The Mock Turtles

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For the comic opera of the same name, see Mock Turtles (opera).

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The Mock Turtles
From left to right Steve 'Smiley' Barnard, Martin Glynn Murray, Martin Coogan, Joanne Gent, Andrew Stewardson.
From left to right Steve 'Smiley' Barnard, Martin Glynn Murray, Martin Coogan, Joanne Gent, Andrew Stewardson.
Background information
Origin Middleton, Greater Manchester, England
Genre(s) Alternative rock
Britpop
Indie rock
Madchester
Years active 1985 – present
Label(s) 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

[edit] History

Led by former Judge Happiness singer Martin Coogan, older brother of television regular 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 Twenty in the UK singles chart.

[edit] 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-1990's, 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 Can You Dig It?'. Eight new tracks were included on a new Greatest Hits album, together with older songs from their early 1990s peak.

[edit] Recent activities

The band has recently been quiet, but a return is not out of the question. Some of their songs have a slightly psychedelic edge, with intricate guitar riffs and keyboards. Martin Coogan is now presenting the breakfast show on Revolution (96.2FM) in Manchester.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Album(s)

[edit] Singles

[edit] Compilation appearances

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