Fat Tulips were an

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...

band from

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...

, England who released one album, on the Vinyl Japan label, and over 10 singles on the band's own Heaven Records and others.

History

The Fat Tulips were formed in the late 1980s in

Peterborough Peterborough () is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, east of England. It is the largest part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority district (which covers a larger area than Peterborough itself). It was part of Northamptonshire until ...

by Mark D. Their first release was a flexi disc called ''You Opened Up My Eyes'' and featured Sarah C. on vocals. Sarah quickly left the band. Mark then recruited new members consisting of Katie Keen on vocals, Paul Huckerby on bass, Shelagh Clarkson on guitar and Matthew Johnson on drums. Soon after the release of their single "Where's Clare Grogan Now" (played by

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...

), Katie left the band and Sheggi became the new singer. Subsequent releases, including the EP ''Four Songs for Simon'', ''Ferensway'' and ''The Tulip Explodes'', led to a recording contract with the London based Vinyl Japan label, home and future home of BMX Bandits, the McCluskey Bros, and

Thee Headcoats Thee Headcoats was a band formed in Chatham, Kent, England in 1989, that was well known for its garage rock sound, explicitly sticking to this style on almost all of their albums. The band's signature sound as well as their prolific writing has ...

. The first of their Vinyl Japan output was an EP entitled ''Nostalgia'' and was recorded by Ken McPherson at his studio in

Burton upon Trent Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a market town in the borough of East Staffordshire in the county of Staffordshire, England, close to the border with Derbyshire. In United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011, it had a ...

. A tour of Germany supporting Throw That Beat in the Garbagecan soon followed. The band's debut album, ''Starfish'', also recorded by Ken McPherson, came out in 1994 and was followed by two more singles, "New Spring Rites for Sarah" and "Driving Me Wild" before the band called it a day.

Heaven Records

The Heaven Records

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

was started by the Fat Tulips in 1989 to release their own debut 7" single "Where's Clare Grogan Now?", the band's homage to the singer in

Altered Images Altered Images are a Scottish new wave/post-punk band who found success in the early 1980s. Fronted by singer Clare Grogan, the group branched into mainstream pop music, having six UK top-40 hit singles and three top-30 albums from 1981 to 19 ...

. The label is co-owned by guitarist / songwriter Mark D of the Fat Tulips, Confetti and Fat Tulips drummer Matthew Johnson. Heaven is based in Burton Joyce,

. The label went on to release 7" singles by other bands including The Melons, Vicarage Garden, Confetti, Strawberry Story, Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can, The Golden Dawn, Velocity Girl, Unisex, The Rosehips, and Girl of the World.

Discography

Albums and EPs

*'' Early Years EP'' (1987) 7" EP *''Four Songs for Simon'' (1990) 7" EP *''Ferensway'' (1991) 7" EP *''The Tulip Explodes'' (1991) 7" EP *''Take Me Back to Heaven'' (1991) 7" EP *''Nostalgia'' (1992) 7" EP *''Albie'' (1992) 7" *''Driving Me Wild'' (1994) 7"/CD *''

Starfish Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish ...

'' LP/CD

Singles

*"Sweet William" (1989) split flexi w/ The Rosehips *"Where's Clare Grogan Now" (1989) 7" single *"4 Bands 4 Songs" (1990) split flexi w/ The Applicants, The Haywains, Paintbox *"The Way Things Are" (1991) flexi *"Heaven" (1992) split flexi w/ Confetti *"New Spring Rites for Sarah" (1994) 7" single

Compilation appearances

*''El Dorado'' (1990) Various artists *''The Waaaaah! CD'' (1991) Various artists

External links

Fat Tulips websiteFat Tulips labelPaintings by Mark D.Fat Tulips Myspace page
* {{Authority control English rock music groups Musical groups from Nottingham British indie pop groups Musical groups established in 1987