Michael Algar
Encyclopedia
Michael "Olga" Algar in Marsden, South Shields, is an English guitarist, singer 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
UK most of his life before moving to Tokyo, Japan in 2000. Olga then moved to central London UK in 2002 where he has lived since.
, Fat Bob's Feet
, Idle Gossip
and Anniversary Anthems
. 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. This was followed by the album A Far Out Disc
reaching number 71 in the UK Album charts.
and in 2010 was executive engineer on the album Crash & Burn by North East UK punk band, Crashed Out.
The latest production from Olga is the single "CREDIT CRUNCH CHRISTMAS" by The Toy Dolls, taken from the forthcoming album "THE ALBUM AFTER THE LAST ONE" March 2012. http://www.thetoydolls.com
His music has also been used on the soundtracks of Hollywood movies, including Haggard: The Movie
, Free Jimmy
and video games such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
.
Olga also wrote the theme and incidental music for long running Networked TV Rock/Pop show Razzmatazz
and the theme music for Comedian Dave Gorman
's Googlewhack Adventure DVD
describes Olga as being a guitar hero "capable of jaw-droppingly fast guitar picking".
On a live note, besides playing lead/rhythm guitar with The Toy Dolls, Olga has toured Europe, Japan and The USA as bass player with Californian punk band The Dickies
, and features on their Live DVD An Evening with the Dickies recorded at The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth UK July 2002 He also played bass on a string of US shows with The Adicts
Fans of Ginger from the Wildhearts, were treated to a guest appearance of Olga on guitar at Ginger's birthday show at the Garage, London December 17, 2009
He has been a special guest guitarist on a number of artists recordings including the tracks "Can't Drink You Pretty" from the Yoni
by Ginger from Wildhearts "Aint Just Talkin bout Love" from The G7 album by German band Gigantor "Keepin on Keepin on" from the album Uppers and Downers by The Yo-Yos
, Japanese band Seventh Tarz Armstrong's album entitled The Tokyo City Big Nights, the track "Walk of Shame" from the album Poets on Payday by Norfolk Punk band Vanilla Pod
, Japan based punk band Duncans Divas' album Up and at 'em, and on Peter and the Test Tube Babies
album A Foot Full Of Bullets on lead vocals on the song "Smiling Through The Tears".
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. Another charity record that Olga appeared on was the album Guitarists 4 the Kids, released in 2006.
The Toy Dolls official Facebook *http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Toy-Dolls-Official/270918869608149?sk=wall
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
UK most of his life before moving to Tokyo, Japan in 2000. Olga then moved to central London UK in 2002 where he has lived since.
Musical career
Michael Algar, 'Olga', began playing guitar as a teenager, and had started songwriting/composing by the age of 17. He played in various local bands including Straw Dogs and The Showbiz Kids before forming The Toy Dolls in October 1979. Over their 31 year existence The Toy Dolls have toured the world extensively and released numerous albums and singles. Olga has written all the bands albums which include such titles as Absurd-DittiesAbsurd-Ditties
Absurd-Ditties is a full-length album by the Punk band Toy Dolls.-Track listing:# "Absurd-Ditties" – 0:44# "I'm a Telly Addict" – 2:48# ""Terry Talking"" – 2:35# "Ernie Had a Hernia" – 3:17# "Toccata in Dm" – 2:37...
, Fat Bob's Feet
Fat Bob's Feet
Fat Bob's Feet is a full-length album by the Punk band Toy Dolls. It is one of the more popular pieces recorded by the band and included such punk favourites as Bitten by a Bed Bug, The Sphinx Stinks and bonus single A-side Turtles Crazy! that wasn't included in original album tracklist...
, Idle Gossip
Idle Gossip
-Track listing:# "Idle Gossip" – 2:33# "Do You Wanna Be Like Dougy Bell" – 2:39# "The Lambrusco Kid" – 3:28# "You Won't Be Merry On A North Sea Ferry" – 3:09# "Harry Cross " – 3:44...
and Anniversary Anthems
Anniversary Anthems
Anniversary Anthems is a studio album by the English Punk rock band Toy Dolls, recorded in 2000.- Track listing :All compositions by Michael Algar except where noted# "The Anniversary Waltz" – 1:13# "My Baby Is A Battleaxe" – 2:43...
. Following the debut album Dig That Groove Baby
Dig That Groove Baby
Dig That Groove Baby is the first full-length album by the Punk band Toy Dolls. Still it is considered by many fans as the best work by the band and contains the handful of future live staples, such as Nellie the Elephant and Firey Jack....
, the band had a top 10 single in the UK in 1984, "Nellie the Elephant
Nellie the Elephant
Nellie the Elephant is a song written in 1956 by Ralph Butler and Peter Hart about a fictional intelligent elephant of the same name.-Original version:...
", reaching number 4 in the UK charts. This was followed by the album A Far Out Disc
A Far Out Disc
A Far Out Disc is a full-length album by the punk band Toy Dolls.-Track listing:Source: Official Site-Personnel:* Michael "Olga" Algar – Vocals, Guitar* Pete "Zulu" Robson – Bass, Vocals* Paul "Little" Smith – Drums, Vocals...
reaching number 71 in the UK Album charts.
Production
Olga has produced most of The Toy Dolls albums 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 The albums Toy Doll and Tori Ningen by Japanese punk band Lolita No.18Lolita No.18
Lolita No.18 is a Japanese all-girl punk rock band formed in 1989, known for their cartoony, high-pitched vocals.-Members:*Masayo Ishizaka - vocals *Takochi - bass *Tacchamen - guitar...
and in 2010 was executive engineer on the album Crash & Burn by North East UK punk band, Crashed Out.
The latest production from Olga is the single "CREDIT CRUNCH CHRISTMAS" by The Toy Dolls, taken from the forthcoming album "THE ALBUM AFTER THE LAST ONE" March 2012. http://www.thetoydolls.com
TV/film soundtracks
Olga's other claims to fame are providing the music for various TV Commercials, including Ready Brek (UK) and Badoit mineral water (France) and Crazy Grape Pepsi Cola (Russia).His music has also been used on the soundtracks of Hollywood movies, including Haggard: The Movie
Haggard: The Movie
Haggard: The Movie is a 2003 American independent comedy film based on the true story of how reality television personality Ryan Dunn's promiscuous girlfriend cheated on him. The film was financed, directed and produced by Bam Margera.- Plot :...
, Free Jimmy
Free Jimmy
Free Jimmy is a Norwegian/British computer animated feature film first released in Norwegian language in 2006, and later in English language in 2008. The film was written and directed by acclaimed Norwegian subculture comic book artist Christopher Nielsen...
and video games such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
-External links:* on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine...
.
Olga also wrote the theme and incidental music for long running Networked TV Rock/Pop show Razzmatazz
Razzmatazz
Razzmatazz may refer to:* "Razzmatazz" , by Pulp* "Razzamatazz", a song by Quincy Jones from The Dude* Razzmatazz , an Indian dance reality show...
and the theme music for Comedian Dave Gorman
Dave Gorman
David James Gorman is an English author, stand-up comedian and presenter. He has performed comedy shows on stage in which he tells stories of extreme adventures and presents the evidence to the audience in order to prove to them that they are true stories...
's Googlewhack Adventure DVD
Guitar playing
Olga plays a yellow Fender Telecaster with a Seymour Duncan bridge pick up, he is recognized as a virtuoso guitar player and in 2007 was voted number 1 Punk Guitarist in the international Punk Polls he was even quoted as being the best guitarist on the planet in The Guitar Magazine and the All Music GuideAll Music Guide
Allmusic is a service of music guide, owned by All Media Guide. Allmusic was founded in 1991 by popular-culture archivist Michael Erlewine as a guide for consumers. Its first reference book was published the following year...
describes Olga as being a guitar hero "capable of jaw-droppingly fast guitar picking".
On a live note, besides playing lead/rhythm guitar with The Toy Dolls, Olga has toured Europe, Japan and The USA as bass player with Californian punk band The Dickies
The Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock group formed in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S. in 1977.-History:The Dickies were among the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles...
, and features on their Live DVD An Evening with the Dickies recorded at The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth UK July 2002 He also played bass on a string of US shows with The Adicts
The Adicts
The Adicts are an English punk band from Ipswich, Suffolk, England. One of the more popular punk rock bands in the 1980s, they were often in the indie charts at that time. Their song "Viva La Revolution" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground. It was also featured in a commercial...
Fans of Ginger from the Wildhearts, were treated to a guest appearance of Olga on guitar at Ginger's birthday show at the Garage, London December 17, 2009
He has been a special guest guitarist on a number of artists recordings including the tracks "Can't Drink You Pretty" from the Yoni
Yoni (album)
Yoni is the second solo album to be released by Ginger, main driving force of rock band The Wildhearts. It was released on January 22 2007 and features 12 tracks...
by Ginger from Wildhearts "Aint Just Talkin bout Love" from The G7 album by German band Gigantor "Keepin on Keepin on" from the album Uppers and Downers by The Yo-Yos
The Yo-Yos
The Yo-Yos were a rock n'roll band, formed in 1998 by ex- The Wildhearts bassist, Danny McCormack and singer / guitarist Tom Spencer after the two met at a Toy Dolls recording session...
, Japanese band Seventh Tarz Armstrong's album entitled The Tokyo City Big Nights, the track "Walk of Shame" from the album Poets on Payday by Norfolk Punk band Vanilla Pod
Vanilla Pod
Vanilla Pod are a melodic punk rock band, originally formed in King's Lynn, Norfolk in 1995.-History:Vanilla Pod were originally formed in February 1995 in King's Lynn, Norfolk with original vocalist Paul Davis. Having recorded their initial demo, Paul left the band to be replaced by then-15 year...
, Japan based punk band Duncans Divas' album Up and at 'em, and on Peter and the Test Tube Babies
Peter and the Test Tube Babies
Peter and the Test Tube Babies are a punk rock band that was formed in the small town of Peacehaven, England in 1978 by Del Strangefish and Peter Bywaters. Due to their humorous tongue-in-cheek lyrics, they have been considered part of the Punk Pathetique subgenre...
album A Foot Full Of Bullets on lead vocals on the song "Smiling Through The Tears".
Olga also appeared on lead vocals alongside Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
from (AC/DC) and John Miles
John Miles (musician)
John Miles is an English rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, best known for his 1976 Top 3 UK hit single, "Music".-Career:...
, on the Geordie Aid single "Try Giving Everything" in 1985, for charity relating to Ethiopia. Another charity record that Olga appeared on was the album Guitarists 4 the Kids, released in 2006.
External links
The Toy Dolls official Facebook *http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Toy-Dolls-Official/270918869608149?sk=wall