination of things really.\u00a0 I found I was becoming more prolific as a songwriter \u2013 probably more time on my hands – and wanted to do something with the songs.\u00a0 We have played the odd few gigs over the years since we \u2018split up\u2019 in 1988 but we got to the point where we didn\u2019t want to be a Mighty Mighty tribute band and needed to add to the set.\u00a0 We\u2019ve really enjoyed the creative process. I forgot how much more fun it is than just rehearsing a set of songs you\u2019ve been playing for years.\u00a0 It\u2019s a very slow process though as we are scattered cross the country and have family and work commitments.<\/p>\n Did you feel you had unfinished business as a group? \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n DJ<\/b>: Always felt we could have done more and gone further, but relationships and families just put it all on hold for a while<\/span><\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 We\u2019ve still got some great songs in us.\u00a0 Hopefully someone is interested in hearing them. I know there are people out there who will always be interested in what we are doing – and that\u2019s great \u2013 but it would also be nice to connect with people who missed us first time round (or who weren\u2019t born!)<\/p>\n What have you all been doing in the meantime? Does it feel any different this time around? <\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: Working, raising kids, etc (In my case, submitting to my alcoholism for many years) Think we\u2019re just a bit calmer, mellower at times. Still get on pretty well most of the time<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 I think it is a bit more relaxed.\u00a0 I suppose it\u2019s about expectations.\u00a0 Back in the ’80s we wanted to be pop stars.\u00a0 I suppose it\u2019s that sense of possibility that makes it so exciting and unforgettable.\u00a0 That\u2019s not there now.\u00a0 But I still get a real buzz when a new song suddenly falls into place.\u00a0 And playing live makes you feel young again \u2013 until the morning after when the aches and pains kick in!<\/p>\n You\u2019re a five piece with two brothers in the band \u2013 any Gallagher-style shenanigans?<\/strong><\/p>\n Russell<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0No – they even on agree on how to spell their surname.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 That\u2019s right. Quite boring really. If one of us was the front man it might have been different, but I don\u2019t think we are particularly competitive with each other.\u00a0 There’s quite a big age difference so we weren’t competing growing up. We have roles in the band \u2013 I feel responsible for coming up with songs and Pete is a proper musician, so he sprinkles on the magic dust to bring them to life.<\/p>\n Your song “>Law<\/em><\/a> was chosen to as a track on the NME\u2019s now legendary\u00a0C86 compilation \u2013 how did that come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 We self-financed our first single “>Everybody Knows The Monkey<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. Peel played it and it got a good review in NME.\u00a0 Roy Carr<\/strong> from the NME got in touch. I think they wanted to put Monkey<\/em> on C86 but we wanted to record something new. Had a day out in London with the tape in our sweaty little hands.\u00a0 We were aware that this was a big deal because I had got C81<\/strong> from the NME and really loved it.\u00a0 It was much better than C86. What a line-up \u2013 The Specials<\/strong>, The Raincoats<\/strong>, Pere Ubu<\/strong>, Robert Wyatt<\/strong>, Buzzcocks<\/strong>, John Cooper Clarke<\/strong>, Blue Orchids<\/strong>, all the Postcard bands \u2026\u00a0 Just the idea that your song was going to be in so many homes was pretty mind-blowing. \u00a0C86 was massive leg up for us at the time and has continued to sustain us.<\/p>\n Were there any bands on that tape that you thought would go on to greater things and didn\u2019t. Any that you were surprised were so successful?<\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: (scathingly) Thought Primal Scream<\/strong> might come to something, but they went to shit. Think they\u2019re still going as a Stones tribute band.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 At the time I couldn\u2019t see much potential and I suppose, in a sense, I was right as most of the bands never really left the indie ghetto. But a lot of the bands are still about and doing their thing, which is great.\u00a0 My favourite tracks were “>Therese<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by The Bodines<\/strong> and “>Buffalo<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Stump<\/strong>.\u00a0 I suppose “>Velocity Girl<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/a>was the stand-out track \u2013 probably the one and only thing by Primal Scream that I like!<\/p>\n Do you think the indie scene is as strong today as it was back in the ’80s?<\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>:\u00a0There\u2019s an Indie scene today?<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: If my record collection is anything to go by, the scene wasn\u2019t that strong back then. I have a handful of 45s that I treasure from that era, but a lot of it washed over me.\u00a0 I know it\u2019s all been said before, but what was great about it was the DIY thing \u2013 the attitude was: ‘it\u2019s our turn now and it doesn\u2019t matter if record companies aren\u2019t interested, we\u2019re going to be heard.’ Where now it\u2019s so easy to get your music out there, it\u2019s sometimes difficult to understand how radical this was.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t feel radical \u2013 we wanted to make a record and other people had shown us the way.\u00a0Sorry to say there is very little indie music today that interests me.\u00a0 You can\u2019t really compare then with now.\u00a0 We were coming off the back of punk and post-punk and all the fresh ideas and impetus that came with that.<\/p>\n Was it tough to make a living as a musician in those days? Did that play any part in your decision to split after just one album?<\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: Don\u2019t think we\u2019ve ever made a living from it, or ever will. Just try to enjoy it \u2013 for me it\u2019s about having fun with a bunch of blokes who come up with great songs and ever improving musicianship.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: Yeah.\u00a0 Not sure money ever came into it.\u00a0 As long as we had enough to keep on doing what we were doing.\u00a0 So when we found ourselves without a deal, it did become difficult to carry on.<\/p>\n The scene was buoyed by the existence of several music papers, NME, Sounds, Melody Maker, Record Mirror etc \u2013 are you sad that these papers have died out or gone on online? <\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: I thought they were all pretty naff \u2013 obsessed with \u201cthe next big thing\u201d \u2013 look at their legacy \u2013 Tony Parsons<\/strong> and Tony Backburn<\/strong>, soz, Danny Baker<\/strong><\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 The music press hated us. The C86 bands and British white kids playing guitars were dropped very quickly – they didn’t fit with their sudden conversion to dance culture. And back then the likes of NME were the taste-makers. As much as I loved reading NME in its pomp, I can\u2019t feel any sadness for its decline because it was ultimately elitist and bordering on fascist in the way it dictated what was and wasn\u2019t cool.<\/p>\n You\u2019re from Birmingham \u2013 what was it like growing up there \u2013 was there always a lively music scene?<\/strong><\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: There was a brilliant period just before I started playing – with the 2 Tone<\/strong> bands, Dexy\u2019s<\/strong> and the Au Pairs<\/strong>.\u00a0 I feel really lucky to have been living in Brum at that time. When we first started gigging we had some great contemporaries like Fuzzbox<\/strong>, The Nightingales<\/strong>, The Surfdrums<\/strong> and Sea Urchins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>:\u00a0It was brilliant. It was shit. OK, brilliantly shit.<\/p>\n I went to university in Birmingham in the early \u201890s and was a regular at Sensateria, the Barrel Organ and the Hummingbird to name but a few. Where did you hang out and was there any particular gig that made you think: ‘ yep that\u2019s what I want to do’.<\/strong><\/p>\n Russell<\/strong>: T. Rex<\/strong> – TOTP \u2013 1972<\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: Probably Stiff Little Fingers<\/strong> at Digbeth Civic Hall, ’78 I think.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: I was there too! SLF were brilliant. Pretty scary though, with punks and skinheads kicking lumps out of each other. I\u2019m old enough (luckily, for a change) to remember Barbarella\u2019s<\/strong> and all the punk and new wave acts that played there \u2013 The Clash<\/strong>, Siouxsie<\/strong>, Costello<\/strong>, The Undertones<\/strong>, Iggy<\/strong>, The Specials.\u00a0 It was probably witnessing them that made me think I could do that. Later the Sensateria was an important hang-out for would-be bands \u2013 Mighty Mighty, Pop Will Eat Itself, the Sea Urchins, etc.<\/p>\n Did you experience any London snobbishness when you played in the capital? <\/strong><\/p>\n Russell<\/strong>: No – a lot of non-clappingness though<\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: We\u2019d probably get a better response if we were into dressing up more.<\/p>\n The Velvet Underground and Nico is 50 years old this year \u2013 were you one of the legions inspired by that record?<\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: Just one of many, preferred a lot of Lou\u2019s older stuff<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: I taught myself to play bass in my first band by listening to the Au Pairs.\u00a0 When I was learning guitar it was listening to the Velvets, so yes, a major influence.\u00a0 I think the rough and ready quality appealed to me \u2013 you didn\u2019t have to sound every chord perfectly or in time to make brilliant music (I\u2019m still using that excuse!)<\/p>\n And while we\u2019re talking anniversaries \u2013 it\u2019s 40 years since the birth of punk \u2013 having recently played the 100 Club \u2013 do you think it\u2019s time we had another rock revolution? Can such a movement even happen in this day and age? <\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: It needs something from today\u2019s generation \u2013 I don\u2019t get anything out of the new stuff I hear \u2013 either overproduced and mundane songs, or that grimy shouting stuff \u2013showing my age; old blues is where it\u2019s at.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 I don\u2019t think rock has the power to shock anymore. It\u2019s all been done to death. And the way people access music today means anything really extreme never reaches the mainstream – it’s all very niche. Since punk there have still been shock\/horror press stories about how certain pop stars that are going corrupt the nation\u2019s youth \u2013 such as the Beastie Boys<\/strong> and Eminem<\/strong> \u2013 but now there’s nothing more scary than Kanye West<\/strong> being a bit weird. Grime<\/strong> has already been defused by patronising TV coverage and the glossy magazine treatment, before it\u2019s had a chance to really influence anyone. It seems impossible now for young people to genuinely have their own music like it was in the 50s, 60s and 70s.\u00a0 As soon as anything new comes along it gets appropriated by the parents!<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: I think I wore out my copy of Pillars & Prayers <\/strong><\/em>(1982 Cherry Red compilation). I was (still am) a big Tracey Thorn<\/strong> and Marine Girls<\/strong> fan. We did send them a demo in our very early days and it came back with a two word rejection: \u201cToo us\u201d.\u00a0 So probably by then they had already had enough of sensitive young souls.<\/p>\n The \u201880s was a bitterly divided country with a right-wing government, bitter divisions within the Labour Party and a seething undercurrent of racism \u2013 do you see any similarities with today?<\/strong><\/p>\n Russell<\/strong>: Yes.<\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: Yes. democracy has clearly failed. Five\u00a0years of Tories and everyone complains, then votes them in again. Brexit vote built on brazen lies – \u00a3350 p.w. to NHS – and Farage ripping off Nazi poster. Now we’ve got the most racist, sexist, narcistic psychotic idiot ever in the White House.\u00a0Democracy clearly does not work.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: Ditto. Didn’t someone say when the Berlin Wall came down that it was ‘the end of history’? At least during the Cold War there was a weird kind of stability.\u00a0 You felt that both sides had too much to lose to press the button. Now you have no idea where armageddon is likely to come from.\u00a0 As for Britain, I dread to think what sort of a country it will become post-Brexit. Democracy is sham used by the establishment to fool us into believing we have freedom of choice and can influence our future.\u00a0Depressed. Embarrassed. Ashamed.<\/p>\n You\u2019re often compared to Postcard bands, like Orange Juice – were you inspired by their success?<\/strong><\/p>\n Russell<\/strong>: No<\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>:\u00a0Could never see the comparison. Their drummer was shit hot though.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: I\u2019d be lying if I said they weren\u2019t an influence.\u00a0 When me and Hugh first got together it was Postcard and the Velvets that we were mainly listening to. I still listen to Josef K<\/strong>\u00a0a lot.\u00a0 And The Go-Between<\/strong>s of course, even though they were only fleetingly on Postcard.\u00a0 I think to some extent the similarities in our sound to Orange Juice are about us having the same influences – the Velvets, a lot of ’60s pop, country rock and ’70s disco.<\/p>\n Who did you grow up listening to? And what do you enjoying playing now?<\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>: Grew up with Bowie<\/strong>, T Rex, Iggy ,punk ‘n’ reggae. Now – \u00a0Trying to play Robert Johnson<\/strong> songs on a ukulele \u2013 what else?<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: T Rex were my first big love. I liked Dylan<\/strong> and Neil Young<\/strong> and some heavy rock (I still like Zeppelin<\/strong>).\u00a0 But it all changed with The Clash. These days I like a lot of American songwriters \u2013 Lucinda Williams<\/strong>, Ryan<\/strong> Adams<\/strong>, Joanna Newsom<\/strong>, Jolie Holland<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tell us about the Misheard Love Songs<\/em> EP \u2013 can fans of the group expect any surprises?<\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>:\u00a0Won\u2019t be a surprise \u2013 fans can expect it.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>:\u00a0 Across the three songs there’s only one major 7th chord, so that’s a surprise. Still writing three and a half minute pop songs.\u00a0 And no harpsichords!<\/p>\n Will there be any live shows to promote the new stuff? I hear there could be a new album on the way?<\/strong><\/p>\n DJ<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0Hope to finish album one day, and do a few gigs maybe, but they\u2019d have to be worth it \u2013 everything takes so long cos we\u2019re scattered all over the country.<\/p>\n Mick<\/strong>: Yes – we\u2019re building up to an album, hopefully next year. We’ve got a growing pile of songs and we’re going to keep recording until we’ve got enough gems to fill an album.\u00a0 When we were writing back in 80s it was always important to come up with songs that could go into the live set.\u00a0 This isn’t an issue now so we may be able to get a bit more diverse and adventurous – ukulele solo, DJ?<\/p>\n We’ll just have to wait and see….<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Punk's](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Mighty100x.jpg?resize=593%2C334&ssl=1\")
![\"He's](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/uo9b1fbk.jpg-large.jpeg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
![\"nmec86\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NMEC86.jpg?resize=586%2C356&ssl=1\")
![\"Bubblegum](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/hqdefault.jpg?resize=595%2C446&ssl=1\")
![\"London](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/mighty-100.jpg?resize=590%2C442&ssl=1\")
![\"mighty-mighty-pop-can-definitive-collection-1986-88-l5013929155336\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/MIGHTY-MIGHTY-POP-CAN-DEFINITIVE-COLLECTION-1986-88-L5013929155336.jpg?resize=578%2C578&ssl=1\")
Cherry Red released <\/strong>\u2018Pop Can: The Definitive Collection 1986-88\u2019 \u2013 it\u2019s a pretty iconic label \u2013 do you wish you\u2019d had a chance to sign with them back in the day?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Law](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/mighty-mighty_1-1.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1\")
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