Stump (band)
Encyclopedia
Stump were an Anglo-Irish indie/experimental/rock group featuring former Microdisney
members Mick Lynch (vocals) and Rob McKahey (drums), along with Kev Hopper
(bass) and Chris Salmon (guitar). They formed in London in 1983. The original vocalist was Nick Hobbs, who left early on to form The Shrubs
.
Their first release was a four track EP Mud on a Colon issued in 1986 through the Ron Johnson
record label. This was followed by a self released mini album Quirk Out produced by Hugh Jones which included their cult hit "Buffalo". "Buffalo" appeared on NME
's influential C86
compilation and a video was made by Channel 4
which was shown on The Tube
. Continuous UK touring, regular coverage in the UK music press - including cover features in both the NME and Melody Maker
, and a return to The Tube for a memorable live performance of "Tupperware Stripper", ensured that Quirk Out stayed in the UK Indie Chart
s for 26 weeks, peaking at number 2. A session for the John Peel
radio show recorded in February 1986 was released as a Peel Session EP
on Strange Fruit Records
in 1987. Following these successes the band were signed to Ensign Records
.
Their only full-length release, A Fierce Pancake (named after a term meaning 'deep conundrum' in 'The Third Policeman
' by Flann O'Brien
) released in 1988 was recorded in Berlin and London produced by Holger Hiller
with assistance from Stephen Street
and was mixed by Hugh Jones after an unsuccessful session with US producer John Robie
. The recording process was, however, often fraught with arguments amongst the band as to the sound and direction of the album http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kevin.hopper1/Stump.html. However, the group were pleased with the finished results and three singles were released from the album: "Chaos", "Charlton Heston" (which reached number 72 in the UK singles charts in August 1988 and therefore became their only national chart success) and a re-released "Buffalo" (the latter only featuring on the US edition of the album). The album did not bring the crossover success the label had hoped for and, after recording a few b-sides and some demos, a demoralised group split at the end of the year.
Stump's persistent and growing cult following prompted the release of A Fierce Pancake on iTunes; Hopper had previously reported on his website that their entire catalogue had been out of print since 1990. The "Pancake" download prompted the release of a 3-CD set containing Mud on a Colon, Quirk Out and A Fierce Pancake as well as the group's post-"Pancake" b-sides and demos and their compilation appearance, "Big End". This was released by Sanctuary Records
in 2008 under the title The Complete Anthology.
Microdisney
Microdisney was an Irish musical duo, formed in 1980 by Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan .-Original line-up:*Vocals: Cathal Coughlan*Guitar: Sean O'Hagan*Keyboards: Nick Montgomery*Bass: Jon Fell...
members Mick Lynch (vocals) and Rob McKahey (drums), along with Kev Hopper
Kev Hopper
Kev Hopper is primarily known as the bass guitarist with the 1980s band Stump, but it is more accurate to define him as a composer and multi-instrumentalist playing Musical Saw, guitar and samplers....
(bass) and Chris Salmon (guitar). They formed in London in 1983. The original vocalist was Nick Hobbs, who left early on to form The Shrubs
Shrubs (band)
The Shrubs were an English rock music group, formed in Watford in 1985, releasing three albums before splitting up in 1989.-History:Future Shrubs singer Nick Hobbs had previously managed Henry Cow and after living in Stockholm for a year joined Swedish band Kraeldjursanstalten. When that band split...
.
Their first release was a four track EP Mud on a Colon issued in 1986 through the Ron Johnson
Ron Johnson Records
Ron Johnson Records was an UK independent record label based in Long Eaton operating between 1983 and 1988. The label contributed five tracks to the NME's C86 compilation. Run by Dave Parsons, the label released records by artists such as Big Flame, The Shrubs, A Witness, The Great Leap Forward,...
record label. This was followed by a self released mini album Quirk Out produced by Hugh Jones which included their cult hit "Buffalo". "Buffalo" appeared on NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
's influential C86
C86 (music)
C86 is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine NME in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, although other...
compilation and a video was made by Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
which was shown on The Tube
The Tube (TV series)
The Tube was an innovative United Kingdom pop/rock music television programme, which ran for five seasons, from 5 November 1982 until 1987...
. Continuous UK touring, regular coverage in the UK music press - including cover features in both the NME and Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
, and a return to The Tube for a memorable live performance of "Tupperware Stripper", ensured that Quirk Out stayed in the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
s for 26 weeks, peaking at number 2. A session for the 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...
radio show recorded in February 1986 was released as a Peel Session EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
on Strange Fruit Records
Strange Fruit Records
Strange Fruit Records was an independent record label in the United Kingdom.The label, established by Clive Selwood and John Peel in 1986, was the primary distributor of BBC recordings, including Peel Sessions....
in 1987. Following these successes the band were signed to Ensign Records
Ensign Records
Ensign Records was started in 1976 by Nigel Grainge, as an independent Phonogram subsidiary.-History:Grainge had been the head of A&R at Phonogram in London for the previous two years and directly signed Thin Lizzy, 10cc, The Steve Miller Band, and a worldwide license for the successful All...
.
Their only full-length release, A Fierce Pancake (named after a term meaning 'deep conundrum' in 'The Third Policeman
The Third Policeman
The Third Policeman is a novel by Irish author Brian O'Nolan, writing under the pseudonym Flann O'Brien. It was written between 1939 and 1940, but after it initially failed to find a publisher, the author withdrew the manuscript from circulation and claimed he had lost it. The book remained...
' by Flann O'Brien
Flann O'Brien
Brian O'Nolan was an Irish novelist, playwright and satirist regarded as a key figure in postmodern literature. Best known for novels such as At Swim-Two-Birds, The Third Policeman and An Béal Bocht and many satirical columns in The Irish Times Brian O'Nolan (5 October 1911 – 1 April 1966) was...
) released in 1988 was recorded in Berlin and London produced by Holger Hiller
Holger Hiller
Holger Hiller is a German musician.Holger Hiller studied art at the art school in Hamburg, where he met Walter Thielsch and Thomas Fehlmann and recorded first works with them. With Fehlmann he later founded the band Palais Schaumburg in 1980, of which he was the singer. At the same time his solo...
with assistance from Stephen Street
Stephen Street
Stephen Street is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths in the 1980s, as well as Blur and The Cranberries in the 1990s. Street also collaborated with Morrissey on some of his most popular work after The Smiths broke up, playing instruments and co-writing songs...
and was mixed by Hugh Jones after an unsuccessful session with US producer John Robie
John Robie
John Robie is an American musician and record producer, widely credited as the driving force behind many of the most successful songs from the early 80's electro boom and is best known for his work with the New York record producer Arthur Baker.-Early years:...
. The recording process was, however, often fraught with arguments amongst the band as to the sound and direction of the album http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kevin.hopper1/Stump.html. However, the group were pleased with the finished results and three singles were released from the album: "Chaos", "Charlton Heston" (which reached number 72 in the UK singles charts in August 1988 and therefore became their only national chart success) and a re-released "Buffalo" (the latter only featuring on the US edition of the album). The album did not bring the crossover success the label had hoped for and, after recording a few b-sides and some demos, a demoralised group split at the end of the year.
Stump's persistent and growing cult following prompted the release of A Fierce Pancake on iTunes; Hopper had previously reported on his website that their entire catalogue had been out of print since 1990. The "Pancake" download prompted the release of a 3-CD set containing Mud on a Colon, Quirk Out and A Fierce Pancake as well as the group's post-"Pancake" b-sides and demos and their compilation appearance, "Big End". This was released by Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
in 2008 under the title The Complete Anthology.
Albums
- Quirk Out (1986), Stuff (UK Indie #2) - mini-LPMini-LPA Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
- A Fierce Pancake (1988), EnsignEnsign RecordsEnsign Records was started in 1976 by Nigel Grainge, as an independent Phonogram subsidiary.-History:Grainge had been the head of A&R at Phonogram in London for the previous two years and directly signed Thin Lizzy, 10cc, The Steve Miller Band, and a worldwide license for the successful All...
Singles/EPs
- Mud on a Colon EP (1986), Ron JohnsonRon Johnson RecordsRon Johnson Records was an UK independent record label based in Long Eaton operating between 1983 and 1988. The label contributed five tracks to the NME's C86 compilation. Run by Dave Parsons, the label released records by artists such as Big Flame, The Shrubs, A Witness, The Great Leap Forward,...
(UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#39) - The Peel Sessions EP (1987), Strange FruitStrange Fruit RecordsStrange Fruit Records was an independent record label in the United Kingdom.The label, established by Clive Selwood and John Peel in 1986, was the primary distributor of BBC recordings, including Peel Sessions....
(UK Indie #13) - "Chaos" (1988), EnsignEnsign RecordsEnsign Records was started in 1976 by Nigel Grainge, as an independent Phonogram subsidiary.-History:Grainge had been the head of A&R at Phonogram in London for the previous two years and directly signed Thin Lizzy, 10cc, The Steve Miller Band, and a worldwide license for the successful All...
- "Charlton Heston", (1988) Ensign (UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#72) - "Buffalo" (1988), Ensign
Members
- Mick Lynch - Vocals
- Kev HopperKev HopperKev Hopper is primarily known as the bass guitarist with the 1980s band Stump, but it is more accurate to define him as a composer and multi-instrumentalist playing Musical Saw, guitar and samplers....
- Bass - Chris Salmon - Guitar
- Rob McKahey - Drums
External links
- Kev Hopper's "Stump Story" gives a comprehensive history of the band included pictures and press cuttings - this effectively formed the sleeve note to "The Complete Anthology" and, in addition, details the group's personal reunion of 2006.