The Dun Ringles

Zing Pop

Zing Is! Or soon will be. Ah yes, as the bands catchy catch phrase once stated, Zing Is! And indeed it was for a short while between the years of 1981 and 1983, when Zing Pop flourished like a fresh herring awaiting a good dosing in salt. Formed from the ashes of The Wild Thing Band and featuring some of the most talent less musicians in the Western Isles, Zing Pop none the less became one of the leading lights in the front of house of the AGOFR movement.

Consisting of CJ Mitchell on vocals, ukelele, green, guitar and percussion; Cally ‘the Gonze’ Morrison on drums and percussive implements; Sandy ‘Stumpy’ Mackenzie on lead guitar, ukelele, and green and Iain ‘Wattie’ Watson on Stylophone and Casio VL-Tone, the band went on to create an indelible mark on the table cloth of music.

Zing Pop recorded and released two fine albums. In 1981 they recorded Zing Pop, a collection of songs recorded over a two or three night period up in CJ’s attic studio. Using only the lowest tech equipment available, the band soon had a blank tape full of songs, the words to which had been written by CJ, Wattie and Honkas during ‘study time’ during the Nov 1980 prelims. Ten copies of the tape were made, with one copy being sent to Mr John Peel, although to date he has not yet played any of the tracks on his show. (Mind you, he could have done, as no one listens to him anymore)

In August 1981, Zing Pop decided to host the Midges of Rock festival, to coincide with the Monsters of Rock festival at Donnington Park. Using the Scout Hall as a venue, Zing Pop invited a number of other AGOFR groups to appear, including Black Stan and The Props with Zing Pop as headliners.

The following year, the Lord of the Zings concept album was released. This was a summary of all three of Tolkeins Lord of the Rings books in twenty songs. This time due to the huge demand for Zing Pop material 25 copies were made. Shortly after it’s release the 1982 Midges of Rock was held, once again in the Scout Hall, with Cyclefoot headlining. (this was the only way Zing Pop could get an audience by letting Cyclefoot headline)

That Xmas, the Winter Feis was held in the Scout Hall, where Zing Pop, Cyclefoot and the Guireans all played.

The following August the third and final Midges of Rock was held. Yet again in the Scout Hall, the bill this time featured Chastity In Motion, Cyclefoot, Zing Pop, the Guireans and special guests Swedish TV. In the summer of 83, Zing Pop also played live at Ardroil Beach top an audience of specially invited seagulls and rabbits.