Mighty Mighty was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1986 by Hugh Harkin (vocals, harmonica), Mick Geoghegan (guitar), Peter Geoghegan (organ, guitar), Russell Burton (bass), and David Hennessey (drums). They made their debut at the NME/ICA Rock Week concerts and were even included on a C-86 cassette compilation. Mighty Mighty released their first single, “Everybody Knows the Monkey,” in 1986. Often compared to Orange Juice, Mighty Mighty only recorded one LP, 1988’s Sharks, before splitting up. The band’s jangly singles and B-sides were collected on The Girlie Years, the title referring to the name of the group’s own label. Vinyl Japan also released Mighty Mighty’s BBC sessions in 2001.
01. How did Mighty Mighty come into existence?
My brother Mick had a band called Domestos. He played bass and Hugh joined playing percussion and backing vocals. This was early 1980’s. When Domestos split, Mick and Hugh stayed together, bound by a vision to write great pop songs. The line-up took a little while to come together but Mighty Mighty played their first gig in late ’83. I joined in 1985. The keyboard/sax player left for university. I knew Mick was looking for another keyboard player, something to flesh out the sound and not become just another guitar band. I’d been playing guitar for a few years but I could play a little piano too. I said “If I buy a keyboard, can I join the band?” He said yes.
02. What was Birmingham like to grow up in, and is where you come from reflected in the music and lyrics of Mighty Mighty?
Birmingham was a great place to grow up. It seems a lot bigger when I go back to visit now but I guess it is. As a kid your world is a small place. Mick writes from experience and observation so the city is in there. There are no blatant references to places but that gives the songs universal appeal. It’s just that they inhabit quite a small universe. It is expanding though. If C86 was the big bang then our light is still travelling out. We just travel at a slightly different speed of light. If you want Birmingham in song then try Stephen Duffy. He does it really well.
03. What was the music scene like in Birmingham in the 1980s?
It was good. Historically, it never had an explosive scene like the Mersey sound and it is somewhat overlooked but I think it’s been consistently strong. We were watching and playing with bands like The Au Pairs, The Nightingales, The Sea Urchins, Napalm Death, Bogshed, Dogfood, The Atom Spies, Rumblefish. No two bands were alike. I was saying to Russell the other day that it’s almost as though Birmingham wasn’t big enough for two bands of the same genre. What unifies them all is the brummie self-deprecating humour. Maybe it’s a second city mentality. We know we’re underdogs but there’s no chip on the shoulder. For the indie and unsigned bands back in the 80’s, Dave Travis was central to what was going on. He seemed to promote every other gig we played or went to. He really championed the talent in the city. He was tireless. A great guy.
04. What inspired you to be in a band in the first place?
It was my brother. He brought a guitar into the house and said he was going to learn to play and start a band. He started pretty late really. I think maybe he was 20. It was punk that inspired him. We’re not a musical family but I have three older brothers and there were new records coming into the house all the time. Zepplin, Dylan, Neil Young, Procol Harum, The Who, The Ramones, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Stevie Wonder, Springsteen.
05. What music are you currently listening to?
I love Nada Surf. I’ve got my ticket to see Matthew play in October. Can’t wait. He’s a great songwriter and they’re such a good band. 6 Music is on in the house much of the time so I get to hear new stuff. Unknown Mortal Orchestra are great. I don’t use Spotify or anything like that. I’m still very much rooted in the 20th century. Dylan, early R.E.M, Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time, Townes Van Zandt, Bonnie Prince Billy, Elliott Smith, The Go-Betweens, The Flaming Lips. There’s a lot of soul, funk and jazz in our house too. And lots and lots of Steely Dan.
06. What do you consider to be your favourite album of all time?
Harvest by Neil Young. I remember when Mick bought it back in the 70’s. I fell in love with it straight away. Everything about it. The mix of acoustic, electric and orchestral. It’s perfect and seems so natural. You really need it on vinyl too. The sleeve is beautiful. You pick it up and it’s warm and golden.
07. Who were your musical heroes when Mighty Mighty was formed?
I think I’ve mentioned some of them already. The Smiths, R.E.M. The Bunnymen, The Doors, Dylan. A lot of the stuff I listened to back then was from the 60’s. American garage punk. When I was still at school I used to go to The Outrigger to arguably the best Mod night in the country. Nothing after 1969 was played. When I left school at 16 I became a regular at Sensateria which was an amazing 60’s psychedelic night. But stuff you could dance to. Stooges, Syd Barrett era Floyd, Love, Doors.
08. What bands were Mighty Mighty influenced by? I have heard The Smiths and Orange Juice influences being bandied about. Is this a fair assessment or just lazy journalism?
Sometimes it’s lazy but these were bands that shared the same circumstances and influences as us. We never tried to sound like them. We played guitars and that is Hugh’s voice. That’s what he sounds like when he speaks. Mick was always a bigger fan of Joseph K but equally if not more so, his songs were influenced by Billie Holiday and Al Green. Hugh was and is a soul boy, H, perhaps more punk and folk and Russell spent his time at Sheffield University playing his bass along to This Year’s Model.
09. Mighty Mighty’s song ‘Law’ features on the NME’s C86 tape. Was this tape truly representative of what was going on in Indie music at the time?
I think so, yes. It’s at times written off as simply a vehicle for “shambling” acts but it’s more than that. Stump are every bit as much a C86 band as The Bodines but C86 has become a label, even a genre which narrows it down a little too much really. It may not represent everything that was happening in the UK at the time but it did a pretty good job. We’re still talking about it now.
10. I really like the organ sound in the band. Especially on ‘Everybody knows a monkey’. What kind of organ did you use and was the keyboards always your preferred instrument?
Thanks. That’s my Vox Continental. It’s still with me but needs some attention. It’s even older than me. Also, moving around over the last ten years or so, I’ve managed to lose it’s Z-frame stand. If there’s anyone out there who can help, I’m sure we can come to some arrangement. Primarily I’m a guitarist but I’m playing more keys these days now we have a battered old piano in the house. I also picked up a Casio MT 46 a while ago for a tenner which I love. I bought an Edwardian autoharp yesterday, again for £10. Fixing that up will be my next project. I love musical instruments. Anything I think I might be able to get a tune out of. I draw the line at brass and woodwind though. I’ve got a few guitars. Some would say too many, but they don’t understand.
11. In a prolific 2 year period Mighty Mighty recorded an album and several singles. Why did this all come to an end with the demise of the band in 1988?
Our deal with Chapter 22 expired and Hugh wanted to do something else. With hindsight I think we should have gone back to releasing on our own label and asked Hugh to stay. It’s easy to say now though. 1987 and ’88 weren’t the best of years on a personal level for some of us in the band. That contributed to it I’m sure. We always thought of ourselves as a pop group though and perhaps we remained true to that ethic by calling it a day. That is pop. It is at the same time something precious but also something throwaway.
12. What inspired Mighty Mighty to reform in 2009?
Indietracks asked us to play. The following summer Uwe from Firestation Records asked us to play the Berlin Popfest. Two really fun gigs. We never really reformed. If we’re asked to play a gig and we like the sound of it, we’ll do our best. Mick is my brother and Russell is my best friend so we’ve never lost touch with each other. Even when the band split we would come together for a Christmas meal. Working with Cherry Red and Firestation means we’re busier with Mighty Mighty business now than we have been for a long time. It’s all good.
13. Cherry Red Records recently released ‘Pop Can: The Definitive Collection 1986-88’. Do you think this release has brought renewed interest in the band?
Yeah. Having that body of work together on two CD’s has surprised some people. Us included! We have a global audience now. Small, but international.
14. I saw Mighty Mighty perform recently at the Cherry Red Records, ‘Scared To Get Happy’ album launch. I thought the band was very well received with many in the audience singing along to every song. How did you feel about the band’s performance and reception?
It was brilliant. We loved it. We met some wonderful people that night. Old friends and we made some new ones. John Reed’s talking about maybe doing another night. Manchester perhaps.
15. Will Mighty Mighty be playing any gigs soon? Preferably in London as I would certainly like to see the band play again.
There’s nothing planned as yet I’m afraid. Maybe next year. We’re always open to offers though.
16. Finally, Do Mighty Mighty have any plans to make new music?
We’ve talked about it a little. I’d love to. We’re scattered about the country now so it would mean working a little differently to how we did in the past but it could be done. I have some songs that would work well as Mighty Mighty tunes. I know Mick has some. There are a few we used to play that never got recorded at the time. There’s certainly an audience out there and there are people who work hard getting CD’s and vinyl out there so it could happen. Russell and I also play in a band called The Leaking Machine. Our friend Spencer Roberts plays drums. It would be great to hear new Mighty Mighty stuff though. I’m curious!
Web Links:
facebook.com/mightymightyofficial
twitter.com/MightyMighty
myspace.com/officialmightymighty
Link to buy singles:
Pop Can! Available on iTunes from 5th Aug
