Mod Fun

Mod Fun
Mod Fun - 2007
Background information
Genres	Power pop, garage punk
Years active	1982-present
Labels	New Records, Midnight, Cryptovision Records, Get Hip, Makin' Tyme
Associated acts	Crocodile Shop
Website	http://www.modfun.com/
Members	Mick "London" Hale (vocals/guitar) Bobby "Werner" Strete (bass/vocals) Chris Collins (drums/vocals)

Mod Fun are an American power pop/garage punk band from the New York City area. Mod Fun were originally active in the early to mid-1980s, and played an integral part in New York City's burgeoning garage rock revival scene at the time. By mid 1986 they were widely regarded as one of the best known indie rock bands in NYC and New Jersey. After disbanding at the height of their career in the late 1980s to pursue other projects, the three original members reunited in 2004 and have been active since.

The members of Mod Fun started playing music together as childhood friends in early 1979, and initially called their band Rage. They counted a lot of FM radio rock and early punk among their influences, before their approach to music was revitalized when they discovered The Jam in 1982. Mod Fun wrote and recorded their first original songs in 1982-83 and released them only on cassette; beginning with a 4-track recording of four songs entitled "If You Are New" and subsequently, a collection called Release For The Mates. The first collection, "If You Are New", was produced by Steve Peer of the New York/New Jersey act TV Toy. During this time, Mod Fun also started performing frequently in the New York/New Jersey area. Their first club date was on January 12, 1983 at the infamous Dirt Club in Bloomfield, New Jersey. During the band's introduction that night, the club's owner, Johnny Dirt, made it a point to tell the crowd that the band members were only 16 years old.

In 1984 Mod Fun released their first single, "I Am With You" b/w "Happy Feeling" on their own label, New Records. Playing frequently at such New York City clubs as CBGB, The Dive and R.T. Firefly, they signed a record deal with NYC's Midnight Records. They released their first album, 90 Wardour Street in 1985. Their live shows were high energy (sometimes reckless) spectacles, which have been said to have influenced many people who saw them to start bands of their own.

On the strength of their first releases, Mod Fun set out on their first United States tour in spring 1985, playing concerts from New York City to Los Angeles to San Francisco. With the bulk of their performances taking place in California, the band carved a niche in the "Paisley Underground" scene popularized by bands such as The Bangles, The Rain Parade and The Three O'Clock. After returning from the tour, the band had a falling out with Midnight Records and released a three-song EP on their own Makin' Tyme label entitled "Hangin' Round". Shortly after the release of "Hangin' Round" they signed with New York City's Cryptovision Records. They recorded material for a single (Mary Goes 'Round b/w Grounded) and a second album, Dorothy's Dream.

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