Mugstar are a rock band, formed in England influenced by kraut/psych/space/noise rock. Mugstar hover in the realm of Oneida and Sonic Youth, fitting well beside artists such as Pink Floyd, Neu! and Hawkwind. Since 2003 they have issued a few full lengths, a split with Mudhoney, an etched 10”, and—most famously—recorded the last ever Peel Session with the late John Peel. They have released music on Agitated Records, Important Records, Lancashire & Somerset Records, Trensmat Records, Sea Records and Critical Mass Records and have toured with Wooden Shjips, Mogwai, Acid Mothers Temple, Oneida, Clinic, White Hills amongst others. Mugstar are signed to Important Records, USA and Agitated Records, UK.
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Mugstar formed in Liverpool, England and immediately set about recording their first single Spotlight Over Memphis which drew attention from John Peel, who played the 7" a number of times. It was after the next 7" 'Flavin' Hotrod' that John Peel offered the band a Peel Session. A split 7" with Hunting Lodge followed. Although the first three 7"s are more noisy garage rock than the music they became known for, they laid the foundations for the sound they would later produce. A mini album on Kabukikore Records 'Dark Matter' come next which was closely followed by a session for BBC Radio One's Huw Stephens. January 2006 saw the release of "My Baby Skull Has Not Yet Flowered" hailed in some quarters as psych classic and featured in magazines as diverse as Mix Mag, The Wire, Kerrang and The Times.
The debut album 'Mugstar' was released at the end of 2006 on Sea Records on CD and on Critical MASS Records on a limited run of heavy weight vinyl in 2007. The album gained the band fans across the world especially in America. Mugstar then started a productive relationship with Ireland based Trensmat Records with run of limited 7" singles from 'Bethany Heart Star' to 'Today is the Wrong Shape'. One of these releases was a split 7" with Seattle's finest Mudhoney, with both bands doing covers of Hawkwind songs. During this time Red Panda and Mugstar featured on a one sided 10" single with half of the song made famous by Fairport Convention 'Tamlin' each.
Mugstar signed to Important Records, who released "...Sun, Broken..." in March 2010. Currently the band are working on a film and have also been commissioned to write a soundtrack for a movie. Their third album "Lime" was released in November 2010 to universal positive reviews. For Record Store Day 2011 Mugstar contribute a cover of 'I Got The Six' by ZZ Top for "I'm So Agitated" a 12" also featuring Carlton Melton,The Heads and Kool Aid on Agitated Records. "Lime" and "...Sun, Broken..." have both been released through Agitated Records on vinyl in September 2011. These were followed by a split album on Rocket Recordings with New York's finest Oneida - called "Collisions 2" and a 40 remix of 'Serra' from "Lime" by Loop's Robert Hampson, released on both vinyl and CD.
Spotlight Over Memphis 7” Critical Mass Records (10/03)
Flavin’ Hotrod 7”Critical Mass Records (05/04)
Peel Session BBC Radio 1 (10/04)
Split 7” w. Hunting Lodge Farm Girl Records (11/04)
Dark Matter Mini Album Kabukikore Records (03/05)
One Music Session BBC Radio 1 (08/05)
Trail Singles Comp. Critical Mass Records (10/05)
My Baby Skull Has Not Yet Flowered 7” Lancashire & Somerset Records (01/06)
Mugstar Album CD- Sea Records / Vinyl-Critical Mass Records (11/06)
Bethany Heart Star 7” Trensmat Records (01/07)
Born To Go 7" Split with Mudhoney Trensmat Records (11/08)
Tam Lin 10" Split with Redpanda Lancashire & Somerset Records (12/08)
Technical Knowledge As A Weapon 7" Trensmat Records (08/09)
...Sun, Broken... CD Important Records (03/10)
Lime CD Important Records (11/10) Vinyl Agitated Records (09/11)
Collisions 2 Split Album with Oneida vinyl Rocket Recordings (10/11)]
Distant Sun Serra Remix Robert Hampson Agitated Records (11/11)
Black Fountain Split 7" with Carlton Melton Trensmat Records] (12/11)
Pete Smyth - Guitar/vocals/keyboards
Neil Murphy - Guitar/noises/knowledge
Jason Stoll - Bass/sax/upper cuts
Steve Ashton - Drums
Sam Wheil / Robert Parker - Visuals/projections