3 Mustaphas 3
3 Mustaphas 3 is a British world music group that was formed in 1982.
Band history
According to the liner notes on their albums, the band was reportedly formed in the town of Szegerely, where they played at the Crazy Loquat Club before the members were transported to England in refrigerators .
Founding members of the band were Lu Edmonds (alias Uncle Patrel Mustapha bin Mustapha), Ben Mandelson (alias Hijaz Mustapha), Nigel Watson (alias Houzam Mustapha), Salah Dawson Miller (alias Isfa'ani Mustapha), Ray "Chopper" Cooper (alias Oussack Mustapha) and Tim Fienburgh (aka Niaveti III).
The regular cast consists of Ben Mandelson (alias Hijaz Mustapha), Tim Fienburgh (alias Niaveti III), Colin Bass (alias Sabah Habas Mustapha) and Nigel Watson (alias Houzam Mustapha). In addition, many other Mustaphas make music - all supposed nephews of Uncle Patrel Mustapha.
The band claims to be from the Balkans, but they play music from every continent, across all genres. The first recordings of the band were made during the John Peel sessions in 1985; these recordings were then released in the FRG as an album ("From The Balkans To Your Heart / The Radio Years"). Further albums followed in the years up to 1991. The band's live appearances made them a cult band of world music in the USA, in many countries in Western and Eastern Europe and also in Japan. The 1990 album "Soup Of The Century" was named Best World Music / International Album by the US organization NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors). The band, which was once described as the "Balkan version of the Pogues long before the Balkan hype" no longer appears together and does not record any more albums, but has not officially split up.
Discography
Albums
- 1986: 3 Mustaphas 3 - From The Balkans To Your Heart / The Radio Years (Exil Musik GmbH)
- 1986: 3 Mustaphas 3 Presents: L'Orchestre "Bam" De Grand Mustapha International And Party - Local Music (Globe Style)
- 1987: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Shopping (Globe Style)
- 1987: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Si Vous Passez Par La / Shouffi Rhirou / ¿Voulez-Vous Danser? (Off The Track Records)
- 1989: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Heart Of Uncle (Ace Records)
- 1990: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Soup Of The Century (Ace Records)
Singles and EPs
- 1985: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Bam! Mustaphas Play Stereo (Globe Style)
- 1986: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Si Vous Passez Par Là (Globe Style)
- 1987: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Shouffi Rhirou / ¿Voulez-Vous Danser? / Darling Don't Say 'No (Globe Style)
- 1987: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Si Vous Passez Par La / Shouffi Rhirou (Off The Track Records)
- 1988: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Linda Linda (Globe Style)
- 1988: Trouble Fezz Meets 3 Mustaphas 3 - Fiz'n - DJ Trouble Fezz meets 3M3? Shall We Take It To The Fridge? (Globe style)
- 1990: 3 Mustaphas 3 - Bukë E Kripë Në Vatër Tonë (Globe Style)
Web links
- 3 Mustaphas 3 on MySpace
- 3 Mustaphas 3 at Discogs (English)
- 3 Mustaphas 3 at Allmusic (English)
- Homepage of Ben Mandelson