{{short description|American electronic band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Moog Cookbook | image = TheMoogCookbook.jpg | image_upright = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = The Moog Cookbook posing in front of various synthesizers and keyboards, circa 1996. {{break}} From left: [[Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|Meco Eno]] and [[Brian Kehew|Uli Nomi]]. | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = California | genre = {{hlist|[[Electronic music|Electronic]]|[[comedy music|comedy]]<ref name="Chidester13"/>}} | years_active = 1995–1998, 2004 | label = [[Restless Records|Restless]] | associated_acts = | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} or {{Official URL}} --> | current_members = | past_members = * [[Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|Meco Eno (Roger Manning)]] * [[Brian Kehew|Uli Nomi (Brian Kehew)]] | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}
'''The Moog Cookbook''' was an American [[Electronic music|electronic]] duo consisting of [[Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|Meco Eno]] (Roger Manning) and [[Brian Kehew|Uli Nomi]] (Brian Kehew). The project was a [[parody]] of and [[tribute]] to the novelty Moog records of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which featured [[cover versions]] of popular songs using the then-new [[Moog synthesizer]].
The band released two albums in the mid-1990s: ''[[The Moog Cookbook (album)|The Moog Cookbook]]'' (1996) featured instrumental [[cover version]]s of contemporary [[alternative rock]] songs, while its follow-up, ''[[Ye Olde Space Bande]]'' (1997), featured similar covers of [[classic rock]] tracks. The pair reunited in 2004 to record "Bob's Funk" for [[Moog (film)#Soundtrack|the soundtrack]] of the film ''[[Moog (film)|Moog]]'', a documentary on the life of [[Robert Moog]].
In 2005, the group independently released ''[[Bartell (album)|Bartell]]'', an archival compilation album consisting of tracks recorded for compilations and soundtracks, remixes for other artists, holiday songs and other rarities.
==Formation and concept== [[File:Daftpunklapremiere2010 ret.jpg|thumb|Although the similarities were coincidental, the band was sometimes compared to [[Daft Punk]] (pictured)]]
The Moog Cookbook was formed by [[Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|Roger Manning]] and [[Brian Kehew]] shortly after the demise of Manning's band [[Jellyfish (band)|Jellyfish]].<ref name="AllMusic" /><ref name="Chidester13" /> It was conceived as both a [[parody]] of and [[tribute]] to the novelty Moog records of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which featured [[cover versions]] of popular songs using the then-new Moog synthesizer. Manning recalled that "When Brian and I finally met, we ''knew'' we had to do this, because we knew we could do it right, and we knew we had the resources — before someone else did it, and did it ''wrong''."<ref name="Yahoo18">{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Lyndsey |title=The Moog Cookbook talk '90s synth spoofs: 'We sank our teeth into songs we wanted to destroy and make gross' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/moog-cookbook-talk-tbt-synth-spoofs-sank-teeth-songs-wanted-destroy-make-gross-161053236.html |website=Yahoo |date=May 17, 2018}}</ref>
The band's name is derived from a 1978 cookbook, ''Moog's Musical Eatery'', written by Shirleigh Moog, the first wife of synthesizer pioneer [[Robert Moog]].<ref name="Yahoo18" /> On stage and in their promotional materials, they donned space-suit disguises that were similar to outfits worn by another emerging electronic duo, [[Daft Punk]]. This was reportedly only a coincidence.<ref name="Chidester13" /> Kehew said that "The look of Moog Cookbook can be traced back to those kinds novelty bands like [[the Spotnicks]] and French disco band, [[Space (French band)|Space]], who had a hit with "[[Magic Fly]]" in 1977 and wore astronaut helmets and plastic jumpsuits. I know Daft Punk were into them too."<ref name="Chidester13" />
==''The Moog Cookbook'' and ''Ye Olde Space Bande''==
Their first album, ''[[The Moog Cookbook (album)|The Moog Cookbook]]'' (1996), featured instrumental [[cover version]]s of contemporary [[alternative rock|alternative]]/[[modern rock]] songs by bands such as [[Soundgarden]], [[Green Day]], and [[Weezer]].<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last1=Prato |first1=Greg |title=The Moog Cookbook |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-moog-cookbook-mn0000891403/biography |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=n.d.}}</ref> Manning said that he and Kehew "wanted to concentrate on bastardizing alternative hits. We couldn't wait to sink our teeth into songs we wanted to destroy and make really gross."<ref name="Yahoo18"/> Kehew said, "We would not reject ''any'' bad idea, that’s for sure."<ref name="Yahoo18" /> Its [[liner notes]] contained the tagline "No [[MIDI]]." This is a direct parody of the "No Synthesizers!" tagline found in the liner notes of Queen albums throughout the 1970s.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
The record was critically acclaimed<ref name="Chidester13" /> and became an underground hit.<ref name="AllMusic" /> Music journalist Brian Chidester commented that their debut record "yielded solid overseas sales amidst the retro-obsessed landscape of ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'', the Swing revival and thrift shop mania. The duo even performed live on [[MTV]] in full space regalia and found a small domestic audience attuned to similar electronic psych-pop coming out of Europe by bands like [[Stereolab]], [[Mouse on Mars]] and [[the High Llamas]]."<ref name="Chidester13" />
[[Dave Grohl]] from [[the Foo Fighters]] was a fan and commissioned the duo to record a piece for an opening segment of a Foo Fighters music video.<ref name="AllMusic"/> Daft Punk were also "huge fans", as Kahew remembered, "and came into the music store I was working in at the time. They were friends with [[Air (French band)|Air]], the French band, who came to meet us a month later."<ref name="Chidester13" /> Afterward, Manning and Kehew joined Air on their first tour as supporting musicians and remixed their single "[[Kelly Watch the Stars]]" (1998).<ref name="Chidester13" />
{{Quote box | quote = Ever been driven to murder? I almost have. It came with a listen to the heinous torture known as the Moog Cookbook. | source = —''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' founder [[Ryan Schreiber]]'s review of ''[[Ye Olde Space Bande]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Schreiber|first=Ryan|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/m/moog-cookbook/ye-olde-space-bande.shtml|title=The Moog Cookbook: Ye Olde Space Bande: Pitchfork Review|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816182400/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/m/moog-cookbook/ye-olde-space-bande.shtml|archivedate=16 August 2000|accessdate=2 May 2011}}</ref> | align = right | width = 25% |}}
In 1997, Moog Cookbook followed up with ''[[Ye Olde Space Bande]]'' (1997), which included similar covers of [[classic rock]] tracks by groups such as by [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Boston (band)|Boston]], [[Led Zeppelin]].<ref name="AllMusic" /> It featured contributions from [[Devo]]'s [[Mark Mothersbaugh]], who plays on the duo's version of [[Van Halen]]'s "[[Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love]]".<ref name="Chidester13" /><ref name="Yahoo18" /> Other musicians featured on album were [[the MC5]]'s [[Wayne Kramer]], [[the Go-Gos]]' [[Charlotte Caffey]], and [[the Eels]]' [[Mark Oliver Everett]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Prato|first=Greg|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r317706|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Ye Olde Space Bande: Plays the Classic Rock Hits'' Overview|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=May 2, 2011}}</ref> {{clear left}}
==Later years== Moog Cookbook disbanded in 1998. According to Manning: "As creatively fulfilling as it was, Moog Cookbook was not financially viable. We weren't coming out of rave culture and [[house music]] like Daft Punk. Not writing original songs, we didn't see a future in continuing to make what were essentially comedy records."<ref name="Chidester13">{{cite web |last1=Chidester |first1=Brian |title=Moog Cookbook Were Daft Punk Before Daft Punk |url=https://www.laweekly.com/moog-cookbook-were-daft-punk-before-daft-punk/ |website=[[LA Weekly]] |date=October 15, 2013}}</ref> In Kehew's view: "Where [we] took it serious, Moog Cookbook was like [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]] in so much as we loved the early synth sound enough that we could parody it. If those efforts played some small role in the larger electronic music explosion, then I'm proud of that."<ref name="Chidester13" />
In December 2014, a limited edition Christmas EP entitled ''Xmas Recipes (Y Mas)'' was released on [[Bandcamp]]. The album contained the last five tracks of the duo's previous compilation album, as well as six other holiday related tracks and rarities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Manning|first=Rodger|title=Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/RogerJosephManningJr/posts/don-your-antlers-set-your-yule-logs-ablaze-stuff-your-stockings-with-amanita-shr/10153077191967697/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/56543402696/10153077191967697 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|date=December 20, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The EP was only available for five days, with the official Bandcamp page being removed on 25 December.<ref>{{cite web|last=Manning|first=Rodger|title=Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/RogerJosephManningJr/posts/10153093182087697?__tn__=-R |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/56543402696/10153093182087697 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|date=December 25, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Discography== *''[[The Moog Cookbook (album)|The Moog Cookbook]]'' (1996) *''[[Ye Olde Space Bande]]'' (1997) *''[[Moog (film)#Soundtrack|Moog]]'' (2004) ("Bob's Funk") *''[[Bartell (album)|Bartell]]'' (2005) (rarities compilation) *''Xmas Recipes (Y Mas)'' (2014) (limited edition Christmas album/rarities compilation)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |title=The Day the Moog Cookbook Came to Visit |url=http://synthmuseum.com/mc/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981207052118/http://www.synthmuseum.com/mc/index.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 7, 1998 |website=Synth Museum |date=November 1997}} * {{cite magazine |last1=Parys |first1=Bill Van |title=The Moog Cookbook |url=http://zenandjuice.com/music/moog_cookbook/rolling_stone_740_080896.txt |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 8, 1996}} * {{cite web |last1=Eno |first1=Meco |authorlink1=Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|title=Glutons for Gear: Escaping into the Moog Cookbook |url=http://www.rogerjosephmanningjr.com/projects/moogcookbook/ |website=rogerjosephmanningjr.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612185316/http://www.rogerjosephmanningjr.com/projects/moogcookbook/ |archivedate=June 12, 2013 |date=July 2005}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100704184709/http://weirdestbandintheworld.com/2010/06/10/the-moog-cookbook/] {{Roger Joseph Manning Jr.}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moog Cookbook}} [[Category:American electronic music groups]] [[Category:Restless Records artists]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1995]] [[Category:1995 establishments in California]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1998]]