Milk 'N' Cookies
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Long Island , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Milk 'N' Cookies was a power pop group originating from Long Island, New York, established in 1973. Their clean, melodic style set them apart within the early CBGB New York punk rock environment, marking them as pioneers in the development of the new wave genre.
On February 28, 2021, the band's founder Ian North passed away at 68 due to complications after a heart attack. Later, Sal Maida died on February 1, 2025, at age 76, following complications from a fall.
History
The inception of Milk 'N' Cookies occurred in early 1973 when Ian North, a singer/guitarist and artist from Woodmere, New York, connected with guitarist Jay Weiss. When the group lacked a bassist, Weiss transitioned to that role. After adding drummer Mike Ruiz, they began promoting a demo recorded by North. At their debut performance, Justin Strauss joined as lead vocalist, taking over singing duties after North stepped down.
The band rapidly built a following by performing at venues across Long Island and New York City as well as at high school dances. In 1974, Sparks' manager John Hewlett took them under his wing and arranged for recording sessions in England with producer Muff Winwood. Hewlett insisted on replacing Weiss with bassist Sal Maida, formerly associated with Roxy Music. To meet this condition, North dismissed Weiss.
Their debut single "Little, Lost And Innocent," backed by "Good Friends," was issued through Island Records. Despite this release, it did not chart and the label struggled to effectively promote the band, indefinitely delaying the album's launch. When Island offered North a solo contract, he departed from Milk 'N' Cookies and relocated to London to establish Ian's Radio (later known as Neo). Maida also exited to join Sparks.
By the late 1970s, during the surge of punk and new wave in the United Kingdom, Island Records finally released Milk 'N' Cookies’ first album. Due to minimal promotional support, sales were disappointing; the label subsequently prioritized North’s solo career over the band. Marketed as polished all-American youths reminiscent of classic Tiger Beat idols, their pop-oriented sound contrasted sharply with the punk movement and played a role in their early dissolution.
North persisted in songwriting and embarked on a solo career with Ian's North Radio; meanwhile, other members recorded demos but did not produce further releases.
Reunion
Milk 'N' Cookies reunited in 2005 for a performance at the Radio Heartbeat Power Pop Fest held in Brooklyn. This event coincided with RPM Records’ reissue of their only album alongside reissues of Ian North’s solo material from after the band’s original tenure. Notably, North did not take part in the reunion or related promotional activities.
The album saw another reissue in 2008 courtesy of Radio Heartbeat.
On January 24, 2016, Captured Tracks released an extensive box set comprising three albums: the original LP, two records containing rare demos, and a hardcover book of 100 pages featuring liner notes contributed by members of Sonic Youth, Talking Heads, Ramones, among others. However, contributions from Ian North—the band's primary songwriter, lead guitarist, and co-founder—were absent from this publication. Through his blog, North shared his viewpoint on the band’s history and emphasized founding member Jay Weiss’s undervalued contribution. North attributed Weiss with naming the band and playing a key role in launching his music career. Although Weiss is credited as guitarist on demo recordings in the reissue notes, North maintained that he himself performed guitar on those tracks.
Deaths
Ian North passed away on February 28, 2021, at the age of 68 as a result of complications related to a heart attack. Sal Maida died on February 1, 2025, in New York at 76 years old due to issues stemming from a fall.
Discography
- Milk 'N' Cookies LP (Island Records)
- Milk 'N' Cookies Triple LP (Captured Tracks)
External links
- Milk 'N' Cookies 3xLP available from Captured Tracks
- Ian's Band History