{{Short description|Welsh rock trio}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Lead too short|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = 60 Ft. Dolls | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = Newport, Wales | genre = Hard rock, Britpop<ref>John Everhart, [https://www.stereogum.com/1676549/caught-by-the-buzz-a-look-back-at-britpops-b-list/franchises/20-years-of-britpop/ "Caught By The Buzz: A Look Back At Britpop's B-List"], ''Stereogum'', 23 April 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2019.</ref> | years_active = 1993–1998 | label = Indolent Records (UK)<br />Geffen Records (US) | website = | current_members = | past_members = Carl Bevan<br />Mike Cole<br />Richard Parfitt }}
'''60 Ft. Dolls''' were a Welsh rock trio active in the 1990s, known as the Cool Cymru era.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last = Wilson |first = MacKenzie |title = ((( 60 Ft. Dolls > Overview ))) |website=AllMusic |url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p194732|pure_url=yes}} |access-date = 16 May 2008}}</ref>
==Formation== They were formed in Newport in 1992 by Richard J. Parfitt and Michael Cole,<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/a/60ftdolls/|title=BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 60ft Dolls|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> who met through Donna Matthews (later of Elastica),<ref>''I-D'', November 1995)</ref> who was at the time dating Cole<ref name="godisinthetvzine.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2014/02/25/interview-carl-bevan60ft-dolls-the-lash-prior-to-cool-cymru-welsh-music-was-generally-ridiculed-by-the-london-based-industry-and-had-no-chance-of-being-taken-seriously/|title=INTERVIEW: Carl Bevan (60ft Dolls, The Lash) - "Prior to 'Cool Cymru', Welsh music was generally ridiculed by the London based industry and had no chance of being taken seriously".|website=Godisinthetvzine.co.uk|date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> and working part-time in the same pizza restaurant as Parfitt.<ref name="walesonline.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/britpop-bullets-break-ups---hellraising-9680107|title=Britpop, bullets and break-ups - 60ft Dolls remembered|first=David|last=Owens|date=July 17, 2015|website=Walesonline.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> After problems finding the right drummer, they eventually took on pastor's son Carl Bevan.<ref>''NME'', p. 10, 13 May 1995</ref> Initially influenced by touring American hardcore bands that played in Newport (and in particular prominent local venue T. J.'s),<ref>''The Independent'' section 2, p. 7, 21 December 1995</ref> the Dolls played noisy yet melodic rock, described by the ''NME'' as "grunge mod...proto-pub metal blues of the first order".<ref>''NME'', April, 1995</ref> In 1993, Huw Williams of the Pooh Sticks became their manager<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070107061737/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/60ft_dolls/ Wales - Music - 60ft Dolls]. BBC (2009-07-03). Retrieved on 2012-04-01.</ref> and released the debut single "Happy Shopper", named after a British convenience store chain, on his own Townhill label.<ref>''Select'', September 1994</ref> thumb|Richard Parfitt of 60ft Dolls, Southampton Guildhall 1996. thumb|Michael Cole of 60ft Dolls, Southampton Guildhall 1996. ==Tours and 1990s success== In 1995 they joined the first 'BratBus' NME tour with Veruca Salt, Marion and Skunk Anansie.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> After support spots with Oasis, Elastica and Dinosaur Jr.,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.piccadillyrecords.com/counter/product.php?pid=104119|title=60ft Dolls - The Big 3 - Deluxe Expanded Edition / 3 Loop from Piccadilly Records|website=Piccadillyrecords.com|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> 60 Ft. Dolls released their second single "White Knuckle Ride" on Rough Trade Records and then "Pig Valentine" on the RCA imprint Indolent Records. These early singles were championed heavily by BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq, and as a consequence were picked up by influential American DJ Rodney Bingenheimer of KROQ-FM. This resulted in the band signing a deal with Geffen Records in the US.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-rovers-return-1151237.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315171246/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-rovers-return-1151237.html |archive-date=2016-03-15 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Music: Rovers return|date=March 20, 1998|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' listed "Pig Valentine" among its 1996 singles of the year.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/04/arts/the-pop-life-043389.html?pagewanted=al | work=The New York Times | title=The Pop Life | first=Neil | last=Strauss | date=4 January 1996 | access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> The band broke into the UK Top 40 with their fourth single "Talk to Me" (Indolent, 1996), the video for which extensively featured the Newport Transporter Bridge.<ref>{{youTube|19DPCAog4gI|60 Ft Dolls - Talk to Me (Version 1)}}</ref> This was followed by their debut album, ''The Big 3'', which was produced by Al Clay,<ref name="godisinthetvzine.co.uk"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/al-clay-mn0000642909|title=Al Clay | Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> Reviews called it "as close to soar-away rock perfection as it's possible to imagine" by the ''NME''<ref>''NME'', 30 November 1996</ref> and "pure, unadulterated, no nonsense, emotional, tuneful, impassioned, purposeful, hedonistic rock 'n' roll"<ref>''Melody Maker'', December 1996</ref> by ''Melody Maker''. The album was included in ''Select'' magazine's top 30 albums of 1996<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2011/01/albums.jpg|title=Select Magazine Website|website=Selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> and ''Mojo'''s 2003 retrospective feature "Top 12 Britpop albums of the 90s", which called it "a devilishly evocative document of the period".<ref>''Mojo'', p. 82, April 2003</ref>
The band toured extensively in the UK, Japan and Europe, including several summer festival appearances such as Glastonbury 1997<ref name="godisinthetvzine.co.uk"/> as well as opening for The Sex Pistols at their 1996 Finsbury Park reunion gig.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/60ft+Dolls 60ft Dolls Discography at Discogs]. Discogs.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.</ref> But they were dogged by alcohol problems, and after an exhaustive three tours of the US in 1997, never toured again.<ref>''Select'', May 1997</ref> They released their second album, ''Joya Magica'', in 1998<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/60ft-dolls/pages/biography.shtml|title=BBC Wales - Music - 60ft Dolls - Biography|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> but the band were dropped from their label deal along with other acts at Indolent<ref name="godisinthetvzine.co.uk"/> and split soon after.<ref>''Q'', July 1998</ref>
The band recorded two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, in 1996 and 1998,<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> and appear in the top 125 Peel sessions of all time.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/top125/ Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Sessions - Best 125]. BBC. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.</ref>
Mike Cole once played guitar for Newport's The Darling Buds but was asked to leave after just three gigs. He was also asked to stand in for Paul McGuigan on Oasis' 1996 tour of the US, but declined.<ref>''The Chart Show'', 20 January 1996</ref>
The track "Hair", written by Mike Cole about his then-girlfriend Donna Matthews, was placed Number 7 in ''Mojo'''s "100 Most Miserable Indie Songs of All Time" feature.<ref>''Mojo'', p. 94, June 2004</ref>
The Dolls were included, with Catatonia and others, in a House of Commons Early Day Motion, extolling the virtues of Newport's rock and roll credentials.<ref>''The Observer'', 24 November 1996</ref>
Carl Bevan's father, Pastor Ray Bevan, heads one of the biggest evangelical churches in the UK and once sang guest vocals on the Dolls' "Let The Spirit Move You", a 12" white label-only release, limited to one thousand copies and mixed by Wubble-U.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/release/1239557 60ft Dolls - Alison's Room (CD) at Discogs]. Discogs.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.</ref>
==Later history== Richard Parfitt played as a session musician after the band split, working with the likes of McAlmont & Butler and Dido,<ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/> and later released a solo album called ''Highlights in Slow Motion'' in 2002.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He started teaching songwriting at Bath Spa University<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11882935.ex-60ft-dolls-frontman-richard-j-parfitt-becomes-university-lecturer/|title=Ex-60ft Dolls frontman becomes university lecturer|newspaper=South Wales Argus|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220122935/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11882935.ex-60ft-dolls-frontman-richard-j-parfitt-becomes-university-lecturer/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and then in 2015 became a senior lecturer in popular and commercial music at the University of South Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwales.ac.uk/news/2015/60ft-dolls-front-man-richard-parfitt-joins-usw/|title=60ft Dolls front man Richard Parfitt joins USW to teach Popular Music|website=Southwales.ac.uk|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref>
Welsh pop-soul singer Duffy credits Parfitt with "changing her life"<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/08/17/st_duffy.xml&page=1 | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Duffy: small wonder | first=Lucy | last=Cavendish | date=17 August 2008 | access-date=23 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and setting her on the road to fame after he hooked her up with manager Jeanette Lee.<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/music/features/D/duffy-syrup-and-honey-video.html Music]. Channel 4. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.</ref><ref>[https://www.nme.com/reviews/duffy/9535 NME Album Reviews - Duffy]. Nme.Com (2008-02-29). Retrieved on 2012-04-01.</ref>
Bevan took a few years off from music, before getting into producing into 2008.<ref name="godisinthetvzine.co.uk"/> Later, he produced ''Black Junk'', the 2011 album by Cardiff trio Exit International, which was shortlisted in the 2012 Welsh Music Awards.<ref name="godisinthetvzine.co.uk"/> In 2012 the former 60 Ft. Dolls drummer launched a new project, the female-fronted rock and roll band The Lash.<ref name="godisinthetvzine.co.uk"/>
''The Big 3'' was re-released as a 2CD special edition in 2015 by 3 Loop Music,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://3loopmusic.tmstor.es/cart/product.php?id=25096|title=The Big 3 Expanded Edition|website=3loopmusic.tmstor.es|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> including B-sides chosen by the band and tracks from their Peel sessions.<ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/>
Bevan's death was announced on 9 August 2024. He was 51.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxjw2n4l40o|title=Carl Bevan: 60ft Dolls drummer and Newport artist dies|date=9 August 2024|website=BBC News|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== *''The Big 3'' (Indolent, 1996/Geffen, 1997) UK: No. 36<ref name="chartSTATSAB">[https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ 60ft Dolls at Official Charts Company] ''officialcharts.com''</ref> *''Joya Magica'' (Indolent/Geffen, 1998) *''The Big 3'' (2CD reissue, 3 Loop Music, 2015)
===EPs=== *''Supernatural Joy EP'' (Geffen, 1996) * ''Hair EP'' (Indolent, 1996)
===Singles=== *"Happy Shopper" (Townhill, 1994) *"White Knuckle Ride" (Rough Trade, 1995) UK: No. 138 *"Pig Valentine" (Indolent, 1995) UK: No. 95 *"Talk to Me" (Indolent, 1996) UK: No. 37<ref name="chartSTATSAB"/> *"Stay" (Indolent, 1996) UK: No. 48<ref name="chartSTATSAB"/> *"Happy Shopper" (re-recording) (Indolent, 1996)UK: No. 38<ref name="chartSTATSAB"/> *"Alison's Room" (Indolent, 1998) UK: No. 61<ref name="chartSTATSAB"/>
===Compilation appearances=== *"London Breeds" on ''I Was a Teenage Gwent Boy'' (Frug Records, 1994) *"Dr Rat" on ''Club Spangle'' (Spangle Records, 1995) *"British Racing Green" on ''For Immediate Use'' (Raw, 1995) *"The Universal" on ''Long Ago and Worlds Apart'' (Nippon Crown, 1995) *"Number 1 Pure Alcohol" on ''Home Truths'' (Echo, 1995) *"Happy Shopper" on ''Indie Top 20, Volume 21'' (Beechwood Music, 1996) *"Talk to Me" on ''Indie Top 20, Volume 23'' Beechwood Music, 1996) *"Pony Ride" on ''London Calling 1'' (London Calling, 1996) *"Talk to Me" on ''Mad for It'' (Telstar, 1996) *"Stay" on ''The Best Album in The World Ever! Vol. 3'' (Circa Records, 1996) *"Stay" on ''The Magnificent Seven'' cassette (Melody Maker covermount, 1996) *"Baby Says Yeah" on ''John Peel's Sounds Of The Suburbs'' (Shifty Disco 1999) *"Talk to Me" on ''Shine 5'' (Universal Music TV, 1996)
== See also == * Cool Cymru
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p194732|label=60 Ft. Dolls}} *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/a/60ftdolls/ BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 60ft Dolls] *{{discogs artist|60ft Dolls}} *{{imdb name|3302139}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:60 Ft Dolls}} Category:Musical groups established in 1993 Category:Cool Cymru Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1998 Category:Rock music groups from Newport, Wales Category:1993 establishments in Wales Category:1998 disestablishments in Wales Category:Welsh alternative rock groups Category:Britpop groups Category:Welsh musical trios Category:Geffen Records artists