Column Chronicles: The Spaniels ensue, part one

The Spaniels ensue, part one

Frank Cotolo
October 10, 2024

Though it's 2024, the pop group that was too unique to be a global success is still performing live. Rip, Rolly, Ricky and Smug do not let declining health get in the way of a show. The Spaniels ignore the fact that at their ages it is impossible to do what they did in their heydays because, as Rolly says, "as long as one fan comes to see us live and we are alive, we'll get on stage."

The group formed when Rip, Rolly, Ricky and Smug were 12-year-olds. They became friends and realized each one of them had the same warped view of pop music. "We had abstract minds," says Rip, "and shared an entirely different concept of music than anyone else." So they formed a band and called it The Spaniels for no other reason than they all agreed to call the band The Spaniels.

"We picked up some instruments," says Smug, "and got sounds from them and wrote songs our way and we practiced our original material until we had twently songs. Then we played at a school dance and loved performing live so much we swore we would always stay together and do it no matter what."

That first show as a band did not go over well. "Students attacked the stage during the first song," says Ricky, "and three of them broke Smug's nose before we finished playing."

But The Spaniels kept playing while fighting off violence from their audience. "We played for an hour while being pelted and punched and the attackers became tired and stopped hitting and throwing objects at us. We knew then we had something that touched the guts of our listeners."

In their early adulthood they found side jobs while keeping the band playing anywhere. "We'd do anything to make a buck if it meant we could get on stage again and play the music we heard in our heads." Music critic Welburn Stack said, "The Spaniels' act isn't musical, lyrical or entertaining."

...to be continued.

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.