Thanks so much to Stuart McArthur for the interview! I wrote about the superb Scottish 80s band Moroccan Coco some time ago on the blog. As it sometimes happen, Stuart got in touch and, even better, he was keen to tell the story behind the band. Also it is worth noting that the band would became the very good Kick Reaction a few years later, and Stuart shares some details about that too. Moroccan Coco only released one single, “One Day”, but it is a great one, totally worth tracking down!
++ Hi Stuart! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?
All good still involved with music and now recording a new album for release next year, a true homage to quality songwriting.been touring the world and releasing albums and singles since Kick Reaction and also toured with major artists.
++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?
Started playing guitar and accordion at 8 years of age then moved mainly to guitar and piano, then around 13 moved to bass guitar to which I started playing in garage bands punk was an inspiration especially The Clash, Talking Heads, Blondie.
++ Had you been in other bands before Moroccan Coco? What about the other band members? Are there any songs recorded?
I joined Moroccan Coco after Peter saw my earlier band Adventures in Motion he wanted the rhythm section to form Moroccan Coco.
++ Where were you from originally?
Originally from south Glasgow.
++ How was Glasgow at the time of Moroccan Coco? Were there any bands that you liked? Were there any good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?
Good bands to note were Hipsway, The Big Dish and many others. Listen Records was in Renfield st Glasgow that’s where most vinyl was available.
At the start of Moroccan Coco we played in schools, prisons, even dinner parties, as we had a string quartet and trumpet, and percussion, we had a lot to take on the road. The break happened when we played in Covent Garden in 1983, from then on music press would follow us as the image and music was enigmatic.
++ Were there any other good bands in your area?
As said above, and the best Scottish band The Blue Nile, we recorded along side in the same studio when they were cutting a walk across the rooftops. Secondly The Associates more importantly Billy Mackenzie was a genius, a sad loss.
++ How was the band put together? How was the recruiting process?
How was the band put, we had Aztec Camera’s drummer playing for a while and hired a string and brass section, myself and Peter more or less managed the and chose who was best for the sound. Myself and Peter were intrinsically linked as a partnership.
++ Was there any lineup changes?
Only to session players. We changed drummers at the end before formation of Kick Reaction. Steve barker was a great addition, also did away with the string quartet.
++ What instruments did each of you play in the band?
Guitar, bass guitar, piano, percussion, accordion on “Berwickshire Gazette” by David Mullholland which was featured on a Maida Vale recording session for a radio 1 show (Janice Long sadly not with us anymore).
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
We used Glasgow based studios for pre-tour rehearsals, and had a warehouse we rehearsed for arrangements.
++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?
Moroccan Coco was peters idea from far flung shores, and sounded semi glamorous, with Kick Reaction, me and Peter sat in my kitchen and he said kick and I said reaction!!!
++ You only released one 7″. But I am curious about the before. Did you record demos prior to the 7″? Were you familiar already with recording studios?
I had been recording demos from a very young age, Peter was also experienced, there are many demos out there from both Moroccan Coco and Kick Reaction, in those days we were going all around the country for major labels recording demos, with certain producers to see if it fitted, all pre-dates the release of YTT.
++ The “One Day” 7″ was released in 1983. The Sound of Young Scotland was still a thing then? How did Postcard Records influence or inspire you?
With one day it was recorded in a Railway Arch, the studios were a bit grim, we had to record at night, cost and train noise, I really liked Edwyn Collins and orange juice, as it was also a very fresh sound , and Alan Horn was doing a Phil Spector impersonation.
++ The 7″ was released by your own Steam Radio label. Wondering what’s the story behind the label name. I believe there was a song with the same name, right? Also why did you end up releasing it by yourself?
Back then it was a bit of do it yourself and build it and they will come, the opposite to the industry today, we saw the label as a vehicle, and also to gain more artistic control, as with all labels you do sacrifice your soul in the creativity, so it was mainly control, we had fanzines set up and it was distributed into all record shops and radio stations, we did a huge bill posters campaign, and this was especially effective in other cities in the UK.
++ And at any point of Moroccan Coco’s life as a band, was there interest from any labels to put out your music?
As stated we were in a spiral and rollercoaster of music, and we would play for record companies, producers etc, that’s when Precious Records contacted us.
++ The 7″ has a nice illustration by Kretin and La Rhône. Who were they? Did they come themselves with that imagery or did the band art direct them?
Kretin and la Rhone was David Mullolland’s artwork, he was a great artist and, we chose a spot In Lanarkshire fit the photos.
++ I have to ask about Arch Studios. They are legendary. Wondering how was your experience there? What do you think makes these studios so highly regarded by many musicians?
As said earlier Arch studios was a bit grim, however the artistic environment can lend itself to have a great recording experience, I have since recorded in most major recording studios in U.K. Europe and USA , the feel of the studio is always the comforting factor, and if the music is not good it won’t sound good!
++ One little curious thing about the release is that on the sleeve the songs are both listed as A sides, a double A side single. But then on the labels they are side A and side B. Was that on purpose? Also the label spells Morrocan with two Rs and one C!
That’s a typo however we believed both songs should have been A sides.
++ I read that you had a manager called Jim Mitchell. What did he bring to the band?
As with all managers they are expected to have your interests at heart, and manage an artist career effectively, so in essence not much was brought to the table, we would have grown to more success without management.
++ How come there were no more releases by the band? No compilation appearances either?
There is a compilation of Scottish bands from the time and “Your Favourite Song” is featured. We also toured extensively and at the time were support on The Associates perhaps album tour, which was incredible.
++ Are there more songs recorded by the band? Unreleased ones?
Lots of recordings !! At the last stages we were working with Polydor records, and 3 songs were demoed in 1987 which are my favourites from that period, we were due to go on a European tour, and that fizzled us to the end.
++ My favourite song of yours is “One Day”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?
“One Day” is just and everyday song about life and feeling good about life
++ If you were to choose your favorite Moroccan Coco song, which one would that be and why?
Probably “Friday Away from High Street”, it was the circumstances of how we cut the song late in downtown Edinburgh.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many?
Literally hundreds to thousands, which most bands from that period had to do.
++ And what were the best gigs in general that you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?
Robert cray used to ask for Kick Reaction when he came on tour in the UK, so we had a great respect and loved his music and band. The associates of course, Billy Mackenzie used to ask if we wanted champagne before we played! Kick Reaction were a formidable band musically, with some of the best musicians of that period, we played so much it became our badge of honour, there are many rock and roll stories but they generally stay on the road.
++ And were there any bad ones?
We stayed in Peter O’Tooles country house when recording “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, on Leamington Spa, and the house staff would let us row on the lake, which was outside Mr O’tooles house, so that was slightly off.
++ When and why did Moroccan Coco stop making music? Then you started Kick Reaction (who I hope we do an interview afterwards). Was that immediately or were there any other projects in between?
Moroccan Coco around November 1984 January 1985 saw Kick Reaction in many back to back rehearsals, in between we were writing and rehearsing.
++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?
All Scottish TV to start news channels FSD then when we were doing a capital radio session in London and a TV production company contacted us for Saturday night live with Ben Elton, we played stopping to speak, we were told that capital radio had over 5 million listeners that night tuned into Kick Reaction.
++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?
We were in all major press NME inset page on our London arrival, Record Mirror front page, list magazine feature, Sunday Times magazine, we were called an intellectual rock band, we also featured in many local press Edinburgh Evening News, Glasgow Herald, London Evening Standard, we were even in The Face magazine.
++ What about fanzines?
Moroccan Coco were fanzine based and we’re in all local and U.K. fanzines at the time it was the main promotion route for bands.
++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
There is always a buzz and a point where you think this is it we are on our way, that would have been the interest at the time on 1985 in London where we sold out goldsmiths college and the borderline club, we were at a pinnacle and with the increased buzz and gigs we are selling out in London we believed we were nearly there.
++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
I am interested in classic cars, however music is my lifeline, and I have been very fortunate in other business interests, but music is a completion of my life.
++ I’ve been to Glasgow a couple of times and really enjoyed it. But still I’d love to ask a local. What do you suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?
Ok Glasgow had a transformation in 1990-2000 and became , dare I say it cosmopolitan, Two Fat Ladies is a great restaurant, Lariosto is the best Italian, and also head for Merchant City where Cafe Gondolier is, and again very cultural place. Go to Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and the People’s Palace,
++ Anything else you’d like to add?
Only that o am forging ahead with a new album, and an audio book is being produced with one of the songs, so I’m in a later in life creative buzz, and the album will feature many known artists, and 12 totally new songs with intricate arrangements, I have been recording in Air Studios and Abbey Road, and RAK studios which I prefer, the album is called “The Metropolitan” and the music is under Wolf McArthur Wolf music(c). Speak soon.
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Listen
Moroccan Coco – One Day
