Highlights - Musicians

 

Olga - Toy Dolls Guitar Hero!
London - August 2003

Portal do Rock proudly presents this special report dedicated to Michael Algar, best known as Olga, guitar player and lead singer of British band the Toy Dolls, doubtless one of the most creatives and brilliant bands of the punk rock scene of all times. Particularly for me, this special report and exclusive interview with Olga are personal accomplishments, once since I was only a teenager, on my 15 years old, I started listening to this incredible band, which certainly changed definitivelly my concepts about punk rock and rock and roll in general.
A briefing on Toy Dolls history

The Toy Dolls were formed in October 1979, the very first line-up was: Pete Zulu (Peter Robson)
Lead Vocal, Olga (Michael Algar) Guitar, Flip (Philip Dugdale) Bass Guitar and Mr Scott (Colin Scott) Drummer. The Toy Dolls first ever gig was: Millview Social Club, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, 20 October 1979.

After a handful of local (empty) gigs, Pete Zulu left to form his own band (Zulu & The Heartaches). Pete Zulu's last gig was: Horden Comrades Club, 2 November 1979. So the lads quickly recruted 'Hud', Local Billy Idol lookalike, who had never sang before! Hud left after one single show at Thornaby Club, 25 November 1979. Rather then cancel a forthcoming show at Sunderlands 'Wine Loft', the lads decided to chance it as a three piece with Olga bravely taking on the role as lead singer / guitar player. This was the start of the trio 'Toy Dolls'.



Fortunately, a local businessman financed the first Toy Dolls single which was 'Tommy Kowey's Car' with 'She Goes To Finos' on the flip side. 'Tommy Kowey's Car' sold out its initial 500 pressing but the band never found the dosh to press any more.

By this time the Toy Dolls had built up a strong local following, the national music press were favourable with reviews of the gigs and records. Garry Bushell, who wrote for 'Sounds', gave some outstanding features/reviews. Also there was a lot of backing from the local media.

 
But, alas, the lads were caughtin that trap of just doing the roundsof being stuck in the North East with no recording deal. So something had to be done or a final split would have to come.

This was probably the most important time of the Toy Dolls career. The release of the collectable Toy Dolls EP (self financed) and the regrettable signing to EMI Records with the single release of 'Everybody Jitterbug'. Then, they signed to Volume Records for the release of 'Nellie The Elephant' (1982 version) and 'Dig That Groove Baby' album.
 

The first chance to do a national tour (thanks to The Angelic Upstarts). This support slot enabled the Toy Dolls to do a further national gigs/tour in their own right.

The LP A Far Out Disc followed in 1985, trailed a year later by Idle Gossip; despite the usual personnel turnover, the group celebrated its first decade of existence in 1989 with Ten Years of Toys. Amazingly enough, another solid decade of new music was forthcoming, with few changes to the band's creative approach and numerous changes to their roster. Cleopatra Records feted the band on their 20th anniversary with the release of the best-of collection The Wonderful World of the Toy Dolls.

No need to say that the great highlight of the band is really Olga, who was able to abolish once for all that misconception about the abscence of talent in punk music, which is always blamed to be a poor kind of music, with no more than three chords. Olga is considered by many as one of the best guitar players of all times and he introduced his new and personal features to punk rock and rock music in general. A good advice for the lovers of good rock music is having some Toy Dolls albuns on their files, because this band represents the finest thing in terms of British punk rock.
Toy Dolls history is very long, with several albuns, tours and gigs, including two Brasilian tours. They have a following of fans and fanatics from all over the globe and they are ready now to rock again with the release of a new album, which will be another great success!  

The Interview

Portal: Would you mind if I ask how old you are? Are you married? Do you have kids?
Olga: I dont mind you asking! I am not as young as I look, but... younger than Charlie harper! No, not married, got a girlfriend, no kids. I dont like having things to look after, kids, goldfish, dogs, plants etc! I like to be able to go on tour and concentrate only on the show, not worry about things at home. I had a dog once, ASHBROOKE, he was no problem, even had him on vocals on a few albums, check out his pic on the new official Toy Dolls website, details soon. Ashbrooke died in 1993, I miss him too much to get another dog.

  Portal: When did you start playing guitar? And what was your first guitar?
Olga: I started playing when I was 13, about 6 years ago I think! First guitar, an Audition sunburst electric. It was hell to play, the strings/action was so high off the fret board I used to get my arm caught between the strings. I snapped string the first day and took it back to the shop to complain! Of course they told me that was normal.
Portal: What models/brands of guitars you like most?
Olga: I like American Fender Telecasters with Seymour Duncan pickups, I like Gibson Les Pauls and SGs also, for bass Music Man are great. In the studio I use a Les Paul and a Telecaster.

Portal: Why did you have the idea of forming a band and why the name Toy Dolls?
Olga: I had the idea of forming a band because I was bullied at school, It was a kind of escape from that, also I wanted people to admire me rather than be bullied. The first Toy Dolls lead singer thought of the name, The Toy Dolls, I never did ask him why!
Portal: In the beginning of your carreer with Toy Dolls, have you tought of connecting the band to the punk rock thing or you just wanted to be in a rock and roll band? Is Toy Dolls a punk rock band?
Olga: The first musical influences were Sweet, Slade, T Rex etc, then many of the early punk bands, if it wasnt for Punk I dont think we could have lasted, Punk gave bands and musicians who were not particularly pitch perfect singers or guitar players from The Royal Acadamy of music, a chance to express themselves. I am an awful singer, the worst in my band, but because of Punk, my unique, though flat and sharp voice, has been accepted! As for consciously trying to be connected with Punk or Rock n Roll or whatever, we didnt bother, we just called it Toy Dolls Music.
  
Portal: What kind of bands you used to listen in the end of 70's, at the time you starded with the band?
Olga: Oh, so many, heres some: Suzi Quatro, Slade, T Rex, Sweet, Mud, early Jam, Sex Pistols, Ruts, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Skids, Vibrators, Buzzcocks.

Portal: And today, what kind of bands you like to listen and what are your ever favourite bands?
Olga: Another hard question! there are so many! I hate Disco music, always have, always will! Favourite bands: Abba, Angelic Upstarts, Sham 69, Mozart, Strauss, The Boys, Rezillos, Foo Fighters, Wildhearts.
  Portal: I think the answer for this next one I know more or less, but what are your favourite guitar players?
Olga: Oh! Here are a few: Del from The Test Tubes, the guy from Ruts, Ginger from Wildhearts, Frankie Stubbs from Leatherface, Dave from Sham 69, The guy from Green Day, Stan and Dave from The Dickies.
Portal: When I say the word "Brazil", what is the first thing coming to your mind?
Olga: Has to be gettin' me tooth knocked out, on stage in Sao Paulo, by a skinhead who congratulated me on a great gig after the show!

Portal: Any Brazilian bands you know or like? What do you know about Brazilian punk rock scene?
Olga: I am waiting to hear the Lambrusco Kids CD! I really dont know much about the Brazilian punk scene, but I would like to know more.
Portal: What are the best audiences (contry-wise) for the Toy Dolls?
Olga: To single out a single country would be unfair, every country is nice for different reasons, I guess Spanish auidiences are the most boisterous,its nice, Japanese audience are mainly female, nice also! As for Germany/Holland and central Europe, I guess they have been the most loyal., oh, damn it, the best audiences are everywhere! 		 
Portal: How is your relationship with the skinheads? I know they all love Toy Dolls. What is the reason for this so strong affection they have for your band? Tell us how this "love" started.
Olga: Skinheads, punks or whoever, we get on with them all! god knows why any of them Love us!
  Portal: How do you see the punk scene today? Do you like these bands called "emo", like Blink-182 and Sum 41? What do you think of them?
Olga: Well, to be honest I prefer early UK Punk, not just because I am English, I just prefer that real Hungry, Punk UK sound. However, I still like Sum 41 and Green Day and Offspring and Foo Fighters, they have become far more successful than the UK punk bands, and best of luck to them, though I would rather listen to HURRY UP HARRY!
Portal: Is there any band like the Toy Dolls in the world?
Olga: There was a Japanese Toy Dolls tribute band, I forgot their name, but I want to forget them because they were exactly the same as the Toy Dolls, but better!



Portal: And what kind of band you would like the Toy Dolls to be like?
Olga: The Toy Dolls are exactly the kind of band I want them to be, if I wasnt happy doing it as we are, I wouldn't do it!

Portal: Tell us how was to play with the Adicts and why you left the band now?
Olga: The Adicts was an experience, the guys were nice and we had a good time touring USA, however, I was just the stand in guy until Mel returned after havin some time off. Good luck to them for the future. I like playing bass guitar, its so different from guitar, I always wanted to be a bass player anyway!

  
Portal: When can we expect a new Toy Dolls album and a new Brazilian tour? Do you have any new songs? Can you tell us some names of new songs? And for the new album, any name in mind?
Olga: The Toy Dolls new album will be out in spring/summer of 2004, World tour starts in October 2004, hopefully Brazil will be in there somewhere! though we have no dates as yet. yeah, a few titles: Our last intro? Daveys Days, Tony talks Tripe. The title of the album OUR LAST ALBUM?
  Portal: Why did you record a Ricky Martin song and did you talk to Ricky to know how he liked the version?
Olga: To be honest we didnt have enough songs written for the album, so we picked the Ricky Martin song for a laugh! He never heard it, lucky guy!
Portal: Do you really have asthma?
Olga: Yeah, had Asthma since 14 years old. I suffered badly with it in the past, but at least I got a song out of it!


Portal: You always sing about animals, like "Nellie the Elephant", "Rupert the Bear", and so on...Is this a kind of "Punk Rock Animal Farm"? Do you like George Orwells?
Olga: Never thought of it like that, you missed out DEIDRES A SLAG, thats another animal! yeah I love Animal Farm.
  


Portal: Any final message or comments you like to give to your thousands of Brazilian and Latin American fans?
Olga: Thousands!? I wish.... though, thank you for waitin' so long for the new album, and more importantly, thank you for waiting for us to get back to Brazil, we appreciate it, hope to be there soon. Olga.

by Marcio Faveri

Artwork - Paulo Vinicius