THE CUDDLY TOYS STORY

Based around the Bowie influenced Sean Purcell, The Cuddly Toys developed from the ashes of Punk Rockers "Raped" whose EP " Pretty Paedophile" [1978] in the late 70's generated Punk-Rock shock attention that eventually backfired.Seeking a more sophisticated direction the band redefined itself and took the name Cuddly Toys [ what could be more user friendly than such an inoffensive name? ] before re-launching their Sub-Ziggy album Guillotine Theatre.

The album sold respectable "Indie Label" units in the UK and supposedly sold vast amounts in Japan and the Far East ["we don't do much business here but we're real Big in Japan!"]. Strong attention was focused on them after they released the splendid "Madman" [the only Bowie - Bolan tune known to exist] before setting off on a roller coaster ride remodelling Glam for the 80's.Internal strife and financial limitations broke up the band and Sean Purcell eventually found himself solo with the rights to the name "Cuddly Toys".

After landing a management deal with the, then notorious, KN & Gorgeous George [if you don't get it then ask someone who does] Sean set about creating The Cuddly Toys 2.0. After finally accruing a secure Second Line-Up, the band recorded Trials & Crosses which revealed a more sophisticated and pop orientated direction - it also defined the focus squarely on Sean as THE Mainman of the band.Despite gigs, PR and as much promo as could be reasonably achieved poor sales and the changing market meant the end for The Cuddly Toys 2.0 and once again Sean was on his own. [ A variety of personal changes and problems also helped to herald this situation. ]

Tracks for a third album [Sean's working title was CO3 - a personal joke] were recorded in London under the management deal but never actually surfaced aside from some tapes of Rough Mixes to friends and family [Do KN & GG still have the Masters?] - a tragedy because these tracks were so right for the time and were much more developed even than the Trials & Crosses material.

Following these disappointments Sean relocated to Birmingham where there was a period of reassessment and soul searching before finally putting together The Cuddly Toys V.3 Principally playing the Birmingham area during 1983 - 1984 with a hard hitting line-up [specifics unknown] that carried punch and subtlety. The new songs left over from The Cuddly Toys 2.0 were mixed with older material and new songs which finally looked as if Sean would live up to the potential he always had…but once again it was slogging and chasing up Record Companies - and by 1984 the Music Industry was changing. Having eaten up most of the Indie Record companies or striking Distribution deals which controlled output, the Majors were once again securely in the driving seat, calling the shots and destroying careers.Despite the strength of the new line-up and material a Major deal still proved elusive. Reluctant to go back to the Indie Production Merry-Go-Round again The Cuddly Toys V.3 eventually bit the dust amid disappointment, apathy and personal reassessment.

From here Sean stopped his dedicated pursuit of Fame, Success and Good Times, finding something more within his life. Within a couple of years he disappeared from the mainstream sight of the industry and returned to his family in Ireland where he eventually returned to Music, but with much more of a Celtic orientation. During the late 80's and early 90's Sean appeared to find his stride, finding personal happiness and playing Music he actively enjoyed.

The final tragedy in The Story of The Cuddly Toys came about the mid 90's. Following a series of inexplicable medical problems Sean was finally diagnosed with a Brain Tumour which, despite surgery and treatment, eventually led to his untimely death during 1996.Sean left a legacy which never reached fulfilment. We still miss him.

JH

THE CUDDLY TOYS

ORIGINAL LINE-UP:
Sean Purcell (vocals),

Fabian Kwest (guitar),

Tony Baggett (bass),

Paddy (drums).

As class-of-'77 punks, they released a 7-inch EP which included the hardly shocking 1:20 theme song, "Raped."

Along with a name change to Cuddly Toys, the quartet dyed their hair, donned androgynous threads and began playing Bowie-style glam-rock.

Despite an auspicious debut 45 (covering "Madman," the only song ever co-written by Bowie and Marc Bolan), their first album is highly Ziggy Stardust.

Based in London - Birmingham - Ireland, this band mutated from late-70s glam-punks Raped, and seemed guided by their vocalist Sean Purcell's David Bowie fixation.

Trials And Crosses, by a revamped line-up (retaining only singer Sean Purcell), heralds a change of style and orientation indicating a genuine progress and heralding the sophistication of the unreleased third album [CO3?]

Singles MADMAN (Fresh FRESH 10) 19 8 19/7/80

Albums : GUILLOTINE THEATRE (Fresh FLP 1) 11 1 2/2/80

Albums : TRIALS AND CROSSES (1982; FRESH).

ORIGINAL RAPED LINE-UP:
Sean Purcell (vocals)

Fabian Kwest (guitar)

Tony Baggett (bass)

Paddy Pheld(drums).

CUDDLY TOYS 1

Sean Purcell (vocals)

Fabian Kwest (guitar)

Tony Baggett (bass)

Paddy Pheld(drums).

Billy Surgeoner (kbds)

CUDDLY TOYS 2

Sean Purcell

David Kovacevic

Robert Barker

Terry Noakes

S. Paul Wilson

DISCOGRAPHY

Raped :Pretty Paedophile EP 1978

Cheap Night Out / Foreplay Playground 1978

Philes & Smiles [Official Bootleg 1984]

S I n g l e s

Madman / Join The Girls - 1980

Astral Joe / Slow Down - 1980

Someone's Crying / Bring on the Ravens - 1980

It's A Shame / Fall Down - 1981

Broken Mirrors EP - 1981

Broken Mirrors

Someone's Crying

Dancing Glass [Inst

]Slide

A l b u m s

Cuddly Toys - Guillotine Theatre - 1980

Cuddly Toys - Trials And Crosses - 1982

Cuddly Toys - CO3 [Unreleased]

Cuddly Toys - Best Of The Cuddly Toys - 2001

GUILLOTINE THEATRE

1. INTROVENUS

2. BRAIN SAVIOUR

3. JOIN THE GIRLS

4. WOLF

5 MADMAN

6. UNIVERSE

7. ASTRAL JOE

8. MY COMMANDO

9. FULL CIRCLE

10. ALIEN

11. GUILLOUTINE THEATRE

12. TIME WARP

TRIALS AND CROSSES

1 ONE CLOSE STEP 03:03

2 NORMANDY NIGHTFALL 02:45

3 LO & BEHOLD 04:55

4 MALICE 03:21

5 PIERROT 04:05

6 TRIALS & CROSSES 03:21

7 ACTION 03:12

8 COLUMBINE SONG 01:35

9 IT'S A SHAME 03:20

10 FALL DOWN 03:32

BEST OF THE CUDDLY TOYS

1. ITS A SHAME
2. TRIALS AND CROSSES
3. MADMAN
4. SLIDE
5. ONE STEP CLOSER
6. JOIN THE GIRLS
7. SOMEONES CRYING
8. UNIVERSE
9. FALL DOWN
10. BROKEN MIRRORS
11. ACTION
12. ASTRAL JOE
13. BRING ON THE RAVENS
14. GUILLOTINE THEATRE
15. MALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
16. PIERROT LUNAIRE
17. SLOW DOWN
18. MADMAN (ENHANCED VIDEO)

Cherry Red Records. 2001.
Album Details
Band That Emerged From The Ashes Of The Controversial Late 70's Punk Band Raped,

Forming A Fusion Between Their Punk Roots And Glam.

Album Description
UK Compilation For Bowie-Influenced Glam-Rock Band Formed From The Ashes Of Punk Act Raped.

OTHER CUDDLY TOYS MATERIAL :

LIVE VIDEO BOOTLEG TRACK LISTING

THE CUDDLY TOYS LIVE AT PAISLEY TECH (FEB 6 1982)

IT'S A SHAME

SOMEONE'S CRYING

TRIALS AND CROSSES

ONE CLOSE STEP

ACTION

CO3

ANGEL TOYS

REACH OUT

LO AND BEHOLD

BROKEN MIRRORS

FALL DOWN

MALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

THE CUDDLY TOYS - LIVE AT THE REFORMATION CLUB, BIRMINGHAM [ MAY 1983]

Full Track Listing Unavailable : Includes

CO

3Big Ship

Panic In Detroit

Action

It's a Shame

Malice

Angel Station