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The Smirks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Smirks | ||
|---|---|---|
 The Smirks, while signed to Beserkley Records
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Manchester, England |
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| Genre(s) | Punk, New Wave, Power pop | |
| Years active | 1977 - 1980 | |
| Label(s) | Beserkley, Smirksong | |
| Associated acts |
Distant Cousins, The Fall, Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias, The Freshies | |
| Website | thesmirks.com | |
| Members | ||
| Simon Milner lead vocal and guitar Neil Fitzpatrick lead guitar and vocals Mike Doherty drums Ian Morris bass and backing vocals |
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The Smirks were an English new wave band from Manchester who played from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Although they failed to meet with commercial success, they built a small but loyal base of fans.
They are remembered mostly for a quirky vocal style and for a curious campaign Smirks against Travolta, simultaneously a homage and a parody of Rock Against Racism. The Smirks session for the John Peel show was recorded on 19 April 1978 and broadcast a week later.
Their acrimonious dispute with Beserkley Records, for whom they recorded an album that was never released, is also noteworthy and was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 documentary.
Contents |
Smirks against Travolta was only one example of the band's use of parody, though the campaign had a serious side: keeping live music venues alive against the increasing incidence of discos with only recorded music. Their slogan The most fun you can have with your shoes on was a parody of Beserkley's The most fun you can have with your clothes on, while after Beserkley, their choice of Smirksong as a label name was a parody of Led Zeppelin's Swan Song Records, while the DHSS prefix to their own label's release suggested the Government department dealing with the unemployed, as the band no longer had a contract.
Ian Morris and Mike Doherty both played on the demos for the Jilted John single. Ian Morris and Simon Milner later released a single under the pseudonym Captain Mog and Private Sigh. Mike Doherty went on to play for The Freshies. Simon formed The Bernhardts, a predecessor to The Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble, who play 1930's and 1940's Swing and Latin Music. "Mog", now presents a show on ALL FM called Standing in the Shadows of Lev. Neil Fitzpatrick and Simon Milner were part of the group Distant Cousins, who released two albums with Doreen Edwards.
- 1978: 7" single "OK - UK" / "Streets" (Beserkley Records BZZ 17)
- 1978: 7" single "Rosemary"/ "Up Eh Up" (Beserkley Records BZZ 23)
- 1978: 7" EP "American Patriots" / "Angry With Myself" / "Penetration" (Smirksong Records DHSS 01)
- 1979: 7" single "To You" / "New Music" (Smirksong Records DHSS 02)
- 1979: 7" single "Joe And His Mates" / "She's Out Of Love" (unreleased)
- Unreleased album: "Smirkology"