The Cougars

About The Cougars

Formed in 1961 in Bristol, England, the Cougars comprised Keith ‘Rod’ Owen (guitar/arranger), Dave Tanner (rhythm guitar), Adrian Morgan (bass) and Dave Hack (drums). An instrumental group in the mould of the Shadows, the quartet was signed to EMI Records by A&R manager Norrie Paramor following a talent contest. Their debut single, ‘Saturday Night At The Duck Pond’, a frenetic reworking of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’, incurred a BBC ban on the grounds that it ‘defaced a classical melody’, but nonetheless reached the number 33 spot in 1963. The same composer was the inspiration for several ensuing releases, including ‘Red Square’ and ‘Caviare And Chips’, but the group was unable to repeat its initial success. Not to be confused with the recent hardcore punk group from New York with the same name.

FORMED
1961
GENRE
Rock
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