Spirogyra (band)

Spirogyra

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1967 in Bolton, Lancashire, England
Founder	Martin Cockerham, Mark Francis
Defunct	2018
Fate	Disbanded following the death of Martin Cockerham
Headquarters	Bolton, Lancashire , England
Products	Music albums, singles
Number of employees	4 (classic lineup)

Spirogyra was a British folk and progressive rock ensemble that issued three albums during the period from 1971 to 1973. Central figures in the band included co-founder, songwriter, and guitarist Martin Cockerham alongside vocalist Barbara Gaskin. Their music has been characterized as having a "distinctly whimsical English" quality, with their third release, Bells, Boots and Shambles, often hailed as "an overlooked masterpiece." A reformed lineup emerged in the early 2000s, producing studio albums in 2009 and 2011. The group ultimately disbanded following Martin Cockerham’s passing in 2018.

Early Years and Formation (1967–1970)

Originally formed in 1967 in Bolton, Lancashire, Spirogyra began as a duo featuring Martin Cockerham (vocals/guitar) and Mark Francis. This initial incarnation did not record any material and dissolved when Cockerham departed to study at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

By December 1969, Cockerham revived Spirogyra with fellow university students, eventually consolidating into a quartet comprising Cockerham (vocals/guitar), Barbara Gaskin (vocals), Steve Borrill (bass), and Julian Cusack (violin). Their manager, Max Hole, utilized his position as Student Union Entertainment Secretary to arrange performances at universities across the country. The band recorded demo tracks at Keynes College, which later appeared on the Burn the Bridges compilation released in 2000.

In an unusual arrangement, university authorities granted the band members, along with their manager and roadie, a one-year sabbatical to dedicate themselves fully to music. They toured extensively, supporting acts such as Traffic and completing two tours in the Netherlands. Although close to signing with Apple Records, Max Hole secured a three-album deal with B&C Records in the UK. A planned distribution agreement with Polydor for Europe and the US failed to materialize; however, their albums were issued in Germany through Brain Records but remained unavailable stateside. Notably, Fairport Convention’s drummer Dave Mattacks contributed to all three albums. Despite modest initial sales, these records gradually achieved cult status. Original editions are scarce and highly sought after but have been reissued several times.

St Radigunds (1971)

The group’s debut album, St Radigunds, was recorded at Sound Techniques studio with production by Robert Kirby and engineering by Jerry Boys. The title references a street in Canterbury where the band members resided. Its lyrics express the band’s opposition to capitalism and materialism within the context of the Canterbury scene. The album captures Spirogyra’s refined live repertoire effectively. Released in September 1971, it received favorable critiques from NME and other rock magazines and was supported by a 24-date tour across the UK.

A later evaluation by Record Collector commended St Radigunds for its "exceptionally original songwriting and performance," highlighting Barbara Gaskin’s unique vocal style as instrumental in building a devoted underground fanbase.

Old Boot Wine (1972)

Their sophomore album from 1972, Old Boot Wine, produced by Max Hole and issued on B&C’s Pegasus Records label, showcased a smoother, more commercially oriented sound with some of its rougher elements polished away. However, it generally received less acclaim compared to their other works. This stylistic change was partially due to diminished violin parts by Julian Cusack—who returned to academic studies—and the reappearance of founding member Mark Francis.

Bells, Boots and Shambles (1973)

After the release of Old Boot Wine, Spirogyra was reduced to a duo consisting of Cockerham and Gaskin, who were then romantically linked. Their final studio album, Bells, Boots and Shambles, was recorded at Morgan Studios in London with Max Hole returning as producer. Following the collapse of B&C Records, Polydor released the album in 1973. It featured contributions from guest musicians, including former members Cusack and Borrill, as well as trumpeter Henry Lowther.

Jeanette Leech described this record as a milestone in progressive folk, marking a shift from earlier rock influences toward classical elements and soundscapes reminiscent of Eno’s art-house compositions. The album is distinguished by its pervasive "sense of hopelessness" and "existential angst," and is often regarded as an early influence on Joy Division. Although it initially struggled commercially, it has since been hailed as a "lost masterpiece."

Final tour (1974)

In March 1974, Spirogyra embarked on their concluding tour featuring Martin Cockerham on vocals and guitar, Barbara Gaskin on vocals and electric piano, Rick Biddulph handling bass and guitars, and Jon Gifford on woodwind instruments. Cockerham considered this ensemble the finest incarnation of the classic lineup and noted that his favored Spirogyra track, "Sea Song," was created during this period.

While no studio sessions were recorded by this group, several live performances were captured. Some of these live tracks were later compiled in the limited-edition release Swan Songs 69–74, self-published by Cockerham in 2008.

Breakup and reunions

The band disbanded in 1974 when Cockerham moved to Ireland. Subsequently, he resided in India, Bali, California, and Hawai'i.

Following the breakup, Barbara Gaskin spent three years traveling across Asia, working professionally as a singer and English teacher. In 1981, she formed a duo with Dave Stewart—known for his involvement with Egg and Hatfield and the North. Their cover of "It's My Party" reached number one on the UK charts that year. They also achieved chart success with singles like "Busy Doing Nothing" (1983) and "The Locomotion" (1986). Over time, the duo released seven albums under their Broken Records label and continue to collaborate occasionally.

All three Spirogyra albums were reissued on CD in subsequent decades, reportedly achieving higher sales than their initial vinyl releases. In 2000, Burn the Bridges appeared featuring original demos predating St. Radigunds. The 2005 anthology A Canterbury Tale compiled their studio albums along with singles and outtakes.

Cockerham returned to England in 2006 and began issuing re-releases of classic Spirogyra material alongside previously unreleased recordings. Rejoining forces with Mark Francis under the Spirogyra name, they produced Children's Earth, released in 2009—the first album without Gaskin’s participation. Simultaneously, Cockerham issued Rainbow Empire as a solo effort involving similar collaborators.

On 6 June 2010, Spirogyra reunited for a performance titled "A Psychedelic Evening" held at The Union Chapel Islington.

In 2011, Cockerham and Francis—joined by additional musicians including trumpeter Henry Lowther—recorded another Spirogyra album entitled Spirogyra 5.

Martin Neil Cockerham (born 27 August 1950) passed away on 5 April 2018 in Thailand, bringing a definitive conclusion to the band’s legacy.

Discography

Release Date	Album Title	Record Label
Studio Albums
September 1971	St. Radigund's	B&C Records
June 1972	Old Boot Wine	Pegasus
April 1973	Bells, Boots and Shambles	Polydor
2009	Children's Earth	Self-published
2011	Spirogyra 5	Turning Round Records
Singles
April 1972	Dangerous Dave / Captain's Log	Pegasus
February 1973	I Hear You're Going Somewhere (Joe Really) / Old Boot Wine	Polydor
Compilation Albums
June 1994	Spirogyra Box Set	Si-Wan Records
March 1999	We Were a Happy Crew	Mooncrest
September 2000	Burn the Bridges: The Demo Tapes 1970–1971	Repertoire
May 2005	A Canterbury Tale	Castle Music