Minny Pops
Encyclopedia
Minny Pops were an Amsterdam-based new wave
/electronic/art punk band, associated with the Ultra
post-punk movement in the Netherlands and the Factory Records
label in the UK.
Vocalist/songwriter/programmer Wally van Middendorp formed the band in 1978, taking their name from a primitive Korg
drum machine, the Mini Pops
.
Minny Pops, which van Middendorp originally intended to be a project lasting just three performances, featured an initial lineup of van Middendorp, bassist Frans Hagenaars, guitarist Peter Mertens, and two dancers, including van Middendorp's older brother, Rob.
The band's first commercially-released recording was the "Kojak" single (b/w "Footsteps" and "Nervous") (Plurex 005), issued in 1979 on Plurex, the independent label founded by van Middendorp in 1978.
Minny Pops' first full-length album, "Drastic Measures, Drastic Movement" (Plurex 900) followed later in 1979.
After opening for Joy Division in Eindhoven and Den Haag in January 1980, they were brought to the attention of Factory Records by Rob Gretton
, Joy Division's manager.
Their first single for Factory, "Dolphin's Spurt"/"Goddess" (FAC 31) was produced by Martin Hannett
and recorded at Strawberry Studios
in Stockport. It reached number 23 in the UK Independent Chart. Further releases for the label included the single "Secret Story"/"Island" (FAC 57), the flexi single "Een Kus" (FACBN 13), the single "Time"/"Lights" (FBN 11) and the full-length album "Sparks in a Dark Room" (FACBN 15), which was released in 1982.
The band made their first live appearance in England at the Beach Club, a Manchester venue associated with Factory. They would go on to share further bills with Joy Division
(and, after Ian Curtis
' death, New Order
), as well as appearing with A Certain Ratio
, Scritti Politti
, the Au Pairs
and Comsat Angels
. In 1980 Minny Pops undertook a seven-date North American tour that saw them play with Suicide
in New York.
In 1980 they would become the first Dutch band to be invited to record a Peel session for BBC Radio. A lineup of van Middendorp, Dekker, van Zoeren and Walhof recorded "Dolphin's Spurt", "Mono", "Jets" and "Ice Cube Wall"; the session was broadcast on 12 November 1980.. Minny Pops' final live performances were in December 1981.
In November 2011, Wally van Middendorp confirmed in an interview with the Dutch national public broadcaster VPRO
's 3Voor12 programme that Minny Pops would perform their first gigs in 30 years in early 2012, and that a live CD/DVD package, "Standstill to Motion", would be released via LTM Recordings in January 2012..
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
/electronic/art punk band, associated with the Ultra
Ultra (music)
Ultra was a Dutch post-punk movement of the early 1980s.In contrast to other countries' post-punk movements, the Dutch version experimented with, among other things, toy instruments, chainsaws and de-tuned guitars...
post-punk movement in the Netherlands and the Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
label in the UK.
Vocalist/songwriter/programmer Wally van Middendorp formed the band in 1978, taking their name from a primitive Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
drum machine, the Mini Pops
Korg Mini Pops
Mini Pops was the name given to a number of early drum machines from the Japanese musical equipment company Korg during the late 1960s and the 1970s. The machines were based around a number of preset rhythm patterns, such as waltz, samba and rhumba....
.
Minny Pops, which van Middendorp originally intended to be a project lasting just three performances, featured an initial lineup of van Middendorp, bassist Frans Hagenaars, guitarist Peter Mertens, and two dancers, including van Middendorp's older brother, Rob.
The band's first commercially-released recording was the "Kojak" single (b/w "Footsteps" and "Nervous") (Plurex 005), issued in 1979 on Plurex, the independent label founded by van Middendorp in 1978.
Minny Pops' first full-length album, "Drastic Measures, Drastic Movement" (Plurex 900) followed later in 1979.
After opening for Joy Division in Eindhoven and Den Haag in January 1980, they were brought to the attention of Factory Records by Rob Gretton
Rob Gretton
Rob Gretton was the manager of Joy Division and New Order. He was also a partner in Factory Records, proprietor of the Rob's Records label and a co-founder along with Tony Wilson of The Haçienda nightclub in Manchester, England. In 1977, Gretton became a leading figure in the Manchester punk...
, Joy Division's manager.
Their first single for Factory, "Dolphin's Spurt"/"Goddess" (FAC 31) was produced by Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
and recorded at Strawberry Studios
Strawberry Studios
-Formation:The facility was originally called Inner City Studios and located above a music store in the town centre. In early 1968 it was bought by Peter Tattersall, a former road manager for Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Tattersall invited Eric Stewart – then lead guitarist and singer of...
in Stockport. It reached number 23 in the UK Independent Chart. Further releases for the label included the single "Secret Story"/"Island" (FAC 57), the flexi single "Een Kus" (FACBN 13), the single "Time"/"Lights" (FBN 11) and the full-length album "Sparks in a Dark Room" (FACBN 15), which was released in 1982.
The band made their first live appearance in England at the Beach Club, a Manchester venue associated with Factory. They would go on to share further bills with Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
(and, after Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
' death, New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
), as well as appearing with A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio are a Post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk"...
, Scritti Politti
Scritti Politti
Scritti Politti are a British band, originally formed in 1977 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Although there have been various changes to the line-up, Cardiff-born singer-songwriter Green Gartside was the founding member of the band and the only member to have remained throughout the group's...
, the Au Pairs
Au Pairs
Au pair or au pairs can refer to:*Au pair, a person who cares for children*Au Pair *Au Pair Girls, a movie*Au Pairs , a musical group...
and Comsat Angels
Comsat Angels
The Comsat Angels were a post-punk band from Sheffield and Doncaster, England, active from 1978 to 1995. Their music has been described as "abstract pop songs with spare instrumentation, many of which were bleak and filled with some form of heartache." They have been credited as being an influence...
. In 1980 Minny Pops undertook a seven-date North American tour that saw them play with Suicide
Suicide (band)
Suicide is an American electronic protopunk musical duo, intermittently active since 1970 and composed of vocalist Alan Vega and Martin Rev on synthesizers and drum machines. They are an early synthesizer/vocal musical duo....
in New York.
In 1980 they would become the first Dutch band to be invited to record a Peel session for BBC Radio. A lineup of van Middendorp, Dekker, van Zoeren and Walhof recorded "Dolphin's Spurt", "Mono", "Jets" and "Ice Cube Wall"; the session was broadcast on 12 November 1980.. Minny Pops' final live performances were in December 1981.
In November 2011, Wally van Middendorp confirmed in an interview with the Dutch national public broadcaster VPRO
VPRO
The VPRO was established in the Netherlands in 1926 as a religious broadcasting organization. Falling under the Protestant pillar, it represented the Liberal Protestant current...
's 3Voor12 programme that Minny Pops would perform their first gigs in 30 years in early 2012, and that a live CD/DVD package, "Standstill to Motion", would be released via LTM Recordings in January 2012..
Albums
- Drastic Measures, Drastic Movement (1979), Plurex; (re-released 2003, LTM 2384, LTM Recordings)
- Sparks in a Dark Room (1982), Factory; (re-released 2003, LTM 2351, LTM Recordings)
- Secret Stories (2003), LTM 2353, LTM Recordings
In English
- Nice, James. Shadowplayers: The Rise and Fall of Factory Records London: Aurum, 2010. ISBN 978-1845135409.
In Dutch
- Rijven, Stan (1987). "Alles wat je echt wilt kun je verwezenlijken: Interview met Wally van Middendorp", in Tachtigers: glimp van een generatie, ed. Boudewijn Klap, Stan Rijven and Paul Rutten (Hilversum: Anthos/Ikon) pp 175–184. ISBN 90-6074-241-9