The Mock Turtles are an English indie‑rock band formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 1985. They emerged from the local act Judge Happiness and became associated with the Madchester and “baggy” scenes of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Genre and Style
The group’s music blends indie rock with elements of Madchester, baggy, and 1970s glam‑rock influences.
Years active
1985 – present (with periods of reduced activity).
Record labels
Imaginary Records, Siren Records, Virgin Records.
Band members
- Martin Coogan – vocals, guitar, percussion (founding member; older brother of comedian Steve Coogan)
- Martin Glyn Murray – guitar
- Andrew Stewardson – bass, viola, guitar (joined 1989)
- Joanne Gent – keyboards, cello, guitar (joined 1989)
- Steve Barnard – drums (joined 1993)
Former members include Steve Cowen (drums, 1985–1993), Steve Green (bass, 1985–1989), and Krzysztof Korab (keyboards, 1985–1989).
Key releases and commercial success
- Turtle Soup (1990) – debut album released on Imaginary Records.
- “Can You Dig It?” – originally a B‑side to “Lay Me Down”, re‑issued by Siren Records in 1991. The single reached No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart and became the band’s most widely recognized track.
- A remixed version of “Can You Dig It?” (produced by Norman Cook/Fatboy Slim) was released in 2003, reaching No. 19 on the UK chart after the song was used in a Vodafone advertising campaign.
- Follow‑up single “And Then She Smiles” peaked at No. 44 in the UK.
Later activity
After being dropped by their label in the mid‑1990s, members briefly performed as the group Ugli. The band experienced a resurgence when “Can You Dig It?” was featured in television and advertising, leading to a greatest‑hits compilation in 2003. The track “And Then She Smiles” later served as the theme for the Sky1 programme Stella.
Discography (selected)
- Turtle Soup (1990) – Imaginary Records
- 87–90 (1991) – Imaginary Records (compilation)
- Two Sides (1991) – Siren Records
- Can You Dig It – The Best of the Mock Turtles (2003) – Virgin Records
Cultural impact
The Mock Turtles are noted for their contribution to the early‑1990s British indie scene and for the enduring popularity of “Can You Dig It?”, which continues to receive airplay and has been used in various media contexts.
References
Information compiled from the Wikipedia entry “The Mock Turtles” (accessed via a public mirror).