60 Ft. Dolls
Introduction
Hello you. Make a cup of tea, put a record on. Welcome to The A to Z of Britpop, your introduction to the bands, music and characters that defined the most exciting genre of the 1990s.
In this article we discuss 60 Ft. Dolls. A raw, unrelenting Welsh trio who fused punk energy with Britpop swagger and lit a match under Cool Cymru.
This, as always, is then.
60 Ft. Dolls - Origins & era
Formed: 1992, Newport
Active years: 1992–1998
Associated genres: Britpop, punk rock, power pop
Record labels: Townhill Music, Geffen Records, Indolent Records
How it started
60 Ft. Dolls formed in Newport in 1992, when Richard J. Parfitt and Michael Cole were introduced by Donna Matthews (later of Elastica). She was dating Cole at the time and working part-time in the same pizza place as Parfitt.
The early sound was shaped by touring American hardcore bands playing at T.J.'s, Newport’s now-legendary venue. Loud, fast and tuneful, it caught on quickly.
After months trying out drummers, the duo settled on Carl Bevan, a pastor’s son with energy to burn.
Managed by Huw Williams of The Pooh Sticks, the band released their debut single Happy Shopper in 1993 on Williams’ own Townhill label, named after the UK’s most gloriously miserable convenience store chain.
Band members
Richard J. Parfitt – Vocals, guitar
Michael Cole – Bass
Carl Bevan – Drums
Definitive lyric
“Waiting for the sun to arrive”
– Talk to Me
Signature sound & style
Grunge mod. Proto-pub metal. Power pop with a buzzsaw hangover. 60 Ft. Dolls were part punk, part Britpop, and just about held together by raw nerve.
The guitars were fuzzy, the tempo frantic, and the attitude never in doubt. Think early Manics without the eyeliner or the manifestos.
Defining moment
Their live shows were chaos in the best way. By 1995, they’d landed on the NME BratBus tour with Veruca Salt, Marion and Skunk Anansie.
Support slots with Oasis, Elastica and Dinosaur Jr. followed. Pig Valentine got US airplay from KROQ’s Rodney Bingenheimer. The New York Times even listed it among the best singles of 1996.
Then came Talk to Me. Their breakout UK Top 40 single, complete with a video showing off Newport’s Transporter Bridge in all its bleak glory.
Full album discography
The Big 3 (1996)
Joya Magica (1998)
The Big 3 (2CD Reissue) (2015)
Essential listening
Talk to Me (1996) – Gritty, propulsive, and pissed off in the best way. Their defining single and Britpop at its scuffed-up finest.
What the press said
“As close to soar-away rock perfection as it's possible to imagine.”
– NME
“Pure, unadulterated, no-nonsense, emotional, tuneful, impassioned, purposeful, hedonistic rock 'n' roll.”
– Melody Maker
“A devilishly evocative document of the period.”
– Mojo
Where are they now?
After the second album Joya Magica, the wheels came off. Indolent Records dropped them. Three US tours and too much drink took their toll.
Richard Parfitt became a go-to session player, working with McAlmont & Butler and Dido. He released a solo album, then moved into teaching. By 2015, he was lecturing in music at the University of South Wales.
He’s also credited with kickstarting Duffy’s career by introducing her to Rough Trade’s Jeanette Lee.
Carl Bevan went into production, most notably with Exit_International. His own project, The Lash, made a dent too.
Tragically, Bevan died in 2024, a reminder that even the loudest drummers eventually go quiet.
Notable facts
Mike Cole briefly played for The Darling Buds but was booted after three gigs
He turned down a fill-in spot with Oasis on their 1996 US tour
Hair, written about Donna Matthews, ranked No. 7 on Mojo’s "100 Most Miserable Indie Songs of All Time"
Let The Spirit Move You, a rare white-label 12", features guest vocals from Bevan’s evangelical dad
The band were name-checked in a House of Commons Early Day Motion celebrating Newport’s music scene
Two Peel sessions, in 1996 and 1998, made it into Peel’s all-time top 125
60 Ft. Dolls in a sentence
60 Ft. Dolls bottled the chaos of Cool Cymru and smashed it over Britpop's precious little head.
See you on down the road.
