Mugstar
Mugstar are an English rock band, influenced by kraut/psych/space/noise rock such as Oneida, Sonic Youth, Neu! and Hawkwind. Since 2003 they have issued several full-length albums, a split release with Mudhoney and an etched 10”. Mugstar recorded the last-ever Peel Session with the late John Peel.[1]
History
Mugstar formed in Liverpool. Their first single, "Spotlight Over Memphis", drew attention from John Peel, who played the 7" on his radio show. It was after the next 7", "Flavin' Hotrod", that Peel offered the band a Peel Session. A split 7" with Hunting Lodge followed. A mini-album on Kabukikore Records, "Dark Matter", come next, closely followed by a session for BBC Radio One's Huw Stephens. In January 2006 the band released "My Baby Skull Has Not Yet Flowered".
The band's self-titled debut album was released on CD at the end of 2006 on Sea Records, and on Critical MASS Records on a limited run of heavy weight vinyl in 2007. Mugstar then started a productive relationship with Ireland-based Trensmat Records with run of limited 7" singles. One of these releases was a split 7" with Seattle's Mudhoney, with both bands doing covers of Hawkwind songs. During this time Redpanda and Mugstar featured on a one-sided 10" single, each performing half of "Tam Lin", a song made famous by Fairport Convention.
Mugstar signed to Important Records, who then released "...Sun, Broken..." in March 2010. Their third album, "Lime", was released in November 2010. 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 Oneida - called "Collisions 2" - and a 40 remix of "Serra" (from "Lime") by Loop's Robert Hampson.
The band's fifth album, "Axis", came out in late 2012.
In April 2013 they performed a radio session for Marc Riley on his BBC 6 Music evening show.[2]
For Record Store Day 2013 Mugstar released 'Centralia' their sixth album.
They have a new album on Important Records in November 2013.
Mugstar are currently signed to Important Records in the US and to Agitated Records in the UK.
Discography
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)
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)
Ad Marginem Vinyl album with DVD Agitated Records (09/12)
AXIS Vinyl/CD Agitated Records (10/12)
Centralia Vinyl album Cardinal Fuzz Records (04/13)
Travel Expop Series #2: Great Britain split album with The Oscillation / Ben Nash / Listening Mirror Hands In The Dark / All Time Low Records (08/13)
Band members
Pete Smyth - Guitar/vocals/keyboards
Neil Murphy - Guitar/noises/knowledge
Jason Stoll - Bass/sax/upper cuts
Steve Ashton - Drums
Sam Wiehl / Robert Parker - Visuals/projections