Fat Tulips
Encyclopedia
Fat Tulips were an indie pop
band from Nottingham
, England
who released one album, on the Vinyl Japan label, and over 10 singles on the band's own Heaven Records and others.
by Mark D
. Their first release was a flexi disc
called You Opened Up My Eyes and featured Sarah C. on vocals. Sarah quickly left the band, supposedly to pursue a career designing crop circles in Peru.
Mark then recruited new members consisting of Katie Keen on vocals, cat lover Paul Huckerby on bass, Shelagh Clarkson on guitar and floppy haired, pig van driver Matthew Johnson on drums.
Soon after the release of their single Where's Clare Grogan Now (played by John Peel
), Katie left the band and Sheggi became the new singer.
Subsequent releases, including the EP Four Songs for Simon, Ferensway and The Tulip Explodes, led to a multi-pound recording contract with the fab, London based Vinyl Japan label, home and future home of BMX Bandits
, the McCluskey Bros, and Thee Headcoats
.
The first of their Vinyl Japan output was an EP entitled Nostalgia and was recorded by Ken McPherson at his studio in Burton upon Trent
. A tour of Germany supporting Throw That Beat in the Garbagecan soon followed.
The band's debut album, Starfish, also recorded by Ken McPherson, came out in 1994 and was followed by two more singles, New Spring Rites for Sarah and Driving Me Wild before the band called it a day.
was started by the Fat Tulips in 1990
to release their own debut 7" single "Where's Clare Grogan
Now?", the bands homage to the singer in Altered Images
.
The label is co-owned by guitarist / songwriter Mark D
of the Fat Tulips, Confetti
and Fat Tulips drummer Matthew Johnson. Heaven is based in Burton Joyce
, Nottingham
.
The label went on to release 7" singles by other bands including The Melons
, Vicarage Garden, Confetti
, Strawberry Story, Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can, The Golden Dawn, Velocity Girl
, Unisex, The Rosehips, and Girl of the World.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band from Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
who released one album, on the Vinyl Japan label, and over 10 singles on the band's own Heaven Records and others.
History
The Fat Tulips were formed in the late 1980s in PeterboroughPeterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
by Mark D
Mark D
Mark D, born Mark Randall, is a British artist and punk musician . He is also associated with the Stuckist group of artists.-Life and work:Mark D was born and spent his childhood in Peterborough. He now lives in Nottingham...
. Their first release was a flexi disc
Flexi disc
The flexi disc is a phonograph record made of a thin, flexible vinyl sheet with a molded-in spiral stylus groove, and is designed to be playable on a normal phonograph turntable...
called You Opened Up My Eyes and featured Sarah C. on vocals. Sarah quickly left the band, supposedly to pursue a career designing crop circles in Peru.
Mark then recruited new members consisting of Katie Keen on vocals, cat lover Paul Huckerby on bass, Shelagh Clarkson on guitar and floppy haired, pig van driver Matthew Johnson on drums.
Soon after the release of their single Where's Clare Grogan Now (played by John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
), Katie left the band and Sheggi became the new singer.
Subsequent releases, including the EP Four Songs for Simon, Ferensway and The Tulip Explodes, led to a multi-pound recording contract with the fab, London based Vinyl Japan label, home and future home of BMX Bandits
BMX Bandits (band)
BMX Bandits are a Scottish 1960s-influenced guitar pop band who have been making music from 1986 to the present day. They have shared members with other Bellshill bands Teenage Fanclub and The Soup Dragons....
, the McCluskey Bros, and Thee Headcoats
Thee Headcoats
Thee Headcoats 1989 - 2000, was a band comprising Billy Childish, Bruce Brand, and Johnny Johnson. Childish was featured on guitar and vocals, Brand on drums and backing vocals, and Johnson on bass. The band was the most prolific of Childish's many musical projects, releasing fourteen full...
.
The first of their Vinyl Japan output was an EP entitled Nostalgia and was recorded by Ken McPherson at his studio in Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
. A tour of Germany supporting Throw That Beat in the Garbagecan soon followed.
The band's debut album, Starfish, also recorded by Ken McPherson, came out in 1994 and was followed by two more singles, New Spring Rites for Sarah and Driving Me Wild before the band called it a day.
Heaven Records
The Heaven Records record labelRecord label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
was started by the Fat Tulips in 1990
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
to release their own debut 7" single "Where's Clare Grogan
Clare Grogan
Clare Grogan is a Scottish actress and singer. She is sometimes credited as C. P. Grogan.-Early life:...
Now?", the bands homage to the singer in Altered Images
Altered Images
Altered Images were an early 1980s Scottish New Wave / post-punk band. Led by lead singer Clare Grogan, the band branched into mainstream pop music, and had a string of chart hits between 1981 and 1983.-Early career:...
.
The label is co-owned by guitarist / songwriter Mark D
Mark D
Mark D, born Mark Randall, is a British artist and punk musician . He is also associated with the Stuckist group of artists.-Life and work:Mark D was born and spent his childhood in Peterborough. He now lives in Nottingham...
of the Fat Tulips, Confetti
Confetti (band)
Confetti were a British band during the early 1990s.The line-up was "Virginia Aeroplane" and "David", whose real name was Mark Randall. Randall was also known as Mark D of the Fat Tulips and Mark Randyhead of The Pleasureheads; he performed as well in other bands in Peterborough and...
and Fat Tulips drummer Matthew Johnson. Heaven is based in Burton Joyce
Burton Joyce
Burton Joyce is a large village and civil parish in the Gedling district of Nottinghamshire, England. It has a population of 4,000 and acts mainly as a commuter village for Nottingham....
, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
The label went on to release 7" singles by other bands including The Melons
The Melons
The Melons were an indie pop band formed in Nottingham, England in 1993, by Helen Melon and Shelly Melon , aka: Vanessa and Sheggi, Nottingham music scene veterans....
, Vicarage Garden, Confetti
Confetti (band)
Confetti were a British band during the early 1990s.The line-up was "Virginia Aeroplane" and "David", whose real name was Mark Randall. Randall was also known as Mark D of the Fat Tulips and Mark Randyhead of The Pleasureheads; he performed as well in other bands in Peterborough and...
, Strawberry Story, Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can, The Golden Dawn, Velocity Girl
Velocity Girl
Velocity Girl was an American indie rock band formed in 1989 in College Park, Maryland, although it was generally known as a Washington, DC-area band...
, Unisex, The Rosehips, and Girl of the World.
Albums and EPs
- Early Years EP (1987) 7" EP
- Four Songs for Simon (1990) 7" EP
- Ferensway (1991) 7" EP
- The Tulip Explodes (1991) 7" EP
- Take Me Back to Heaven (1991) 7" EP
- Nostalgia (1992) 7" EP
- Albie (1992) 7"
- Driving Me Wild (1994) 7"/CD
- Starfish LP/CD
Singles, compilations, etc.
- Sweet William (1989) split flexi w/The Rosehips
- Where's Clare Grogan Now (1989) 7" single
- El Dorado (1990) compilation album w/various artists
- 4 Bands 4 Songs (1990) split flexi w/The Applicants, The Haywains, Paintbox
- The Way Things Are (1991) flexi
- The Waaaaah! CD (1991) compilation album w/various artists
- Heaven (1992) split flexi w/Confetti
- New Spring Rites for Sarah (1994) 7" single