Michael Algar

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Michael Algar
Michael Algar (left) fronting The Toy Dolls at Croatia, Summer Revolution Fest 2006
Michael Algar (left) fronting The Toy Dolls at Croatia, Summer Revolution Fest 2006
Background information
Also known as Olga
Born (1962-09-21) September 21, 1962
South Shields, England
Genres Punk Rock
Occupations Musician/Songwriter/Producer
Instruments Vocals, Guitar, bass
Years active 1979–Present
Labels Secret Records Limited, Captain Oi!
Associated acts The Toy Dolls, The Dickies
Website www.thetoydolls.com

Michael "Olga" Algar (born September 21, 1962 in Marsden, South Shields, UK[1][2]) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter who fronts the band The Toy Dolls. Essentially a lead/rhythm guitarist, Olga is also a music composer and producer. Olga lived in the City of Sunderland during most of his life before moving to Tokyo, Japan, in 2000.[3] Olga then moved to central London in 2002 where he has lived since.[4]

Musical career

Michael Algar, 'Olga', began playing music "around the age of 11 after seeing Mud, Sweet, Slade and Suzi Quatro on Top of the Pops, a UK pop TV show".[1] He had started songwriting/composing by the age of 17.[5] He played in various local bands including Straw Dogs and The Showbiz Kids before forming The Toy Dolls in October 1979.[6] Over their 31 year existence The Toy Dolls have toured the world extensively and released numerous albums and singles.[7] Olga has written all the bands albums which include such titles as Absurd-Ditties, Fat Bob's Feet, Idle Gossip and Anniversary Anthems.[8] Following the debut album Dig That Groove Baby, the band had a top 10 single in the UK in 1984, "Nellie the Elephant", reaching number 4 in the UK charts.[9] This was followed by the album A Far Out Disc reaching number 71 in the UK Album charts.[9]

Production

Olga has produced most of The Toy Dolls albums[10] and also recordings for other artists too, including the double A side single "Take A Walk/Round, Round, Round" by Gem Archer of Beady Eye and Oasis[11] and the albums Toy Doll and Tori Ningen by Japanese punk band Lolita No.18.[12] In 2010 he was executive engineer on the album Crash & Burn by North East UK punk band Crashed Out.[13]

The latest production from Olga is The album after the last one by The Toy Dolls, released in March 2012.

TV/film soundtracks

Olga has written the music for various TV Commercials, including Ready Brek (UK),[14] Badoit mineral water (France)[15] and Crazy Grape Pepsi Cola (Russia).[16]

His music has also been used on the soundtracks of Hollywood movies, including Haggard: The Movie,[17] Free Jimmy[18] and video games such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.[19]

Olga also wrote the theme and incidental music for the TV Rock/Pop show Razzamatazz[20] and the theme music for Comedian Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure DVD.[21]

Guitar playing

Prior to playing guitar, Olga first learned Bass guitar and also plays Kazoo.[1]

Olga plays a yellow Fender Telecaster with a Seymour Duncan bridge pick up.[22] He is recognised as a virtuoso guitar player[23] and in 2007 was voted number 1 Punk Guitarist in the international Punk Polls.[24] He was described as the best guitarist on the world in The Guitar Magazine[25] and the All Music Guide describes Olga as being a guitar hero "capable of jaw-droppingly fast guitar picking".[26]

Besides playing guitar with The Toy Dolls, Olga has toured Europe, Japan and the USA as bass player with The Dickies, and features on their Live DVD An Evening with the Dickies recorded at The Wedgwood Rooms in Portsmouth UK July 2002.[27] He also played bass on various US shows with The Adicts.[28]

He made a guest appearance at the birthday show of Ginger from the Wildhearts at the Garage, London 17 December 2009.[29]

He has been a guest guitarist on a number of artists recordings including the tracks "Can't Drink You Pretty" from the Yoni by Ginger from Wildhearts,[30] "Aint Just Talkin bout Love" from The G7 album by German band Gigantor,[31] "Keepin on Keepin on" from the album Uppers and Downers by The Yo-Yos,[32] Japanese band Seventh Tarz Armstrong's album entitled The Tokyo City Big Nights,[33] the track "Walk of Shame" from the album Poets on Payday by Norfolk Punk band Vanilla Pod,[34] Japan based punk band Duncans Divas' album Up and at 'em,[35] and on Peter and the Test Tube Babies album A Foot Full Of Bullets on lead vocals on the song "Smiling Through The Tears".[36]

Olga also appeared on lead vocals alongside Brian Johnson from (AC/DC) and John Miles, on the Geordie Aid single "Try Giving Everything" in 1985, for charity relating to Ethiopia.[37] Another charity record that Olga appeared on was the album Guitarists 4 the Kids[38] released in 2006.

Musical influences

Olga finds inspiration from "everyday life, girlfriends, next door neighbours and things, rather than music", for his songwriting. His early musical influences include "Dr. Feelgood, Chuck Berry, Sweet, Slade, Mud, SLF, Sham 69, The Jam, The Skids", among punk rock music in general.[1]

References and Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Michael "Olga" Elgar Interview". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. February 22, 2006. Retrieved March 10, 2013. 
  2. ↑ (1)Page17,'From Fulwell to Fukuoka', written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
    (2)www.lastfm.de/translate/thetoydollsbio
  3. ↑ Page 204, The Toy Dolls From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
  4. ↑ Numerous references to Olga living in Sunderland and London throughout the book, The Toy Dolls From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
  5. ↑ Page19, From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
  6. ↑ Page19/20,From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
  7. ↑ (1)Page10,From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
    (2)See "Tour" and "Discography"section on www.thetoydolls.com
  8. ↑ Michael Algar Discography at Discogs
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Page536, British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.) Roberts, David (2006). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
  10. ↑ Michael Algar Discography: All Albums Produced by Michael Algar (8 Items)
  11. ↑ The Oasis Fan Guide: Gem's First Records
  12. ↑ Page 47,From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
  13. ↑ Crashed Out Official Website
  14. ↑ Ready Brek
  15. ↑ (1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WleFXqtP_z8
    (2)Toy Dolls website "Olga talkin"section April 7th 2006, http://www.thetoydolls.com/olga_talkin/2006/olga_talkin.html
  16. ↑ (1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTh2MCdih9w&feature=related
    (2)http://www.musicagency.ru/ (The cover version rights of the track Idle Gossip by Michael Algar, Toy Dolls for Crazy Grape TV advertisement. Brand: Mirinda (PepsiCo). Production: BBDO Moscow)
  17. ↑ Soundtrack list for Haggard the movie:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298656/soundtrack
  18. ↑ Soundtrack list for Free Jimmy:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298337/soundtrack
  19. ↑ Soundtrack list for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater4: http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tony-hawks-pro-skater-4/credits
  20. ↑ (1)Page76/77,From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
    (2)Soundtrack video of Razzmatazz:http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/mivana
  21. ↑ taken from the Toy Dolls official website updates of February 2005
  22. ↑ Page 40, From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
  23. ↑ Page127-131,Burning Britain The History of UK Punk1980-1984,written by Ian Glasper, Cherry Red Books ISBN 1-901447-24-3
  24. ↑ Best Punk Guitarist Voting List
  25. ↑ The Guitar Magazine, Page 22 October 2000 edition/Volume 11 No 3. IPC Country & Leisure Media ltd.
  26. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/dig-that-groove-baby-r181433
  27. ↑ Death Burger review of An Evening with the Dickies featuring Michael Algar Olga on bass and vocals
  28. ↑ The Toy Dolls story from The Toy Dolls official website
  29. ↑ The Toy Dolls official website tour dates
  30. ↑ Page254, From Fulwell to Fukuoka, written by Ronan Fitzsimons, Ardra Press ISBN 0-9548678-0-7
  31. ↑ comments on Olgas guitar playing on new album
  32. ↑ Review of album featuring Olga
  33. ↑ Credits list from official website
  34. ↑ Vanilla Pod Official Myspace information Page
  35. ↑ http://www.last.fm/music/Duncan's+Divas
  36. ↑ Biog from official website
  37. ↑ http://www.thetoydolls.com/updates/2004/may/geordie_aid/geordie_aid.htm[The Toy Dolls Official Website discography]
  38. ↑ Artists for Charity Album credit list including Michael 'Olga' Algar, described as the Grand Daddy of Punk Rock

External links

The Toy Dolls official Facebook *

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