Dodgy

History

Formation and initial activity (1990–97)

The band was formed by Nigel Clark, Mathew Priest, and Andy Miller. Relocating from Worcestershire to London in 1988, Clark and Priest played together in the trio Purple, with on the bass. They recruited guitarist Ben Lurie, who left the band after one week to join The Jesus and Mary Chain and was replaced by Miller. After Colier's departure, the band renamed itself Dodgy.

The band played an eight-month residency at a wine bar in Kingston Upon Thames and created a following. In 1991, they signed a six-album deal with A&M Records and signed publishing with BMG.

Dodgy's debut album was produced by The Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie. The band concerned themselves with social issues by supporting The Serious Road Trip, War Child, the Liverpool Dockers' Strike, Charter88 and youth democracy campaigns. The band became the second UK act, after China Drum, to play in Sarajevo after the lifting of the siege, giving a concert at the Kuk club in August 1996. They returned to Bosnia in 1997, to film a programme with Kate Thornton in Mostar.

Post-break up and reunion (1998–present)

While Clark was absent from 1998 to 2007 to pursue ongoing solo projects, Priest and Miller continued the band as a five-piece joined by the vocalist David Bassey, keyboardist Chris Hallam, and bassist Nick Abnett. This line-up of the group recorded one album, Real Estate, in 2001. The album was produced and mixed with Robin Evans at T-Pot Studios in Perthshire. In the meantime, Clark released the solo album 21st Century Man in 2006, and in 2007 he teamed up with the dance music duo SFG to record a remix of Dodgy's "Good Enough".

The band played two sets at Guilfest in July 2008. The first set was an acoustic set in the Unison tent where they appeared in support of the organisation. They later played a set with full band on the main stage. They headlined the Sunday night at Beached Festival in August 2008, and appeared at the ToneFest in September. In November, the first tracks from new recording sessions appeared online. They played a benefit show in May 2009, as part of the homelessness charity Crisis' 'Hidden Gigs' campaign, alongside The Bluetones.

In 2009, Dodgy played at Glastonbury Festival, as well as appearances at Bug Jam 2009, Whatfest and Cornbury. On 29 August 2010, Dodgy played at The Galtres Festival in North Yorkshire, playing Dodgy tracks such as "In a Room" and "Staying out for the Summer", as well as a version of Nigel Clark's solo track, "21st Century Man".

On 23 April 2011, Dodgy played as the headliners at the Mash Fest Festival in Trowbridge and on 28 May 2011, Dodgy headlined at the LeeStock Music Festival in Sudbury, Suffolk, helping to raise money for the Willow Foundation. Mathew Priest said in an interview with the BBC that they would be playing a mixture of new songs and old favourites and talking of their new material said "If we can just get people to listen to it, they're going to love it". on 25 August 2011, Dodgy also Headlined at the Garlic Festival, in the Isle of Wight. For live shows promoting the album, the band recruited Stuart Thoy of the band Smoke Feathers to play bass. In May 2012 they played at Lakefest festival.

"What Became of You" was the first single to be taken from Stand Upright in a Cool Place, their new album. Rather than following the trend of bands re-forming to play their classic albums in full, Dodgy announced that on their forthcoming UK tour, it was their new album that would be previewed live in its entirety. The album was released 20 February 2012 via the independent Strikeback Records, to favourable reviews from MOJO, the Guardian and Q Magazine. Thoy would then join the band as a full member and participate in the recording of their sixth album, What Are We Fighting For, which was released on 2 September 2016.

Clark released the solo album Make Believe Love in 2020, and also supported disadvantaged children as a music teacher at the Aspire Academy in Worcester.

Musical style

AllMusic biographer Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the band as "clowns of Brit-pop" that played "infectious, goofy punk-pop", which "alternately sounded like the early Who and the Stone Roses."

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

• So Far on 3 Wheels – Dodgy on the Radio (2007)
• Dodgy – Live at Cornbury Festival (2009)
• Dodgy Live – Back to Back (2013)

Singles

Downloads

• "Forgive Me – Demo" (2008)
• "Down in the Flood" (2008)
• "Find a Place" – The Bootleg Series and Crisis Charity Download (2009)
• "Christmas at the Foodbank" (2013 charity release for The Trussell Trust)

References

References

1. Strong, Martin C.. (2000). "The Great Rock Discography". Mojo Books.
2. Roberts, David. (2006). "British Hit Singles & Albums". Guinness World Records Limited.
3. (2000). "[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music". [[Virgin Books]].
4. "1769 – Vote for the Albums". Albumvote.co.uk.
5. "Nigel Clark Looks to Repackage Past Hit for a Comeback – antiMUSIC News". Antimusic.com.
6. "Crisis.org".
7. (2012-04-05). "Information | LeeStock Music Festival 3 June 2012". Leestock.org.
8. Dobbie, Anna. (2011-05-20). "BBC News – Dodgy and Bluetones singer Mark Morriss at LeeStock". BBC.
9. Green Gab PR. (2011). "Smoke Feathers". Green Gab PR.
10. Smoke Feathers. (2 October 2011). "Stu plays bass for Dodgy on UK tour". Smoke Feathers.
11. (2012-01-20). "Lakefest 2012: Line-up 2012". Lakefest.co.uk.
12. Harris, John. (2012-02-09). "Dodgy's fifth album is a musical reunion worth celebrating".
13. Simpson, Dave. (2012-02-16). "Dodgy: Stand Upright in a Cool Place – review".
14. Britton, Luke Morgan. (23 May 2016). "Dodgy confirm new album 'What Are We Fighting For' – watch 'You Give Drugs A Bad Name' video". NME.
15. "Meet the school staff… – the Aspire Academy".
16. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dodgy {{!}} Biography & History". AllMusic.
17. "DODGY - full Official Chart History". officialcharts.com.
18. "Dodgy - Homegrown".
19. Newman, Melinda. (29 March 1997). "Mercury Dodges Releasing Dodgy Album; Compilation Lands on 'Mars'".
20. "Dodgy - Free Peace Sweet".
21. "Dodgy - Good Enough".