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THE TROGGS from Andover
The group formed as ‘The Troglodytes’ in
1964 in the small town of Andover in
Hampshire, which has still kept it’s small
town character, even with all the changes
since then. The original members of the
band were singer/guitarist Dave Wright,
bass player Reg Ball (Presley), drummer
Ronnie Bullis (Bond) and guitarist Howard
Mansfield. Both Mansfield and Wright left
the newly formed band and were replaced
by Pete Staples and Chris Britton. It was
then that Reg Ball moved from bass to lead
vocals and changed his name to Presley.
In 1965 they were signed by Larry Page,
‘The Kinks’ manager, who had formed
Page One Records, it was at this time that
their name was shortened to ‘The Troggs’.
Page leased them to CBS Records for their
debut single ‘Lost Girl’. Their second release
‘Wild Thing’ (written by Chip Taylor),
which with the help of Television exposure
on ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ Saturday
night prime time TV then, reaching No 2 in
the UK charts and No 1 in the U S in June
1966. It’s combination of a simple heavy
guitar riff and flirtatious lyrics helped it to
quickly become a garage rock standard.
Compared to today’s studio time, then it
was recorded in one complete take! Because
of a dispute over U S distribution
rights, ‘Wild Thing’ was released along with
their first album of the same name, on two
labels, Fontana and Atco. Even though the
single made no 1 and the album sold well,
the bands success in the U S was limited
by not touring there until 1968. They also
had a number of other hits, including ‘With
A Girl Like You’, which made No 1 in July
1966, ‘I Can’t Control Myself’, UK No 2 in
September ‘66 (this was also their second
and final dual release in the US, with Fontana
retaining the right to all subsequent
releases. ‘Any Way You Want Me’ hit no 10
in December ‘06 with ‘Night Of The Long
Grass’ at No 17 in May ‘67 and ‘Love is all
Around’ making No 5 in October ‘67 and
the U S NO 7 in February ‘68.
NOVEMBER ‘08 31
In 1991 ‘Love is all Around’ was covered by
R. E. M. during live performances and was
released later that year as a B-side on their
‘Radio Song’ single. They also performed
an acoustic version of the song on MTV
Unplugged. Then in 1994, Scottish band
‘Wet, Wet, Wet’s version of the song spent
fifteen weeks at number one in the UK after
its inclusion in the film ‘Four Weddings and
a Funeral’. A modified version of ‘Love is all
Around’ was featured in the film ‘Love Actually’
(2003), which was performed by
actor Bill Nighy. Sadly by March 1969 the
band split up, due mainly to the lack of
chart success, various members released
solo singles and Chris Britten released a
solo album ‘As I Am’ the same year. The
band later reformed with former ‘Plastic
Penny’ bass player Tony Murray replacing
Staples, and in 1974 after a period with
Pye Records they re-united with Larry
Page to try and recreate their success of
the 60’s. They recorded the Beach Boys hit
‘Good Vibrations’ which sadly did not capture
the record buying public’s imagination.
They also released a reggae version of
‘Wild Thing’ which also failed to reach the
charts. Interesting that they have a list of
about 42 released singles and ep’s in the
UK, including re-issues of their hits, sadly
only ten made the U K charts. They also
over the years have released about 22
albums including compilations, not a bad
total of work, for a band that was once
considered a bunch of country bumpkins!!
The band are still now out working with two
of the original members and from 13th till
30th November ‘08 will be on tour along
with Spencer Davis + The Animals at various
venue’s across the UK. They perform
regularly throughout Europe and still have
a small following, having been an important
part of the swinging sixties. Sadly the
Troggs original drummer Ronnie Bond died
on 13th November ‘92 at the Royal Hampshire
Hospital, Winchester. For more info
check out the following sites -
www.thetroggs.com
www.my-generation.org.uk/troggs