Yip Yip Coyote was a UK indie rock band that was part of the 1980s cowpunk subgenre. The band's debut LP Fifi (1985) and singles in the UK ("Pioneer Girl" and "Dream of the West", both available as a 7" and a 12" EP) were released by Illegal Records and I.R.S. Records. Producers on these records included Anne Dudley (Art Of Noise), Tony Mansfield, Jesse James and David Ruffy. The band's only US release was a song on the soundtrack for the film Bachelor Party. The band's sound blended rock, pop, New Wave, and synth-pop.
The band's constant members were Fifi Russell (credited as Fifi Coyote) on lead vocals and Carl Evans (formerly from the band The Chefs) on guitar. Rhythm section members included Eg White (Francis White) on bass and Volker VonHoff on drums. For some songs, added performers included Carrie Booth on keyboards, Harry Pitch on harmonica, and “Luis” on percussion). Bob Stanley of St. Etienne calls the band part of one of the two "insular mid-eighties movements" (cowpunk and psychobilly) "...which harked back to the spirit of '76" (1976), The Clash's beliefs, and the view that roots rock was path to "true grit".
Links to Peel[]
According to singer Fifi Russell, the band were discovered at the Lyceum, when they performed on 17th April 1983 supporting Big Country and The Alarm:
"Our first proper stage gig was at the lyceum...nerve wrackin' ! we got our first john peel session from this as John Walters was there. as I recall, he said that he saw The Alarm fans heading for the bar whilst we were onstage, so he thought that we must therefore be worth a watch. He really loved us! we got the first of 3 John Peel sessions from our first gig !" [1]
However, the group didn't last long and only released one album and several singles before splitting up.
Sessions[]
YIP YIP COYOTE John Peel 28th May 1983
1. Recorded: 1983-05-28. Broadcast: 02 June 1983. Repeated: 20 June 1983, 19 July 1983, 25 August 1983, 13 October 1983, 29 December 1983, 07 May 1984
- Pioneer Girl / Wagon Train / Dream Of The West / Red Bandana
2. Recorded: 1984-01-10. Broadcast: 16 January 1984. Repeated: 30 January 1984
- Sho' Thing Boss / Cry Like The Wind / Son Of A Gun / Delray
3. Recorded: 1984-07-12. Broadcast: 25 July 1984. Repeated: 09 August 1984, 25 December 1984
- Cowboy Lament / Road To Hell / Burn The Barn Down / In The Name Of God
No known commercial release
Live[]
YIP YIP COYOTE The ICA London 2nd October 1984
Recorded live as part of ICA Rock Week. Broadcast: 02 October 1984
- Wagon Train
- Lucky Man
- Delray
- Dream Of The West
- Kiss Me
- My Heart Is Done Broken Too
- The Road To Hell
- Cry Like The Wind
- The Law
- I Always get My Man
- Pioneer Girl
- The Road To Hell
Other Shows Played[]
- 25 January 1984 (BFBS): Dream Of The West (7") I.R.S. YIP 1
- 30 January 1984 (BBC World Service): Dream Of The West (7") I.R.S. YIP 1
- 11 February 1984 (BFBS): Dream Of The West (12") I.R.S. YIPX1
- 25 June 1984 (BBC World Service): Pioneer Girl (7") I.R.S. YIP2
- 27 June 1984: Pioneer Girl (7") I.R.S. YIP2
- 30 July 1984 (BBC World Service): Pioneer Girl (Prairie Mix) (12") I.R.S.
- 16 December 1984 (BFBS): Pioneer Girl (7") I.R.S. YIP2
- 1985
- 11 September 1985: Red Bandana (LP - Fifi) Illegal
- 16 September 1985 (BBC World Service): Red Bandana (LP - Fifi) Illegal