Cranial Screwtop

For the 1983 movie "The Man with Two Brains" from which the name 'Cranial Screwtop' is derived, see The Man with Two Brains.

Cranial Screwtop are an English punk-influenced rock band which plays 1980s pop songs in a punk style, the only specialist covers band of its type currently in the UK. The band's sound is distinguished by their use of kazoos. Their logo comprises off-set, concentric black and white rings which appear to be a spiral.

History

Origins of the group

Mark Screwtop moved to Manchester in 1992 from Sheffield. In 2001, he formed a trio with Dave Caton and Kumar. The latter was succeeded in 2004 by guitarist Paul Loughrey. Caton and Loughrey play most of the tracks on the 2006 album "Too Fast For Technology". In the same year, the band recruited bassist Simon L'Ocean also of Cohesion (band). He was also known as Simon Le Mur who played with the Leeds-based band Bin Monkey in the 1990s.

Cranial Screwtop false spiral design.

Band members

• Mark Screwtop (drums, lead vocals (2001–present)
• Dave Caton - bass, backing vocals (2001–2005)
• Kumar - guitar, backing vocals (2001–2004)
• Paul Loughrey - guitar, kazoo, backing vocals (2004–2009)
• Simon L'Ocean - bass, kazoo, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Mongo Blueballs - guitar, kazoo, backing vocals (2009–present)

Discography

Compilations

• 2006 Too Fast for Technology
• 2011 Power-Ups

Track listing

All songs arranged by Cranial Screwtop.

1. "Planet Earth" – 3:16. Original version by Duran Duran
2. "Down Under" – 2:06. Original version by Men at Work
3. "Hazy Shade of Winter" – 2:05. Original version by Simon & Garfunkel and The Bangles
4. "Swords of a Thousand Men" – 2:26. Original version by Tenpole Tudor
5. "Rio" – 4:52. Original version by Duran Duran
6. "I Ran (So Far Away)" – 2:37. Original version by A Flock of Seagulls
7. "Walk Like an Egyptian" – 2:24. Original version by The Bangles
8. "Crash" – 2:12. Original version by The Primitives
9. "Play That Funky Music White Boy" – 2:54. Original version by Wild Cherry
10. "Psycho Killer" – 2:55. Original version by Talking Heads
11. "Hungry Like The Wolf" – 2:54. Original version by Duran Duran