The Trudy

The Trudy are an English post-punk band formed in Kingston-upon-Thames in 1979 by former Cardiacs members Peter Tagg ^[1] (drums) and Ralph Cade (vocals and keyboards)^[2] along with Derek Tagg (guitar) and Sue Smallwood (bass).

In 1980 The Trudy, with the above line-up, released an album Volcano Fo Le Ferret, on Binkie Records along with another Kingston band The Magnificent 7,^[3] with each band featuring on one side of the record.

In 1981 the band were included on the various artist compilation LP The Snoopies Album, which also included The Europeans and Cardiacs among others.

In 1982 the band released the cassette single Air Commodore. By this time Sue Smallwood had been replaced on bass by Jon Bastable Jnr and second guitarist Ian Plummer had been added.

Many releases followed on a variety of different labels.^[4][5] Among these was the 1998 EP given free with House of Dolls, a popular mainstream alternative music magazine, on which The Trudy was included, along with The Wedding Present, Claytown Troupe & The Hunters Club.

In 1991,when they released the album Tune-In To The Trudy Love-Ray! the line-up was Peter Tagg, Derek Tagg, Melisa Jo Heathcote Paul Crook and Arturo Bassick (of The Lurkers, Pinpoint and 999)

In 2010 the band covered the Cardiacs song Day is Gone on the album Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 ^[6] on the Believers Roast label.^[7]

In 2012 the singles Dirt Cheap Melody and Bucolics Anonymous were released.^[8]

The Trudy has performed extensively around the UK and headlined venues such as the Marquee and University of London Union.^[9] A flyer for a Marquee gig that The Trudy headlined is in the Victoria and Albert Museum collection.^[10]

The current line up is Melissa Jo Heathcote (formerly of The Pukes), Del Tagg, Paul Crook, Peter Tagg & Eugene Bezodis (of Patrick & Eugene).^[11]

On 26 February 2016 the single Rocket Heart was released and this was followed by the release of the album Always Never Beautiful Forever on 15 April.

References