# The Moog Cookbook

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American electronic band

The Moog Cookbook The Moog Cookbook posing in front of various synthesizers and keyboards, circa 1996. From left: Meco Eno and Uli Nomi. Background information Origin California Genres Electronic comedy[1] Years active 1995–1998, 2004 Label Restless Past members Meco Eno (Roger Manning) Uli Nomi (Brian Kehew)

**The Moog Cookbook** was an American [electronic](/source/Electronic_music) duo consisting of [Meco Eno](/source/Roger_Joseph_Manning_Jr.) (Roger Manning) and [Uli Nomi](/source/Brian_Kehew) (Brian Kehew). The project was a [parody](/source/Parody) of and [tribute](/source/Tribute) to the novelty Moog records of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which featured [cover versions](/source/Cover_versions) of popular songs using the then-new [Moog synthesizer](/source/Moog_synthesizer).

The band released two albums in the mid-1990s: *[The Moog Cookbook](/source/The_Moog_Cookbook_(album))* (1996) featured instrumental [cover versions](/source/Cover_version) of contemporary [alternative rock](/source/Alternative_rock) songs, while its follow-up, *[Ye Olde Space Bande](/source/Ye_Olde_Space_Bande)* (1997), featured similar covers of [classic rock](/source/Classic_rock) tracks. The pair reunited in 2004 to record "Bob's Funk" for [the soundtrack](/source/Moog_(film)#Soundtrack) of the film *[Moog](/source/Moog_(film))*, a documentary on the life of [Robert Moog](/source/Robert_Moog).

In 2005, the group independently released *[Bartell](/source/Bartell_(album))*, an archival compilation album consisting of tracks recorded for compilations and soundtracks, remixes for other artists, holiday songs and other rarities.

## Formation and concept

Although the similarities were coincidental, the band was sometimes compared to [Daft Punk](/source/Daft_Punk) (pictured)

The Moog Cookbook was formed by [Roger Manning](/source/Roger_Joseph_Manning_Jr.) and [Brian Kehew](/source/Brian_Kehew) shortly after the demise of Manning's band [Jellyfish](/source/Jellyfish_(band)).[2][1] It was conceived as both a [parody](/source/Parody) of and [tribute](/source/Tribute) to the novelty Moog records of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which featured [cover versions](/source/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*."[3]

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](/source/Robert_Moog).[3] 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](/source/Daft_Punk). This was reportedly only a coincidence.[1] Kehew said that "The look of Moog Cookbook can be traced back to those kinds novelty bands like [the Spotnicks](/source/The_Spotnicks) and French disco band, [Space](/source/Space_(French_band)), who had a hit with "[Magic Fly](/source/Magic_Fly)" in 1977 and wore astronaut helmets and plastic jumpsuits. I know Daft Punk were into them too."[1]

## *The Moog Cookbook* and *Ye Olde Space Bande*

Their first album, *[The Moog Cookbook](/source/The_Moog_Cookbook_(album))* (1996), featured instrumental [cover versions](/source/Cover_version) of contemporary [alternative](/source/Alternative_rock)/[modern rock](/source/Modern_rock) songs by bands such as [Soundgarden](/source/Soundgarden), [Green Day](/source/Green_Day), and [Weezer](/source/Weezer).[2] 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."[3] Kehew said, "We would not reject *any* bad idea, that’s for sure."[3] Its [liner notes](/source/Liner_notes) contained the tagline "No [MIDI](/source/MIDI)." This is a direct parody of the "No Synthesizers!" tagline found in the liner notes of Queen albums throughout the 1970s.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The record was critically acclaimed[1] and became an underground hit.[2] Music journalist Brian Chidester commented that their debut record "yielded solid overseas sales amidst the retro-obsessed landscape of *[Pulp Fiction](/source/Pulp_Fiction)*, the Swing revival and thrift shop mania. The duo even performed live on [MTV](/source/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](/source/Stereolab), [Mouse on Mars](/source/Mouse_on_Mars) and [the High Llamas](/source/The_High_Llamas)."[1]

[Dave Grohl](/source/Dave_Grohl) from [the Foo Fighters](/source/The_Foo_Fighters) was a fan and commissioned the duo to record a piece for an opening segment of a Foo Fighters music video.[2] 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](/source/Air_(French_band)), the French band, who came to meet us a month later."[1] Afterward, Manning and Kehew joined Air on their first tour as supporting musicians and remixed their single "[Kelly Watch the Stars](/source/Kelly_Watch_the_Stars)" (1998).[1]

Ever been driven to murder? I almost have. It came with a listen to the heinous torture known as the Moog Cookbook.

— *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* founder [Ryan Schreiber](/source/Ryan_Schreiber)'s review of *[Ye Olde Space Bande](/source/Ye_Olde_Space_Bande)*[4]

In 1997, Moog Cookbook followed up with *[Ye Olde Space Bande](/source/Ye_Olde_Space_Bande)* (1997), which included similar covers of [classic rock](/source/Classic_rock) tracks by groups such as by [Kiss](/source/Kiss_(band)), [Boston](/source/Boston_(band)), [Led Zeppelin](/source/Led_Zeppelin).[2] It featured contributions from [Devo](/source/Devo)'s [Mark Mothersbaugh](/source/Mark_Mothersbaugh), who plays on the duo's version of [Van Halen](/source/Van_Halen)'s "[Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love](/source/Ain't_Talkin'_'bout_Love)".[1][3] Other musicians featured on album were [the MC5](/source/The_MC5)'s [Wayne Kramer](/source/Wayne_Kramer), [the Go-Gos](/source/The_Go-Gos)' [Charlotte Caffey](/source/Charlotte_Caffey), and [the Eels](/source/The_Eels)' [Mark Oliver Everett](/source/Mark_Oliver_Everett).[5]

## 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](/source/House_music) like Daft Punk. Not writing original songs, we didn't see a future in continuing to make what were essentially comedy records."[1] In Kehew's view: "Where [we] took it serious, Moog Cookbook was like [Spinal Tap](/source/Spinal_Tap_(band)) 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."[1]

In December 2014, a limited edition Christmas EP entitled *Xmas Recipes (Y Mas)* was released on [Bandcamp](/source/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.[6] The EP was only available for five days, with the official Bandcamp page being removed on 25 December.[7]

## Discography

- *[The Moog Cookbook](/source/The_Moog_Cookbook_(album))* (1996)

- *[Ye Olde Space Bande](/source/Ye_Olde_Space_Bande)* (1997)

- *[Moog](/source/Moog_(film)#Soundtrack)* (2004) ("Bob's Funk")

- *[Bartell](/source/Bartell_(album))* (2005) (rarities compilation)

- *Xmas Recipes (Y Mas)* (2014) (limited edition Christmas album/rarities compilation)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-Chidester13_1-10) Chidester, Brian (October 15, 2013). ["Moog Cookbook Were Daft Punk Before Daft Punk"](https://www.laweekly.com/moog-cookbook-were-daft-punk-before-daft-punk/). *[LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AllMusic_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AllMusic_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AllMusic_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-AllMusic_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-AllMusic_2-4) Prato, Greg (n.d.). ["The Moog Cookbook"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-moog-cookbook-mn0000891403/biography). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Yahoo18_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Yahoo18_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Yahoo18_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Yahoo18_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Yahoo18_3-4) Parker, Lyndsey (May 17, 2018). ["The Moog Cookbook talk '90s synth spoofs: 'We sank our teeth into songs we wanted to destroy and make gross'"](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/moog-cookbook-talk-tbt-synth-spoofs-sank-teeth-songs-wanted-destroy-make-gross-161053236.html). *Yahoo*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Schreiber, Ryan. ["The Moog Cookbook: Ye Olde Space Bande: Pitchfork Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20000816182400/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/m/moog-cookbook/ye-olde-space-bande.shtml). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Condé Nast](/source/Cond%C3%A9_Nast). Archived from [the original](http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/m/moog-cookbook/ye-olde-space-bande.shtml) on August 16, 2000. Retrieved May 2, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Prato, Greg. ["*Ye Olde Space Bande: Plays the Classic Rock Hits* Overview"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r317706). [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved May 2, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Manning, Rodger (December 20, 2014). ["Roger Joseph Manning Jr"](https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/56543402696/10153077191967697). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.facebook.com/RogerJosephManningJr/posts/don-your-antlers-set-your-yule-logs-ablaze-stuff-your-stockings-with-amanita-shr/10153077191967697/) on February 26, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Manning, Rodger (December 25, 2014). ["Roger Joseph Manning Jr"](https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/56543402696/10153093182087697). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.facebook.com/RogerJosephManningJr/posts/10153093182087697?__tn__=-R) on February 26, 2022.

## External links

- ["The Day the Moog Cookbook Came to Visit"](https://web.archive.org/web/19981207052118/http://www.synthmuseum.com/mc/index.html). *Synth Museum*. November 1997. Archived from the original on December 7, 1998.

- Parys, Bill Van (August 8, 1996). ["The Moog Cookbook"](http://zenandjuice.com/music/moog_cookbook/rolling_stone_740_080896.txt). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*.

- [Eno, Meco](/source/Roger_Joseph_Manning_Jr.) (July 2005). ["Glutons for Gear: Escaping into the Moog Cookbook"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130612185316/http://www.rogerjosephmanningjr.com/projects/moogcookbook/). *rogerjosephmanningjr.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.rogerjosephmanningjr.com/projects/moogcookbook/) on June 12, 2013.

- [\[1\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20100704184709/http://weirdestbandintheworld.com/2010/06/10/the-moog-cookbook/)

v t e Roger Joseph Manning Jr. Studio albums Solid State Warrior Robo-Sapiens (as Malibu) Catnip Dynamite Related bands Beatnik Beatch Jellyfish Imperial Drag The Moog Cookbook The Moog Cookbook Ye Olde Space Bande Bartell TV Eyes The Lickerish Quartet

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Moog Cookbook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moog_Cookbook) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moog_Cookbook?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.