So who, or what, was Ethel The Frog. It was the title of the bizarre current affairs news spoof by Monty Python featuring the exploits of the Piranha brothers Doug and Dinsdale (modelled on the Kray twins).
Iitalso inspired the name of a short-lived New wave of British Heavy Metal band from Hull, East Yorkshire who took it upon themselves to be called Ethel The Frog.
They had a limited contribution to the NWOBHM scene in the late 1970s contributing one track to the now legendary Methal For Muthas compilation.
The band signed with major label EMI, the fruits of which were a single (a cover of the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby) in 1979 followed by their one and only full album (self titled) the following year.
After that Ethel The Frog dropped off the radar and split. Two of the band members (Paul Tognola and Paul Conyers then formed another NWOBHM band – Salem – which didn’t last too long back at the time though I understand are now re-formed and gigging. I’ll do a spot of research about Salem for an upcoming post.
Their album was re-issued on CD a few years ago by a small label though is something of a rarity these days.
Please support us and buy us a coffee.
