Highlights - Bands

Toy Dolls
Punk Rock Band from England
  From Sunderland, England, the Toy Dolls are a punk trio centred around lead singer Olga. Other personnel, at various times, comprised some five bass players, 14 drummers and 39 drivers and roadies - and that was only by the end of the 80s. The Toy Dolls have long been a cult attraction, their scampering, hyperactive anthems to the absurd earning them a dedicated following. However, they achieved a number 2 chart hit with a breakneck revision of 'Nellie The Elephant' in Christmas 1984. Its ludicrous nature was not out of place with their standard fare: 'Yul Brynner Was A Skinhead', 'Nowt Can Compare To Sunderland Fine-Fare', 'Geordies Gone To Jail'. They also launched attacks on television personalities such as Deirdre Barlow from Coronation Street ('Deirdre's A Slag') and Anne Diamond. They did little, however, to reinforce their punk street credibility by composing a new theme tune to the children's television pop show Razamatazz.
In the early days they were a five piece called the "Straw Dogs", and after playing a large number of Working Mens Clubs etc., and making a couple of demo tapes the band dissolved.
The lead guitarist 'Olga' formed the Toy Dolls along with the ex Bass guitarist 'Flip', and various drummers over the next few years.

They began by playing cover versions and some of their own songs written and sang by 'Olga', and although he would be the firts to admit to not being a singer it does suit his style of writing. Their debut singel was "Tommey Koweys Car" with "She Goes To Finos" on the B side. This was released in 1980 and was quite a success, enough to encourage them to carry on. They also gained a lot more fans and Television appearances.

 

A few months went by and after playing more clubs like the "100 Club" and the "Marquee" they signed up with E.M.I. and released "The Toy Dolls E.P." and "Everybody Jitterbug". However, after a year the band were disillusioned with E.M.I. and did not wish to renew the contract preferring to sign with "Volume records" from Newcastle.
Baz Warne was a bassist for the Toy Dolls for quite a while, he recorded "Nellie" and appeared on the video(which was also on M.T.V.). The first single on the new label was "Nellie the Elephant", followed by their first album "Dig That Groove Baby" to rave reviews. Together they made three more singles, "Cheerio and Toodle Pip", "Alfie From the Bronx" and "We're Mad".

They were gaining many more fans from all over the world and have appeared in most of the U.K. cities and have done tours in Europe and the West Coast of the U.S.A.. In the U.S.A. they did live gigs and T.V. and Radio shows in such places as San Francisco, Pasadena, Sacremento, San Diego filling the halls to capacity up to 10.000!
Olga started recording the new album "A Far Out Disc" and the theme tunes for "Razzmatazz" (T.V. pop show) and "The Black and White" programme. They also recorded a new version of "Nellie The Elephant".

 

 
In December 1984 they achieved their first chart success with this version of "Nellie The Elephant" which got to number four at the Christmas week in the U.K. and the Top 40 of some other European countries. They made two appearances on "Top of The Pops" and also appeared on T.V. shows in Germany, Switzerland, U.S.A., Holland and now numerous T.V. shows in Japan.
On the return from the European Tour in March they recorded a new version of "She Goes to Finos".
On May 12th the new album "A Far Out Disc" was released after many delays. The recording of their next single took place in August and this was "James Bond Lives Down Our Street", it also did quite well throughout the world.
When it came to their next tour in Holland in September 1985 the line up had changed. This time with new drummer Teddy and bass guitarist Dean from the Suderland area. Tours then followed in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with T.V.shows in Munich and Zurich. Then a 15 day tour in the U.K. this time including Scotland.
 

 

1986 included three tours of Japan, two of the U.S.A., two tours od Scandinavia, one extensive European Tour, Austrian Festivals, a U.K. tour and finally the first Spanish tour. Records released in 1986 were a single entitled "Geordies Gone to Jail" and the latest album "Idle Gossip".

The latest addition to the band is new drummer Marti.
The Toy Dolls have now gained a wealth of experience and knowledge that makes them one of the most professional and original bands around. In the words of one "Sounds" writer the Toy Dools don't just play... they IGNITE!

 

1987, saw the Toy Dolls adding to their eternal list of live gigs, with numerous festivals throughout the world and a massive 40 date tour of Europe, and ending in December in Japan for their 3rd tour. The album for that year was "Bare Faced Cheek" on Nit records.

1988, was the Toy Dolls resting (slight)year while the band concentrated in writing new material. They also toured Brazil, France, Sweden and a string of French Festivals.

1989, sees the release of all re-recorded tracks album of the best Toy Dolls songs called "Ten Years Of Toy Dolls" and also the latest album "Wakey Wakey with the Toy Dolls" on Receiver Records (new label)
Of course, the workaholics won't just sit back and relax with these releases, they're off again in October starting a World Tour, it began in Enschede, Holland through Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden and ending in South America.

 

 

1990 say the release of the first (Live)album "Twenty Two Tunes Live from Tokyo" (Receiver Records) Throughout the year the band did concerts and festivals in Spain, Germany, Holland and did a two week tour of Norway & Sweden which went very well.
In between time Olga was busy writing material for the "Fat Bobs Feet" album which was recorded in December and released early 1991.
Early in November 1990 Olga was asked by the record company to record a single called "Turtle Crazy" which got rave reviews and a lot of airplay on local radio but Radio one DJs failed to pick it up.
 

1991 saw the start of another world tour to coincide with the release of the new album visiting Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France and for the first time Czechoslovakia and Japan.
The tour was very exausting and not everything went according to plan but we did not miss any concerts. Olga then got busy early writing material for the next album. He wrote many songs sometimes taking three weeks over just one.

Early in 1992 the Toy Dolls did a short tour in the U.S.A., visiting Ventura..Hollywood, San Diego and San Juan Capistrano. It was quite a way to go for just a few concerts but it was well worth it as we had not been there for some time.(nice weather also)

In September 1992 the band recorded the next album "Absurd Ditties" for release early 1993. In 1993 the Toy Dolls started with their 'Absurd World Tour'. In February 1995 the album "Orcastrated" was released. And again they started a new world tour.

At the end of 1996 the Toy Dolls got a new bass player called Gary Fun. He is a local lad and in the past has played with Martin Stephenson and the Dainties, and also in the distant past as lead guitarist with Zulu and The Heartaches.
HIGHLIGHTS - BANDS