{{Short description|British musical group}} {{Other uses|Snapdragon (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Snapdragons | image = | image_size = | origin = Leeds, England | genre = Alternative rock | years_active = {{Start date|1987}}–{{End date|1990}} | label = Native | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} --> | past_members = *James Taylor *John Sullivan *Simon "Spike" Mullings *Pellegrino "Pel" Riccardi }}

'''The Snapdragons''' (sometimes referred to as '''The Snapdragons UK''', to distinguish them from the later American band of the same name) were an indie rock band from Leeds, England.<ref>{{cite news | author=Simon Reynolds | author-link=Simon Reynolds | title=The Snapdragons:Youth Kulture | newspaper=Melody Maker | volume=66 | issue=14 | date=7 April 1990 | page=39}}</ref> They were led by their singer and main songwriter, James Taylor (not to be confused with The Prisoners mainman or the American singer-songwriter of the same name). They released two albums and four singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s, while signed to the independent record label, Native Records.

==History== The band signed to Native Records, who released their first single, "The Things You Want", in 1988, and in February that year they recorded a session for Simon Mayo's BBC Radio 1 show.<ref name="Garner">Garner, Ken (1993) ''In Session Tonight'', BBC Books, {{ISBN|0563364521}}, p. 295</ref> "The Things You Want" was included on Volume VI of the ''Indie Top 20'' series of albums (and later on Cherry Red Records' ''C88'' compilation). The band's debut album, ''Dawn Raids on Morality'', was produced by Pat Collier and released in 1989.<ref>{{cite news | author=Dave Simpson | title=Albums: The Snapdragons | newspaper=Melody Maker | volume=65 | issue=29 | date=22 July 1989 | page=34}}</ref> In 1989, they also recorded a session for the BBC Radio 1 DJ, John Peel.<ref name="Garner" /><ref name="Cacciatore">Cacciatore, Alessio & Di Berardino, Giorgio (2018) ''Britannica. Dalla scena di Manchester al Britpop'', Vololibero, {{ISBN|978-8897637905}}</ref> The band toured the UK and supported other Native Records acts, such as The Darling Buds and Richard Hawley's debut band, Treebound Story.<ref name="Cacciatore" /><ref>{{cite news | author=Andrew Smith | title=Live! The Snapdragons | newspaper=Melody Maker | volume=64 | issue=50 | date=10 December 1988 | page=20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Dave Simpson | title=Live! The Cassandra Complex / The Snapdragons | newspaper=Melody Maker | volume=65 | issue=19 | date=13 May 1989 | page=25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Robert Yates | title=Live! The Snapdragons | newspaper=Melody Maker | volume=65 | issue=31 | date=5 August 1989 | page=24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Sharon O'Connell | title=Live! The Snapdragons | newspaper=Melody Maker | volume=65 | issue=45 | date=11 November 1989 | page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Andrew Smith | title=Live! The Snapdragons | newspaper=Melody Maker | volume=66 | issue=13 | date=31 March 1990 | page=27}}</ref><ref>Ascough, Phil (1988) "Snapping at the Heels of Success", ''Hull Daily Mail'', 8 June 1988</ref> The band were amongst indie bands tipped to do well in 1990, alongside James, The Family Cat, Asia Fields and The Wood Children.<ref>{{cite news | author=Steve Turner | author-link=Steve Turner (writer) | title=Colleges Swing to Dancing | newspaper=The Times | date=5 January 1990 | page=19}}</ref> However inconsistent performances by the band, and the departure of John Sullivan and later "Spike" Mullings, hindered the band's ability to reach a wider audience.

The follow-up album ''The Eternal in a Moment'' (1990) was a compilation of tracks from singles and EPs not found on the first album, and included "The Things You Want" and "The Eternal in a Moment", which were the band's first two singles.

A second studio album entitled ''Mass'' was recorded with Nigel Lister replacing John Sullivan on guitar. However this was not issued by Native, due to legal problems which effectively saw the demise of the band.

Drummer Pel Riccardi went on to join the Utah Saints.

The band's last single, "Dole Boys on Futons", was included on Cherry Red's ''C89'' compilation in 2018.<ref>Canty, Ian (2018) "[https://louderthanwar.com/various-artists-c89-album-review/ C89 Album Review]", ''Louder Than War'', 24 July 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2021</ref>

Simon "Spike" Mullings died in a kayaking accident on 1 September 2024, at the age of 57.<ref>{{cite web |title=For Simon Mullings |url=https://nearlylegal.co.uk/2024/09/for-simon-mullings/ |website=Nearly Legal |access-date=9 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Emmerson |first1=David |title=Simon Mullings obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2024/oct/20/simon-mullings-obituary |access-date=20 October 2024 |publisher=The Guardian |date=20 October 2024}}</ref>

==Personnel== *James Taylor (vocals, guitar, main songwriter) *John Sullivan (guitar, piano, songwriter) *Simon "Spike" Mullings (bass guitar) *Pellegrino "Pel" Riccardi (drums)

==Discography== ;7" singles *1988 "The Things You Want" - 7NTV 37 *1989 "The Eternal in a Moment" - 7NTV 47

;12" singles *1988 "The Things You Want" - 12NTV 37 *1989 "Dole Boys On Futons" - 12NTV 41 *1989 "No Expectations" - 12NTV 46 *1989 "The Eternal in a Moment" - 12NTV 47 *1989 "Dole Boys on Futons" - CD NTV 41 (3&nbsp;inch CD)

;Albums *1989 ''Dawn Raids on Morality'' *1990 ''The Eternal in a Moment''

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1980s/1989/Oct01snapdragons/ BBC John Peel - The Snapdragons at Maida Vale] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081122020226/http://www.nativerecords.co.uk/ Official Native Records website] * {{discogs artist|The Snapdragons}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Snapdragons, The}} Category:Indie rock groups from Leeds Category:Alternative rock groups from Leeds Category:Musical groups established in 1987 Category:1987 establishments in England Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1990 Category:1990 disestablishments in England