Could the Shoe Ponies have been Scotland鈥檚 biggest ever band?
The Shoe Ponies emerged from the vibrant music scene of the Glasgow of 1998, with their first single 鈥淪top Tormenting The Dog鈥� 鈥� a surprise hit. They were soon celebrated by the music press and lead singer Charlie Dolan was never far from controversy, famously calling Robbie Williams a 鈥渇at doob鈥� at the Brits Awards.
Dolan recorded his debut solo album - 鈥淎cross The Gardens Of Babylon (In Ships Of Echo Blue): Part One 鈥� The Revelation鈥� which he promised would be 鈥渢he most important album of the new millennium, and all millennia hencewards.鈥� It failed to chart.
High-profile relationships with fashion models and actresses followed for Dolan; his bandmates seemed to tire of the distractions. In 2000, the Shoe Ponies went on haitus while Dolan recorded his debut solo album 鈥淎cross The Gardens Of Babylon (In Ships Of Echo Blue): Part One 鈥� The Revelation鈥� which he promised would be 鈥渢he most important album of the new millennium, and all millennia hencewards.鈥� It failed to chart.
Dolan reformed the Shoe Ponies with new bandmates, unable to resist a pop at his old friends by naming the new band 鈥淭he Actual Shoe Ponies鈥�. Their album 鈥淏ang Yer Jets鈥� made little impact, but is notable for the album cover depicting Charlie Dolan riding naked on a pantomime horse with his bandmates inside. The Ponies and Dolan were dropped by their label soon afterwards.
Now, in 2014, Dolan has returned home to North Glasgow to attempt to reforge old alliances but all doesn鈥檛 appear to be going to plan...
Fancy covering the Shoe Ponies?
If you鈥檇 like a bit of time basking in the glow of one of Scotland's biggest exports 鈥� who wouldn鈥檛? 鈥� why not take a pop at the one of their biggest hits below?
Dreams of Epiphany (Part VI)
In the halls of Gethsemane
Under the light of the baleful moon
I see you dance
(I see you dance)
With your belly top on
I can see your belly button
Having dreams of epiphany!
Part six in roman numerals!
Centaurs and Minotaurs
And lipstick and stockings too.
In the gardens of Babylon
I see you with your tight little shorts
Your pale skin like the seas of eternity
I see you dance
Like her out of the books!
Your backside is banging
Having dreams of epiphany!
Part six in roman numerals!
We will ride on the back of the dragon
Riding in the sky me and you
Spoken
Riding in the sky
You and your guy
That's me
If your pal wants to come too
That's fine
What's her name
鈥淢补苍别濒迟补鈥�
She sounds a belter
Where is she from?
鈥淎罢尝础狈罢滨厂鈥�
I really want this!
Having dreams of epiphany!
Part six in roman numerals!
Tell your da you'll be home after midnight
Manage a trois in the pyramids
Menage a trois in the nth dimension
Menage a trois in the zoo
Menage a trois, me and you
The rise and fall of the Shoe Ponies
Could they have been Scotland biggest band?
A local legend returns with a spectacular entrance
Charlie Dolan returns to his former hangout and quickly turns some heads.
Five questions with Charlie Dolan
In this rare archive interview written at the height of his fame, this unique glimpse into the pysche of a genius offers some idea of what it takes to be Charlie Dolan.
Q: Favourite Food?
A: It has to be grits. All my favourite soul and R&B artists sing about grits all the time, so I just had to try them. These days I'm grits mad. Grits this, grits that, 24/7. My ma in Glasgow says to me 鈥淵ou'll turn into a grits at this rate!鈥�
Q: Ideal Dinner Party Guest?
A: I love a mellow night, so it would have to be people I'd definitely click with. Debbie Harry (only the young version) would be great. I think she'd be into it. Her out of The Bangles could come as well, when she was young. In terms of guys it would have to be someone like-minded, like Bowie. I'd love to play him a few Ponies tracks, to get his spin on what we're trying to change.
Q: Favourite Film?
A: I went to see a film last week with my much older friend Jas Mann from Babylon Zoo. We talked all the way through it. I think that's just the way creative people are 鈥� it's hard to switch off. So I don't watch films that much. They're a bit boring. My favourite is probably Citizen Kane.
Q: Best Pick-Up Line?
A: Ah, now we get to something I do know about! Haha! I actually find pick-up lines a bit naff and really sexist, to be honest. There's a Ponies song called 鈥淭ell Her Your Heartbeats鈥� which is about exactly that. You should just be honest with a wee bird you've clocked in a club. Tell her what moves you, what makes you tick. Tell her what hurts you. Tell her your heartbeats.
Q: Where will you be in ten years time?
A: Part of me would like to think I will have found some sort of escape from fame. Maybe I'll be working as a logger in Canada. Just doing logs and coming home to my beautiful wife (a retired model) at night. But no doubt I'll still be banging away on this guitar night after night, on the road. I love all the Ponies out there, all the fans, and I think what we've got going on will last for a lifetime. I've got a lot of wisdom that needs to be expressed. What was it Socrates said? 鈥淭he only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.鈥� What a lot of rubbish.
