Biography
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Years Active
1984 – 1995 (11 years)
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Founded In
Chatham, Medway, England, United Kingdom
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Members
- Alun Jones
- Ian Greensmith
- Mark Matthews
- Michael Murphy
- Robert Collins
The Dentists were an indie/pop band from the Medway towns in England who were active from 1984 to 1995. The band's permanent members were Mick Murphy (lead vocals), Bob Collins (guitar) and Mark Matthews (bass). The band also had three different drummers: Ian Smith (1984-1986), Alun Jones (1986-1991) and Rob Grigg (1991-1995). All members participated in writing songs.
The band's members met at school in the early 1980s and began playing gigs in the area around Strood and Rochester. Their first single, 'Strawberries are Growing in My Garden (and It's Wintertime),' was quickly followed by the album Some People are on the Pitch They Think It's All Over It Is Now (a reference to Kenneth Wolstenholme's famous commentary at the end of the 1966 World Cup). The record was produced by Allan Crockford of fellow Medway band The Prisoners. In 1986 the band toured Europe and were consequently signed by the Belgian label Antler Records, which released a series of singles and EPs over the next five years.
A 1986 reissue of 'Strawberries …' received radio play from John Peel and Andy Kershaw and was named 'runner-up Single of the Week' by Smash Hits magazine; it reached the Top 40 indie charts. The following year, the band recorded a radio session for Janice Long.
In 1991, the band's second album, Heads and How to Read Them, was released on Antler. It attracted an underground following in the United States, and two American fans arranged for the band to play the 1991 College Music Journal festival. Shortly afterward, the Dentists were signed by the American label Homestead Records, which released the compilation Dressed (1992) and the album Powdered Lobster Fiasco (1993).
In 1992, the Dentists released three seven-inch singles – 'See No Evil,' 'Hear No Evil' and 'Speak No Evil' – simultaneously on three different record labels. Each single consisted of two songs by the band and an eponymous poem by John Hegley, read by the poet.
Powdered Lobster Fiasco finally attracted the attention of a major label, and the band signed to Eastwest Records in 1994. Their first album for Eastwest, Behind the Door I Keep the Universe, was followed by a six-week tour of the U.S. supporting Shonen Knife. However, after a second album, Deep Six, failed to sell, Eastwest dropped the band. Collins left the band shortly afterward, and the other members went on to form a new band, Coax.
Some People are on the Pitch They Think It's All Over It Is Now was re-released on CD in 2005 by Rev-Ola Records, a subsidiary of Cherry Red.
Lida Husik covered 'Strawberries are Growing in My Garden (and It's Wintertime)' on her 1995 album Joyride.
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