the Trudy

{{Short description|English pop band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = The Trudy

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| alias =

| origin = Kingston upon Thames, England

| genre = {{hlist|Pop}}

| occupation =

| instrument =

| years_active = 1979–present

| label = {{hlist|Binkie|Solotone|Torso|Primitive|Planet Miron|Indisc|Vinyl Japan|Popfiction|Miron Music}}

| spinoffs = Richard Targett and the Monos, Luminous

| spinoff_of = Cardiac Arrest

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Cardiacs|The Grown-Ups|The Lurkers|Pinpoint|999|Patrick & Eugene|The Pukes}}

| website = {{URL|thetrudy.co.uk}}

| current_members =

• Del Tagg
• Peter Tagg
• Melissa Jo Heathcote

| past_members =

• Ralph Cade
• Sue Smallwood
• Lorna Douglas
• Ian Plummer
• Philippa Blanchard
• Jon Bastable Jnr
• Arturo Bassick
• Paul Crook
• Eugene Bezodis

}}

The Trudy are an English pop band formed in Kingston upon Thames in 1979 by former Cardiacs members Peter Tagg{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hrs7AQAAIAAJ&q=%22The+Trudy%22 |title = The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music|isbn = 978-0-7535-0159-7|last1 = Larkin|first1 = Colin|year = 1997| publisher=Virgin }} (drums) and Ralph Cade (vocals and keyboards){{cite web|url=http://www.cardiacs.com/history/|title=Band biography at Cardiacs homepage|accessdate=2008-12-09}}{{Cite web |last=Abrahams |first=Ian |date=17 August 2017 |title=Signature Choons |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/signature-choons |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=Record Collector}} along with Derek Tagg (guitar) and Sue Smallwood (bass).

In 1980 The Trudy, with the above line-up, released an album Volcano Fo Le Ferret, on Binkie Records along with another Kingston band The Magnificent 7,{{Cite web|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_trudy|title=The Trudy discography|website=RateYourMusic}} with each band featuring on one side of the record.

In 1981 the band were included on the various artist compilation LP The Snoopies Album, which also included The Europeans and Cardiacs among others.{{cite web |title=The Snoopies Album |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2328264-Various-The-Snoopies-Album-The-Last-Remains-Of-A-Richmond-Venue |website=Discogs |access-date=6 April 2022}}

In 1982 the band released the cassette single Air Commodore.{{cite web |title=Air Commodore (cassette single) |url=https://musicbrainz.org/release-group/fd75519a-3d2f-440d-a564-2663d14eb7f4 |website=MusicBrainz |access-date=6 April 2022}} By this time Sue Smallwood had been replaced on bass by Jon Bastable Jnr and second guitarist Ian Plummer had been added.

Many releases followed on a variety of different labels.{{Cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/1172486-The-Trudy |title = The Trudy|website = Discogs}}{{Cite web | url=http://tlmb.net/thetrudy/Discog.html | title=Discography}} Among these was the 1998 EP given free with House of Dolls, a popular mainstream alternative music magazine, on which The Trudy was included, along with The Wedding Present, Claytown Troupe & The Hunters Club.{{cite web |title=House Of Dolls EP |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1700316-Various-Untitled |website=Discogs |access-date=6 April 2022}}

A 1986 side-project was released by Peter Tagg/Richard Targett, Victor Champion, Nick Shadow, Minerva Allen and Damien Saxxe-Coburg, all with various links to the band. By the name 'Richard Targett and the Monos', one three-track cassette EP was released under Primitive Records by the name of 'One of Our Satellites is Missing!'.{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/6327006-Richard-Targett-and-the-Monos |title = Richard Targett and the Monos|website = Discogs}}

In 1991, when they released the album Tune-In To The Trudy Love-Ray!,{{cite web |title=Tune-In To The Trudy Love-Ray! (album) |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1605436-The-Trudy-Tune-In-To-The-Trudy-Love-Ray |website=Discogs |access-date=6 April 2022}} the line-up was Peter Tagg, Derek Tagg, Melisa Jo Heathcote Paul Crook and Arturo Bassick (of The Lurkers, Pinpoint and 999).

In 1993 they released the David M Allen & Rat Scabies produced single Big Wheel under the alias Luminous.{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/356261-Luminous-4 |title = Luminous|website = Discogs}}

In 2010 the band covered the Cardiacs song "Day Is Gone" on the album Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith, Songbook 1 {{cite web | last=Bland | first=Ben | title=Leader Of The Starry Skies - A Tim Smith Tribute (Tim Smith Feature) | website=Stereoboard.com | date=2011-03-21 | url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/164315/9 | access-date=2019-09-13}} on the Believers Roast label.{{Cite web | url=http://www.thegenepool.co.uk/items/597.htm | title=Leader of the Starry Skies – A Tribute to Tim Smith. Songbook 1 – Various Artists – Friends of Tim Smith}}

In 2012 the singles Dirt Cheap Melody and Bucolics Anonymous were released.{{Cite web | url=https://musicbrainz.org/artist/4e4c62d6-ab77-4d94-ab89-e2a95e7c4e19 |title = The Trudy – MusicBrainz}}

The Trudy has performed extensively around the UK and headlined venues such as the Marquee and University of London Union.{{Cite web | url=https://www.songkick.com/artists/424025-trudy |title = The Trudy}} A flyer for a Marquee gig that The Trudy headlined is in the Victoria and Albert Museum collection.{{Cite web | url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O189764/the-trudy-printed-flyer-planet-miron-records/ |title = The Trudy | Planet Miron Records | V&A Search the Collections|date = 2019-09-13}}

As of 2016 the line up was Melissa Jo Heathcote (formerly of The Pukes{{cite web |title=The Pukes |url=https://www.sondz.com/release/Too-Drunk-to-Pluck?gid=3a30b54b-cdaa-4caa-a06a-fc431da6b1a6 |website=sondz.com |access-date=6 April 2022}}), Del Tagg, Paul Crook, Peter Tagg & Eugene Bezodis (of Patrick & Eugene).{{Cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Trudy/169765433591 |title = The Trudy|website = Facebook}}

On 26 February 2016 the single "Rocket Heart" was released and was followed by the album Always Never Beautiful Forever on 15 April.{{Cite web|date=20 May 2018|title=Always Never Beautiful Forever (album)|url=https://thetrudy.bandcamp.com/album/always-never-beautiful-forever-album|access-date=17 October 2021|website=Bandcamp}}

On 5 March 2021 they released the digital single "Dear Sancho", which was accompanied by a promotional video.{{cite web |last=Babey |first=Ged |date=5 March 2021 |title=The Trudy: Dear Sancho: reviewed - Great, lost pop band re-emerge |url=https://louderthanwar.com/the-trudy-dear-sancho-reviewed-great-lost-pop-band-re-emerge/ |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=Louder Than War}} On 10 November 2023 the single "Every Story Ever Told" was released and a forthcoming mini album was announced. {{cite web |last=Babey |first=Ged |date=10 November 2023 |title=Every Story Ever Told (single) |url=https://louderthanwar.com/the-trudy-every-story-ever-told-single-review-video-premiere/ |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=Louder Than War}}