Heel to toe to hair and hoof and it's head over heels and it's all but an ark-lark...

History

Many have written about Cocteau Twins, either in short-form—the usual music journalism of 50- or 1,000-word missives that attempt to capture something approximating truth—or long-form. This website attempted the first comprehensive band history in the mid-1990s. It has been online for over 20 years, and has been quoted occasionally in others’ work. It has never been the subject of dispute, though it has never felt complete.

The opinions and points of view offered are well-informed by the facts, but are subject to correction. We have taken great care to present things in their proper context, and not gild the truth with the enthusiasm that typically accompanies fandom, steering clear of the natural allure of myths and legends. We have erred on the side of treating everyone with kindness, compassion, and the respect they deserve. As this is the official Cocteau Twins website, we have a duty to remain true to the artists and people they are, and were, while they were working together as a band. This collection of articles should not be considered an official or authorized biography.

We owe a debt of gratitude to others beyond Cocteau Twins themselves—journalists, authors, industry professionals, musicians, fans, and friends—whose stories and interviews with the former band members, friends, and associates have helped shape this work.

New chapters will be added as they are ready.

Table of Contents

1

Introduction

The former members of Cocteau Twins have by now each been on their own for longer than the prolific sixteen years they were together as a band. They went from being scrappy teenage runaways from small-town Scotland to heavy rotation on the BBC’s coveted John Peel Show in mere…

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2

“We shall both die in your rosary”

“Punk” as a musical form, is typically defined by its amateurism and unrefined character—DIY, anti-establishment, typically aggressive and filled with tension. It was messy and utterly democratic, and proved an efficient medium for venting rage and counter-cultural discontent.…

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