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Library - Articles
Two-Ten Communications UNS Service
SHINY HAPPY M PEOPLE
By Nina Coon
UNS Features
They are justifiably cool. They love what they do, they're good at it, and millions
of people just happen to agree. Three albums and seven top-ten singles down the line, M
People's solid band of devotees have kept the album ''Bizarre Fruit'' in the charts for
nearly a year.
But the foursome - who appear to be more closeknit and supportive of one another than
any family - have spent long enough out of the limelight to know how to react now it's
shining on them. Mancunians Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and Londoners Shovell and
Heather Small have an aura that's unpretentious, genuine and very likeable. You could
quite easily bump into these guys down the pub and never guess at their popstar status.
''We've all been in bands that weren't in demand,'' says Mike - clearly the band's
father figure and the one most at ease in the spokesperson's chair
- ''you appreciate success much moore. But the more successful we get, the
harder the work becomes.''
Although the critics have not always been kind to them - their Mercury Music Prize
last year stirred certain NME-types to new and embarrassing heights of bitchery - the Ms
have weathered the storm and have come out unashamedly proud to be popular. Their music
has gone down as well in the Glastonbury quagmire as in the Ibiza clubs.
''I don't really see the point of music critics,'' shrugs Mike, as if the whole
business really does bore the socks off him. ''They're very narrow-minded in this
country, they think you should be either indie or dance, but I don't believe the public
think like that.''
Mike co-writes tracks with Paul, a graduate of The Guildhall School of Music with -
like Mike - a long, impressive list of musical credentials, including stints with Orange
Juice and Working Week. The two then hand over their work in skeletal form for diva
Heather to build on. And build on it she surely does, for the voice that emanates from
that petite and peachy woman is Aretha Franklin-huge.
Heather is the healthy member of this self-confessed band of 'party animals'. While
on tour, she and Mike are up at the crack of dawn and working out in the hotel gym:
Shovell and Paul are just stumbling back after a night on the tiles. ''We're all very
different,'' says Shovell. ''But our personalities complement each other, and it's made
us a stronger team.''
The Ms are limbering up for an extensive European tour, beginning in Milan on November 8,
and culminating with two gigs on home turf at the Manchester Arena, on December 15 and
16. They will also be releasing a new single, a version of The Small Faces' ''Itchycoo
Park'', on November 13. Refreshing, optimistic and with lashings of that feelgood factor,
this is certain to join ''Moving on Up'' and ''One Night in Heaven'' in the
foot-twitching greats hall of fame.
Up to this point Shovell, the chunky percussionist who carries an African carved
ebony staff around with him ''just for the pose'', has been uncharacteristically quiet.
How would he want M People's music to be remembered, say in a decade's time when maybe
the four of them will have gone their separate ways? ''You know sometimes you remember
either a person or an event?'' he perks up suddenly, ''and with that memory you get a
nice feeling? Well that's how.''
Note to Editors:
M People's UK tour dates are as follows:
November 24, 25, 26, Albert Hall, London
November 28, 29, Humberside Ice Arena, Hull
November 30, Westpoint Arena, Exeter
December 3, Brighton Centre.
December 4, 5, Birmingham NEC
December 7, Bournemouth BIC
December 8, Wembley Arena, London
December 9, International Arena, Cardiff
December 11, Exhibition Centre, Aberdeen
December 12, Newcastle Arena
December 14, Sheffield Arena
December 15, 16, Manchester Arena.
UNS
Contact: Amanda Freeman or Regine Moylett, Regine Moylett Publicity, 0171-221 0554
ends nc/sh
Reference: http://www.twoten.press.net/stories/95/11/01/features/MUSIC_Mpeople_Profile.html
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