Mike TV were reborn again in 2008 after spending several years languishing under the phallic pseudonym of Pickled Dick. Like a middle aged moron who has found religion, the band set out to inform the world of their new found pop sensibilities without anyone really listening or caring. That first year saw the quirky quartet release a new 13 track S/T CD and tour with such bands as
ZOLOF THE ROCK AND ROLL DESTROYER, ARMY OF FRESHMEN, USELESS ID, THE DICKIES, RANDOM HAND and
GUTTERMOUTH as well as performing alongside stalwarts of the UK punk rock scene –
THE KING BLUES and
SONIC BOOM SIX.
2009 has already seen Mike TV headline the last ever show at London Astoria 2 and top the bill at the renowned Camden Underworld. In March the single
'LIE LOW, LILO' was released via Banquet Records in the U.K as a download/limited CD along with a brand new music video and and extensive headline U.K tour taking in such towns as Norwich and Weston-Super-Mare. Mike TV then followed this up with a 20 date trek through China, including playing at China's biggest Festival -
MIDI FESTIVAL and climbing up a massive wall.
In in the summer they encountered a major bummer as drummer Riff Reynolds left the band to pursue a career as a sous-chef. He was replaced by a Welsh school-girl from Stoke called Glyn Mellor. Tours with
CJ RAMONE (he was in a band called The Ramones) and Fat Wreck band
THE FLATLINERS followed with Glyn Mellor now firmly ensconced behind the drum stool. The band then decided to record a new E.P in order to finally embrace the new era of download music. The aforementioned E.P 'Stopgap' with three new songs and a
RAMONES cover (they used to have a member called CJ) was made available for one of those trendy 'pay what you want' downloads. Mike TV will endure their last headline tour of the year in order to promote this half baked idea throughout December, including a joint headline show at The Camden Underworld with homeless hobo ska-metal titans,
RANDOM HAND.
Their self-titled album produced and recorded by underground super-producer
Peter Miles (The King Blues / Sonic Boom Six / Captain Everything!) is out now in the UK on
Banquet Records, Hotpot Music in China and in Japan via
Thistime Records. You will be able to download the new 'Stopgap' E.P from our
Bandcamp page.
Mike TV have just been confirmed for
THE FEST in 2010. Actually this is a lie as that is for all those cool bands with the nice checked shirts and Andrew Cream. What a cunt.
REVIEWS & QUOTES.
“So charismatically chirpy is their power-pop assault that even songs about alcoholism or prison still have an infectious glee about them – It’s a brilliant wake-up call.”
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Rock Sound magazine
“The simple facts are that Mike TV are the best pop-punk band in the UK right now and this is one of the best UK releases of the year."
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Punktastic.com
“Impossibly infectious and lyrically impressive.”
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Big Cheese Magazine
"Mike TV's debut single, 'Lie Low, Lilo' is three minutes of pure pop rock bliss, that doesn't see the quartet put a foot out of step. Glorious harmonies, upbeat and driving rhythms, and a chorus that won't be leaving your head for a good few weeks are the backbone of this single, but the band are given a real ace card in the tongue in cheek but educated lyrics on offer." -
Rockmidgets.com
"Mike TV have made an impressive comeback here. Instead of merely picking up where their wacky former selves left off, they have returned to transcend themselves into an infinitely superior league to their former incarnation."
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Punkornothing.com
“Mike TV is a band you should definitely check out - they stand out from the pack with this quality fun release. Good times guaranteed.”
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Punknews.org
“It's refreshing to hear a band singing about what makes them tick - Mike TV are always a lot of fun, but their outgoing nature isn't a veneer to disguise any lack of material or talent; they've got it all.”
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The Mag
“Mike TV have clearly been listening to the Beach Boys, which results in songs you can’t get out of your head after listening to them just once.”
–
Up Magazine (NL)
LIVE REVIEWS.
"Mike TV's first London gig since ditching the Pickled Dick name and it goes brilliantly. Managing to get the most movement of the night they seem to go down a treat, especially when dropping old Pickled Dick songs in; I'm left thinking I should have put aside my hatred for the Pickled Dick name a long time ago."
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Punktastic.com
"Mike TV are England's answer to Green Day, pop punk is alive and well."
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Big Cheese Magazine
“Mike TV took the crowd up a level with a performance which never fails to engage. This band has huge charisma, guitarist Jhon spends as much time off stage as on and they're loads of fun. Great tunes in a Green Day mould, they should be huge, take the chance to see them while you still can in venues like this one. They're a fantastic band and you'll have a brilliant time.”
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Sandman Magazine
"You know when you see a great band when you don’t know the songs but somehow intuitively find yourself singing along - and Mike TV are a great band."
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Punkscene.co.uk
"Forthcoming single “Lie Low, Lilo” proves an example of the strength of material from last year’s self-titled album.... the big thing tonight though is the crowd. The band manages to entice involvement from a pack that has been noticeably uninvolved all evening, it goes a long way to displaying the pulling power Mike TV now has." -
Punktastic.com
Pickled Dick history:
The band (Mike TV used to be called Pickled Dick) have previously recorded fourteen track debut album 'Panda-moanium' (2005) and a follow-up six track E.P. 'Exercise Your Demons' (2006). Both discs were independently released under the name Pickled Dick, through their own label Don't Rush Me Records.
They played over 600 shows in the UK and mainland Europe since their formation in 2000, without the help of any major or independent record label. They performed at Guilfest and 'Wasted/Rebellion' Festivals held in Blackpool Winter Gardens and Amsterdam's prestigious Melkweg venue. They also toured with Sonic Boom Six, Howards Alias, Jesse James, Adequate Seven, The Fight and supported Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their UK tour in mid 2007, playing such venues as London's Kentish Town Forum and Carling Academy's in Birmingham and Newcastle. The band then followed all that up with a headline UK tour in late 2007, including headlining the Camden Underworld. They played with everyone from Gallows to Elliot Minor. They also won the Jagermeister 'National songwriting competition' in 2007. Their track is used to promote the Jagermeister advertising campaign. Sell outs? Definitely.
"Many of their songs are very intricate and longish, to the point where I described them as "bloody rock operas", but with their three-part harmonies and stop-on-a-dime changes, they're also incredibly catchy. Pickled Dick get my vote as one of England's better pop-punk bands today." -
Larry Livermore, founder of Lookout Records (Green Day).
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