The Woodentops with Rolo McGinty

<p>The Woodentops with  Rolo McGinty in conversation with David Eastaugh</p> <p>The band formed in 1983 in <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_London'>South London</a> with an initial line-up of Rolo McGinty (vocals, guitar, formerly of <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_Swans_(band)'>The Wild Swans</a> and <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jazz_Butcher'>The Jazz Butcher</a>), Simon Mawby (guitar), <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Thompson'>Alice Thompson</a>(keyboards), Frank DeFreitas (bass guitar), and Benny Staples replacing Paul Hookham (drums).</p> <p>After a debut single, "Plenty" on <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Records'>Food Records</a> in 1984, which received a glowing review from <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrissey'>Morrissey</a> in <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_Maker'>Melody Maker</a>, they signed to the independent label <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough_Trade_Records'>Rough Trade Records</a>, releasing a series of singles in 1985 and their debut album, Giant, in 1986. Generally well received by critics, the album's sound was characterised by acoustic guitars, but also featured <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accordion'>accordion</a>, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimba'>marimba</a>, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_instrument'>strings</a>, and <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpet'>trumpet</a> sounds. The album reached No. 35 on the <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Albums_Chart'>UK Albums Chart</a>. A single from the album, "Good Thing", reached No. 7 on the <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Indie_Chart'>UK Indie Chart</a>.</p> <p>The band then became more experimental and frenetic when playing live, using more <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_instrument'>electronic</a>sounds. This first became apparent as documented on the live album Live Hypno Beat (1987), which was recorded in <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ang