60 Ft. Dolls

Emerging from Newport's working-class environs in Wales, 60 Ft. Dolls inserted themselves into the post-grunge wave of the mid-1990s and achieved moderate U.K. traction without developing a truly distinctive identity. Richard Parfitt, handling vocals and guitar, crossed paths with bassist Mike Cole while both collected unemployment benefits, bonding over shared tastes in the Who, the Clash, the Jam, and Motown sounds that prompted them to collaborate. Their early performances remained unsteady for half a year until Carl Bevan joined on drums in 1993, solidifying the lineup. Son of Rockin' Reverend Ray Bevan, the newcomer brought jazz and soul sensibilities along with drumming inspirations drawn from John Bonham and Keith Moon, supplying a solid foundation for the punk-leaning trio that quickly cultivated an energetic regional audience across Wales. Their first single, "Happy Shopper," appeared in 1994, followed by "Pig Valentine" and "Stay," which attracted press attention. In 1995 the band supported Veruca Salt on the New Musical Express Brat Bus tour, leading directly to a contract with DGC. Their debut studio album, The Big 3, came out on Indolent in the U.K. in 1996 and reached American listeners via DGC the next year. The group spent the balance of 1996 playing European festivals and intimate North American dates. Joya Magica, their sophomore effort, surfaced in 1998 just before Indolent ended the relationship, and the band dissolved in 1999.