The Dentists
Formed 1984 in Chatham, Kent, the group comprised Michael Murphy (b. 8 October 1963, Bexley, Kent, England; guitar/vocals), Robert Collins (b. 12 June 1965, Gillingham, Kent, England; lead guitar), Mark Matthew (b. 15 May 1965, Farnborough, Hampshire, England; bass) and drummer Ian Smith, subsequently replaced by Alun Gwynne Jones (b. 3 February 1966, Chatham, Kent, England) in 1986, and later by Robert Grigg (b. 28 July 1968, Canterbury, Kent, England) in 1991. The contemporaries of other Medway town bands such as the Milkshakes and the Prisoners, this hard-working band have been plying their brand of melodic, driving pop (reminiscent in parts of the Smiths), on the London club circuit into the '90s and have built up a sizable, loyal following. Their early EP, DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS AND CHATHAM (1986) garnered critical acclaim as did WRITHING ON THE SHAGPILE which made an appearance in the UK independent chart in 1987, but since then press attention has been diverted leaving the band to quietly go about their business, issuing several EPs on various labels. Their 1990 album, HEADS AND HOW TO READ THEM, their strongest collection to date, secured favourable press reviews, but probably not strong enough to push the group out of the lower divisions in the UK they have inhabited since their inception. However, during 1991-92 the Dentists would appear to have gained an appreciable audience on the US college circuit, indicating that, there, similarly for the Jazz Butcherand Robyn Hitchcock, a potentially profitable future may lay ahead.