The Popinjays

The Popinjays
Wendy Robinson and Polly Hancock
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Indie pop
Years active	1988–1994
Labels	One Little Indian Records Epic Records (US)
Website	www.popinjaysband.com
Members	Wendy Robinson vocals Polly Hancock vocals, guitar

The Popinjays are a British indie pop band, mainly active between 1988 and 1994, and again from 2015 to present the majority of whose records were released on the One Little Indian Records label in the UK, and Epic/One Little Indian in the US.

The band was formed by Wendy Robinson (vocals) and Polly Hancock (vocals, guitar), initially with a drum machine. This line-up recorded their debut "Don't Go Back" EP on Big Cat UK (catalogue number BBA02) in August 1988) achieving "Single of the Week" in Melody Maker. A John Peel session, produced by Dale Griffin and recorded at the BBC studios in Golders Green London was first broadcast on 21 September 1988 and repeated on 11 October 1988. It featured four original songs; Perfect Dream Home, Fine Lines, Dr Fell and Backward Daydream. They then recruited Dana Baldinger (b.Seattle WA), and signed to One Little Indian records, releasing "Please Let Me Go" as a single in April 1990 which was also cited as Single of The Week in Melody Maker. Baldinger was eventually replaced by Anne Rogers of The Crowd Scene. In December 1989, the British music magazine, NME reported that the Popinjays, along with others such as Power of Dreams, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine and The Charlatans, were their pick as 'stars of tomorrow'.

Their debut album Bang Up To Date With The Popinjays was released in April 1990 and was followed by a live tour in May and June 1990 with One Little Indian label mates Kitchens of Distinction. In the autumn of 1990 Seamus Feeney joined the line up on drums making the band a four-piece for the first time. The band continued with live shows through the autumn, touring with both Cud and The Heart Throbs. The next single Vote Elvis was produced by Jessica Corcoran at The Greenhouse studios in London. In 1991 The Popinjays signed to US Independent label Alpha International and the single Vote Elvis was released in the United States in April 1991 entering the billboard Modern Rock charts the following month peaking at number 17 in June 1991.