| The Jags | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Scarborough, England |
| Genre: | Power pop,[1] new wave[2] |
| Years Active: | 1978–1982 |
| Label: | Island |
| Past Members: | Nicole Watkinson John Alder Steve Prudence Alex Baird Michael Cotton Patrick O'Toole Neil Whittaker Richard Mazda Barry Graham |
The Jags were a British rock band formed in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, in 1978, composed of Nicole Watkinson[3] (vocals), John Alder (guitar/backing vocals), Steve Prudence (bass), firstly Neil Whittaker and then Alex Baird (drums), Michael Cotton (bass/backing vocals) and Patrick O'Toole (piano/keyboard).[4]
A Scarborough-Guildford-Glasgow combo, The Jags marked their signing to Island Records in 1979 with a four-track debut 12” EP ("Back of My Hand" / "Double Visions" / "Single Visions" / "What Can I Do?").[4] "Back of My Hand" was described as "simply one of the best records Elvis Costello didn't write".[5] The song was included on the band's debut album Evening Standards, which was released the following year.[4]
Starting out in 1978 playing London pubs and college gigs, by 1979 The Jags' sound had moved to jangly power-pop.[4]
They signed to Island Records in July 1978 and initially released a four-track EP.[4]
On 8 September 1979, the power pop single "Back of My Hand", written by Watkinson and guitarist Alder, entered the UK Singles Chart.[4] It had a chart life of 10 weeks and peaked at number 17.[6] "Back of My Hand" was included on their debut album Evening Standards, which was released the following year.[4] Their follow-up single "Woman's World" entered the UK chart on 2 February 1980 at number 75 - dropping out the next week.[6]
1981 saw the release of their second, and what proved to be, final album, No Tie Like a Present.[4] The Jags disbanded in 1982.
Only "Back of My Hand" and "Here Comes My Baby" were released in the US.