North Wales: Mj – Mz
MJM Agency – promo company run by Mike Jones (c2006), who was the engineer at The Windings in Wrexham. Puts gigs on at The Plough in St Asaph & Nant Hall, Prestatyn.
Model Citizens - Colwyn Bay punk band (1986), supported Anhrefn at the towns Leisure Centre 29.11.86 during which, Neil Crud gatecrashed the stage & sang Anti-Nowhere League’s Woman. More info req’d.
Model Superb - Ruthin post-punk band (2003), feat; Jess Balla (voc), Tom Barrie (drms), Rhys Carrington (bass), Will Hesketh (keys), Henry Hobson (voc,gtr), Evan Morgan (gtr,voc). Rel 4 track demo ‘Miracles Are Gone’ (Mar03) and rec’d plenty of airplay on Adam Walton’s BBC Radio Wales Show, followed up ‘Am I To Blame EP’ (rec Sep03) without Jess, but became disillusioned and split. Evan last heard of going to India. Prev called Fistycuffs.
Modernaires - Holyhead punk band (1978-80) feat; Huw Hughes (bass) (ex Red), Brian Jones (voc,sax,gtr) (later of Clouds) & Dave Baynton-Power (drms) (ex Red, later It’s Immaterial, Pink Military, James), Phil Bradley (gtr) (ex Red). They wore smart monochrome stage gear, excellent musicians, ripping songs, super lively on stage. High energy choppy rock with odd times thrown in, big drama. Supported pre-op Wayne County on UK tour, played all over, very talked up, but nothing happened. Band became Y Brodyr. Huw was tragically killed in a house fire in Chester 1985). Phil Bradley now a freelance sound engineer.
Modern Tradition - band (2002) from Bodelwyddan, feat; Gez Ruggario (gtr), Gwyz Hughes (bass,voc), & Joe Booker (drms) (also of Gintis), & John Calvin (gtr) joined Dec02, left Feb03. Formerly called Elapse & before that Condemned. Fizzled out by 2006
Modest Ego – Rhyl band (2003), feat; Simon Parry (bass) & Matthew Jones (drms) (both later of Dressed Naked, Sabretooth). More info req’d
Mogga – Rhyl based musician, former bassist for Harvest Moon, Scratch, Charlie, Swan amongst many others. Had the only rehearsal room in town called Bermuda Studios (opposite Happy Colin’s old sound centre) & everyone used it at some point (incl, The Toilets). Steve Allan Jones quotes: ‘I remember turning up one day & Sara Sugarman (now a movie director- Mad Cows,Valley Girls) was singing with Glyn Crossley & Nigel I think)’. Mogga still plays in show bands Think Lizzy & Dizzy Mamma & has been heavily involved in the local folk club scene. His son, John Morris fronts Carpet.
Mojo - Anglesey band (formed 1986), feat; Bedwyr Morgan (voc,gtr), Simon Barton (perc,voc), Ken Jones (gtr,keys) (also Mwg, Jina), John Williams (keys), Peter Elias Jones (drms), Tudur Morgan (bass). Have also feat at some point Huw Smith (also Mwg, Llwybr Cyhoeddus, Jina, Celt). Still going strong, rel 4 LPs on Sain Recs. Played Celtic Film Fest (Ireland) and gigged in Scotland and London.
Molly’s Chamber – new name (late06) for Think Lizzy
Mona Boot Boys - one off EP Rel on R-Bennig Recs (R-BEN057) (c2004) that has all the hallmarks of being the work of label proprietor johnny R
Mona Flying Club – Mona Flying Club are Gethin Slac & the Fastest Guys Alive. They have a great name, & their music is a mad collage of Hip Hop, Rhumba & loads of old Welsh samples from Qualition & Teldisc records…. They fly in Sessna formation down to St Moritz, light a John Player Special, catch some debutante’s eye as she gets back into her sugar daddy’s Bentley, then fly back to Mona aerodrome in the dead of night! Why? Because they can. That’s why. Debut E.P. ‘Columbian Connection’ Rel on R-Bennig Records…. R-BEN046 (c2003)
Monastery - Death metal band from Holywell, early 90’s. Feat; Sean (bass), Mark Pensom (voc), Richard Jones (gtr), Steven Lee (drms). Rel, Blessphemy demo, played support slots at Wrexham Memorial Hall a couple of times, Tivoli also Rhyl Town Hall where they all swapped instruments to play Smells Like Teen Spirit. Orig called Dark Entity. Paul from Bagillt remembers, ‘They did do a second demo which was very good, more Nine Inch Nails than their Sepultura inspired Blessphemy Tape, outstanding tracks on the second tape were Nerve Juggler and Puppet Lake, they did a live cover of 2Unlimited’s Twilight Zone at the Crazy House which was a bloody stormer. Anthony joined them on vox for a bit when Pensom’s lung collapsed while he was reading Viz on the bog laughing ha ha ha, he was stapled up like an extra from Hellraiser. Ste the drummer is teaching Drama now in Ireland, Rich is still about, he was the Chef in The Mongolian Banquet place in Chester for a while’
Moneyshot – Hawarden band (2002). More info req’d.
Money Spongers – Wrexham / Chester(?) band (c1992). Rel demo ‘Justine’, rec at RPM, played with Boo Radleys. More info req’d
Mongolian Dethkit – Holyhead band (c2004), feat; Rowan (drms) (also of Kipperwig), Rob (gtr) (Kipperwig), Matt Watkins (gtr) (ex Wendykurk, Suma Suma), Dan (bass) & Adrian (voc). Played Smwnchfest Nov04, noted for being total lunatics on stage & song! Split Aug05 when Matt decided to move to Manchester. See also Dethkats, Penny Dreadful
Moniars – Welsh language band described as ‘making a strong showing with young audiences in the north, with a raucous electric bass-&-drums approach to Welsh-language song.’
Monkey Rash - heavy rock covers band from Rydal School, Colwyn Bay (c1999-00). Played at Lunacy, Bangor. Now disbanded. More info req’d.
Monte Cassino – bilingual metal band (formed 2006) from Mold/Shotton, feat; Ben Griffiths (voc,bass), Steffan Jones (gtr), Gaz Jones (gtr), Ian Farr (drms). Some members were in Neb. (website)
Monza – North Wales based rock band (1980-90s) led by Mike Pritchard (now of Sunspy), Russ North (voc), Boz (drms)
Moo Father – Manchester based band (2000?) formed by Pete Ryan (drms) (ex Wild Orchid, Pocket Venus) & Dave Wilson (ex Wild Orchid), who moved there from Colwyn Bay. Made a demo & played the usual haunts in the city.
Mooi – North East Wales duo (formed 1999), feat; Rachel (voc,gtr), Laura (voc,gtr). Had track Sway on 3 diff comps.
MoonMonkey - recording studio (2000) in Conwy.
Morrison, Les – Bethesda-based engineer & producer. Stiwdio Les in Bethesda High Street became a popular haunt for many top Welsh bands in the 80s & throughout the 90s chart acts like Super Furry Animals have recorded there. Morrison was at the forefront of the blossoming ‘Bethesda scene’ of the 70s & 80s where bands like Maffia Mr Huws, Celt & Jecsyn Ffeif emerged. Les himself is a laid back dude who has always risen above the Welsh-English divide, being equally comfortable & conversant in either language. Was even in a few bands himself including the orig Offspring.
Mortuary - Prestatyn thrash band (early 90s), feat; Jon Waring (drms) (later Psychosexual Sex Terrestrials), Jace. More info req’d.
Gwilym Morus – vocalist from Wrexham with Drymbago, lived in Birmingham & played with blues / soul bands. Rel folk orientated solo LP ‘Traffig’ (Rasal 1.3.05)
Mosaic - Colwyn Bay based band (c2000) feat; Matt, Stu (now of Crippen) & Gaz Roberts, who has demoed some solo acoustic & is currently living in Switzerland. (see also Beeker)
(((Mother of Six))) – Wrexham rock band (c2008), feat Neal Thompson (ex promoter at Central Station), have been played on numerous radio shows (inc 6music), rel download single Castell (03.08.09) and eponymous EP (02.11.09) (website)
Mo-Tone Company Band – Rhyl band (c2005), feat; Lee Davies (voc,gtr), Paul Davies (gtr,voc) (brothers ex Ocean Rane, Grasshopper, Hooper). More info req’d
Mountaineers – Wrexham band (c2004), feat; Alex Gaermain (voc). Rel EP ‘Motions of Interplanetary’ (on Northern Ambition 14.2.05)
Mountain Music – Bethesda based outfit (pre-1992). More info req’d.
MPO - Mike Peters Organisation, basically his fan club set up in 1991 and run by his wife Jules
Mucus - Bangor thrash-speed-booze-metal band (early 90s). Feat; Duncan Black (gtr) (now of Papa Lazaroo & Skinflick, ex Skink), Danno (Daniel Alexzander) (gtr) (now of Fubar, ex Skink), Chris Squirrel (drms) (now Profiad, ex Babies With Rabies) Rec 3 demos. Always pissed when playing, noted for interested guitar solos.
Mucus, Mark – rhythm guitarist with 4Q, lasted one gig (the band’s 3rd, Aug87) before they sacked him.
Mudslide – Wrexham covers band (formed 1999), feat; Johnny Phillips (voc), Graham Dodd (voc), Gareth Morris (gtr), Mark Roberts (gtr), Timmy Tinsel (bass), Adam Price (drms), Steve Parker (keys). (website)
Mum & Dad – female fronted band from Shotton (2002). More info req’d.
Mumph – Wales’ foremost political cartoonist – particularly when it comes to Welsh politics. Real name Mal Humphreys. – website.
Mundane – hardcore punk band from Denbigh area, formed 1998. Various line-up changes until settled with Joe (voc/gtr), Dave (gtr), Harley (bass), Ed (drms). Cite Discharge as an influence performing a couple of their songs. Own songs incl; Obey, Nothing.
Music – Bethesda based outfit (pre-1992). More info req’d.
Music Factory – workshop set up in Theatr Twm o’r Nant, Denbigh (c2005) to help young musicians get off the ground, in similar vain to MASE.
Music For Life – compilation tape of Rhyl bands (inc The Alarm) released to raise money for Live Aid. More info Req’d
Musical Mystery Tour – Adam Walton’s weekly 3 hour show on BBC Radio Wales, Sunday’s from 10pm. Dubbed the John Peel show of Wales for it’s content & band sessions. Used to be aired 4 days a week for an hour but response shows the new format is preferred. It is also an informative website feat; downloads, playlists, writings from Adam’s Daily Post column, gig guide & news. (session list)
Musicians’ Collective – Rhyl collective, held their 1st meeting at Rhyl library 30.04.88, aimed at raising funds to buy a collective PA, accessing various facilities & assessing potential venues for local bands
Mwg – Bethesda based band (1988 ?), feat; Tony Parisella (bass) (see also Jina, Llwybr Cyhoeddus, Harvest Moon, Company), Huw Smith (also Llwbr Cyhoeddus, Mojo, Jina, Celt), Ken Jones (Jina, Mojo). More info req’d.
Mwg Drwg - Llanrwst rock band, formed 1971-73, feat; Ithel Jones, Gwyndaf Williams and Phillip Jones (see also Y Mellt). Reformed in 1975 with a new front man Bryn Fon and changed name Crysbas
Mwrthwl - Thrash metal band from Coleg Normal in Bangor.
Mwsog – (pic) 5-pc prog-rock bilingual band from the St Asaph area, formed late ‘99, feat; Huw Evans (voc, keys), Sam Roberts (bass), Wil Roberts (drms) (Sam’s brother), Robin Edwards (gtr), Gwyn Williams (gtr). Rec 3 track session for Gang Bangor (Radio Cymru) after winning the battle of the bands comp at National Eisteddfod 2001.Gigged with Topper, Anweledig, Pep le Pew, Pocket Venus, Big Leaves, Cacan Wy (email)
Mwyn, Rhys – bassist with Anhrefn (1984-1996), known as the forefather of Cool Cymru being a tireless campaigner for the Welsh cause through alt music, realising that Wales needed saving from the Welsh as the closed mentality was killing the language. Launched Recordiau Anhrefn Records (1983), running concurrently with the band and relaunched. Promoted Welsh bands through Crai records (c2002) before becoming an independent promoter, formed Mangre (c2000), and reformed Anhrefn in an almost folk style in 2007. Published his autobiography ‘Cam O’r Tywyllwch’ (2006) – available (so far) only in Welsh. (website).
Mylk – (pic) indie band (c2007) from Henllan, changed name to Streams
Mynd Am Dani - ‘Cymcore’ (funk/punk) band from Porthmadog (1989/90) described themselves as ‘orgasmic anti-poll tax’. Feat; Osian (voc), G Lewis (gtr), Dylan Glo (gtr), Antony Piercy (bass), Jamie Charnley (drms) (latter 2 prev of Vicious Pink Houses)
Mysterons - Prestatyn band (c1980), initially called Captain Black & The Mysterons). Eventually became The Vaj. More info req’d.
Mystery Girls – feat; Mark Perkins as session saxophonist. (more info req’d)
My Turn To Kill – (pic) Holyhead hardcore/screamo band (formed Nov03). Feat. Steve White (voc), Lee Crimes (gtr), Baz Jones (gtr), Mike Walker (bass), Shaun Humphreys (drms). Played loads of gigs across UK in 2006. Rel EP ‘Kids of Cancer’ (mid07). Now called Through Colour (website)
