Minny Pops
| Minny Pops | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Netherlands |
| Genres | Post-punk, electronic, new wave, art punk |
| Years active | 1978–1985, 2012 and 2014 |
| Labels |
Factory Factory Benelux LTM Plurex |
| Associated acts | Smalts, Streetlife |
| Website | http://www.minnypops.com |
| Members | Wally van Middendorp |
| Past members | Wally van Middendorp (vocals, drum machine) Frans Hagenaars (bass guitar) Peter Mertens (guitar) Stephen Emmer (guitar) Dennis Duchhart (guitar) Willem (Wim) Dekker (keyboards) Leon van Zoeren (bass) Gerard Walhof (guitar) Pieter Mulder (bass guitar) Mark Ritsema (guitar) Orpheus Roovers (drums) Pim Scheelings (guitar) Thomas Myrmel (keyboards) |
Minny Pops is 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.
The vocalist/songwriter/programmer Wally van Middendorp formed the band in 1978, taking the name from a primitive Korg drum machine, the Mini Pops.
Minny Pops, which van Middendorp originally intended to be a project for just three performances, had an initial lineup of van Middendorp, bass guitarist , 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) was released in 1979.
After opening for Joy Division in Eindhoven and Den Haag in January 1980, the band was brought to the attention of Factory Records by Rob Gretton, Joy Division's manager.
Minny Pops' 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 - later reissued as 7" vinyl on LTM Recordings with "Son" on the B-side), the single "Time"/"Lights" (FBN 11) and the full-length album (FACBN 15), which was released by Factory Benelux in 1982.Sparks in a Dark Room The band's first live appearance in England was at the Beach Club, a Manchester venue associated with Factory. They went 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 during which they played with Suicide in New York.
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