Mighty Mighty are an indie band formed in Birmingham, England in 1983 by Russell Burton (vocals & bass), Mick Geoghegan (guitar), Pete Geoghegan (Vox organ and guitar), D J Hennessy (drums) and Hugh McGuinness (vocals and harmonica).
Showing influences from Postcard Records bands such as Orange Juice, they came to prominence when featured on the NME's C86 compilation, at around the same time that they released their debut single "Everybody Knows the Monkey". This was soon followed by a 12" single, "Is There Anyone Out There?", before the band signed to Chapter 22 Records, releasing a string of well-received singles and the album Sharks in 1988. With their brand of indie pop giving way to American influenced rock and shoegazing, they split in 1988.
Continuing interest in the band saw the reissue of Sharks in 2000, the release of a compilation album of BBC session tracks in 2001, and two compilations of singles and unreleased tracks in 2000 and 2001. They reformed for the Indietracks music festival in 2009 and released their third album Misheard Love Songs recorded at Muthers in Digbeth, Birmingham in 2019.
Links to Peel[]
In an interview with the Cloudberry Records website on 17th February 2009, Pete Geoghegan praised Peel for helping the band:
"He played Monkey. That was the highlight as far as I was concerned. I remember Russell and I jumping up and down. Recording the sessions was fantastic. He insisted on introducing us on stage once. We still miss him. He can’t be replaced." [1]
In total the band recorded three sessions for John Peel and one for Janice Long.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- 1986 Festive Fifty: Is There Anyone Out There? #44
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1986-03-25. Broadcast: 02 April 1986. Repeated: 15 April 1986
- Throwaway / Is There Anyone Out There? / Ceiling To The Floor / Settle Down
2. Recorded: 1986-08-24. Broadcast: 03 September 1986. Repeated: 24 September 1986
- I Don't Need You Anymore / Little Wonder / One Way / Gemini Smile
3. Recorded: 1987-01-04. Broadcast: 19 January 1987. Repeated: 03 February 1987, 03 March 1987
- I'll Get You Back / I Never Imagined / Yours Truly / Built Like A Car
Other Shows Played[]
- 1986
- 04 March 1986: Everybody Knows The Monkey (7") Girlie
- 08 March 1986 (BFBS): 'Everybody Knows The Monkey (7")' (Girlie)
- 10 March 1986 (BBC World Service): Everybody Knows The Monkey (7") Girlie
- 17 March 1986: Everybody Knows The Monkey (7") Girlie
- 26 March 1986: Everybody Knows The Monkey (7") Girlie
- 31 May 1986 (BFBS): Law (single - One Way) Chapter 22
- 30 July 1986: Man Or Boy (12" - Is There Anyone Out There?) Girlie
- 06 August 1986: Let's Call It Love (12" - Is There Anyone Out There?) Girlie
- 07 August 1986 (BFBS): 'Man Or Boy (12"-Is There Anyone Out There?)' (Girlie)
- 13 August 1986: Man Or Boy (12" - Is There Anyone Out There?) Girlie
- 15 December 1986: Throwaway (7") Chapter 22
- 17 December 1986: Throwaway (v/a EP - Are You Scared To Get Happy Magazine Issue #3) Sha La La Flexis
- 18 December 1986 (Andy Kershaw): Throwaway (12") Chapter 22
- 22 December 1986: 'Is There Anyone Out There? (7 inch)' (Girlie) FF #44
- 28 December 1986 (BFBS): 'Throwaway (7")' (Chapter 22)
- 1987
- 02 January 1987 (BFBS): 'Throwaway (7")' (Chapter 22)
- 05 January 1987: Throwaway (7") Chapter 22
- 13 January 1987: Throwaway (7") Chapter 22
- 21 January 1987: Throwaway (7") Chapter 22
- 13 May 1987: Built Like A Car (7") Chapter 22
- 11 November 1987: I Never Imagined (12" - One Way) Chapter 22
- 13 November 1987 (BBC World Service): I Never Imagined (12" - One Way) Chapter 22
- 1988
- 18 January 1988: Maisonette (single) Chapter 22
- 27 January 1988: Positively Sesame Street (12" - Maisonette) Chapter 22
- 14 March 1988: Michael Says Not (album - Sharks) Chapter 22 CHAP LP 24
- 05 April 1988: Maisonette (album - Sharks) Chapter 22 CHAP LP 24