14/02/2026
Tribute to Magnapop : on SUN french radio station with : R.E.M. , BiGstar Band , Guided By Voices , Sugar (Bob Mould ), Spiderbait , Bettie Serveert , Idlewild , Sports Team , Harker et Adé
So tonight, I’ve put together a show about an American band called Magnapop. The group was formed in 1989 around Linda Hopper on vocals, Ruthie Morris on guitar, David McNair on drums, and Shannon Mulvaney on bass. The band has undergone several lineup changes, but Linda and Ruthie have remained at the helm. The original lineup, which disbanded in 1995, reunited in 2011 for a charity concert and has been touring together again ever since, particularly in Central Europe, where they just finished a tour in Belgium and the Netherlands last November.
Why Belgium, you might ask? Well, it was the Belgian label PIAS (Play It Again Sam) that first signed them in Europe in 1992. And if you’re a loyal listener to this show, you might remember hearing them during the episodes on Eels last December, as well as the one dedicated to Throwing Muses in December 2023. Tonight, we’ll discover them through other songs that weren’t featured in those episodes.
To start the show, we’ll bridge a musical generation gap by listening to two songs from opposite ends of their career: "Garden" from their self-titled debut album in 1992, followed by "Change Your Hair" from their latest album, The Circle Is Round, released in 2019.
In an interview with Ozgur Cokyuce for Punk Globe magazine in December 2008, Ruthie cited several influences that shaped Magnapop’s sound: REM, Velvet Underground, Big Star, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks, Guided By Voices, Wire, The Stooges, and Neil Young, among others. It’s also worth noting their affinity for The Monkees and Bob Dylan, for whom Magnapop contributed to tribute albums (Here No Evil and Outlaw Blues, Vol. 2, respectively). This gives us plenty of excellent references to explore in the 'Influences and Collaborations' section of tonight’s show.
Let’s start with REM and a track from 1984, "So Central Rain" from the album Reckoning. Fun fact: Michael Stipe, REM’s singer and founder, met Linda Hopper while studying art at the University of Georgia in the USA. And here’s another tidbit: REM also covered Magnapop’s song "Favorite Writer", which says a lot about the mutual respect they share.
Another selected influence for this tribute to Magnapop is the American band Big Star, formed in 1971 and pioneers of the genre that would later be called alternative rock. Magnapop covered their song "Thirteen" on their first album in 1992. Tonight, we’ll listen to the original version.
Magnapop made their first appearance in France in 1992 at the Transmusicales de Rennes, alongside Sugar, Pavement, Sonic Youth, and others—what a lineup that must have been! They also appeared on the legendary Peel Sessions in England in 1993 and on Bernard Lenoir’s Black Sessions on France Inter in 1994. Let’s listen to Magnapop with the track "Here It Comes" from the album Hot Boxing, released in 1994.
Now, let’s talk about the artists from the same era that Magnapop evolved alongside. First, with deep emotion (no, Erwann, don’t cry on air!), I’ll refer to Guided By Voices, the band from my very first "Le Fil Rock" episode almost three years ago. Magnapop loved them so much that they covered the fabulous "Game of Pricks" in the German version of their album Mouthfeel. Tonight, I’ll play the original by the talented Guided By Voices, from their 1995 album Alien Lanes. It’s only a minute and a half long, so let’s make the most of it!
Next, let’s talk about Bob Mould, a legend in the alternative rock scene, known for his work with Hüsker Dü and Sugar. What’s the connection with Magnapop? Three things: Bob Mould discovered Magnapop during concerts in New York and Rotterdam, which led to two major outcomes. First, he invited Magnapop to open for his band Sugar during their American and European tours in 1992/1993. Second, he became the producer of their album Hot Boxing. Here’s Sugar with the track "A Good Idea" from their 1992 album Copper Blue.
Magnapop also covered "Jesus" by the Australian alternative rock band Spiderbait, who had their moment of glory covering the hit "Black Betty", originally composed by Lead Belly and popularized internationally by Ram Jam in 1977. Here’s "Jesus" by Spiderbait from their 1995 album The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake.
Back to Magnapop for three tracks from three different albums: "PDX" from Mouthfeel (2005), "Bring It to Me" from Chase Park (2009), and "An Apology" from Rubbing Doesn’t Help (1996).
We’re leaving the American continent to get closer to home and talk about two artists with ties to Magnapop. First, the Danish artist Bettie Serveert, who has been making indie rock since the '90s in a style close to Magnapop’s. Tonight, I’ll play their latest single, "Ta!", released in 2025.
Next, a detour to Scotland to meet Idlewild, who also cite Magnapop as an influence alongside Superchunk and Archers of Loaf. Here’s their track "Everyone Says You’re So Fragile" from the 1998 album Hope Is Important.
If you’re listening closely, you’re not dreaming—this is a hidden track I managed to slip into the playlist. It’s Magnapop’s "Super Size Me" from 2019.
Now, it’s time for the heirs of Magnapop. Why them? Well, because it’s my show! But also because I found some connections between them, even if not well-documented. First up is Sports Team, an English power-pop band that delivers infectious energy. As Sound of Violence journalist Laetitia Mavrel wrote in September 2022: "Pure, unruly indie rock whose only goal was to get the suburban English youth moving. The subtle use of irony in their lyrics mocks the little quirks of their society, sometimes humorously, sometimes cynically, with self-deprecation being one of the Brits’ best weapons." That sums up this band nicely, and I’ll play their track "The Game" from the 2022 album Gulp!.
Next, let’s shine the spotlight on Harker, a quartet from Brighton, UK, that produces high-energy punk rock. They opened for Magnapop in the Netherlands in 2019. Here’s their track "I Ruin Everything" from the 2025 album Redacted.
To finish on a high note, here’s a French artist steeped in rock and folk: Adé. A former member of Thérapie Taxi, she has been evolving as a solo artist for a few years now, freely exploring her creative impulses and delivering more intimate and spontaneous work. Inspired by Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Hole, Lorde, and Olivia Rodrigo, her latest album takes a rockier turn that pairs beautifully with Magnapop. From her 2025 album Inside Out MVMT on the Tôt ou t**d label, here’s the track "Let Go".
That’s it for "Le Fil Rock" tonight! Happy New Year 2026, and thank you, listeners, for tuning in. I hope this show brought back some memories or inspired you to dive deeper into the wonderful world of Magnapop.
I’ll leave you with the track "Dog on the Door" from their 2019 album.
Thank you for listening, and as always… keep rocking!"
Bonus Track : One last quiet track for the road. Goodnight, everyone. --> "Dead Letter"
