Polaris Biography

"Hey, Pete here along with my brother Pete to tell you about a band called ... Polaris. They were discovered by accident one morning blasting away in Mrs. Chicutti's garage. By the afternoon what they left behind is music that can guide you like the North Star."

Band members

Muggy = Mark Mulcahy (vocals and lead guitar. Marks also writes the music)

Jersey = Dave Mcaffrey (bass)

Harris Polaris = Scot "Spot" Boutier (drums)

The Polaris story began in 1984 in the American state of Connecticut, with 4 men: Joel, Jeff Wiederschall, Ray "Mr Ray" Neal and one Mark Mulcahy. In this year they released an EP entitled "The Backyard" on the Incas label. Although "The Backyard" was acclaimed by many, the band were unfairly criticised by some circles for being nothing more than REM wannabe's. There were a few that thought the melodic rock styles were just too similar.

Three years passed and in 1987, there was a record company and a personnel change for the band. Out went Joel and in came Stephen West as the band released their first proper album, "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise" on the Rough Trade label. This album disappointed some fans and critics who fondly remembered the brilliance of "The Backyard". A year later they released Glad, a collection of previously released material, new studio songs, and live performances in New York (featuring guest artists like Pere Ubu). This was said to be a definite improvement over the restrained  "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise".

In 1989 they released their second album proper. Now they were just down to two member - mainstays Mark Mulcahy and Ray Neal (hence the title "Me and Mr Ray"). This however did not affect the quality of the music, although the style was slightly different, being a more emotional, warm folk rock.

Then in 1992, with the addition of two new members, Dave McCaffrey and Scot "Spot" Boutier, Miracle Legion it seemed, had begun to hit the big time when they released their albumm "Drenched" under the Morgan Creek record company. This album led to appearances on David Letterman and MTV and they even recorded a video for their outstanding but controversial song "Snacks and Candy", a song about the murder of Yusef Hawkins in the Bensonhurst neighbourhood of Brooklyn. However, problems occurred as the band had a fallout with Morgan Creek. This not only made a new album under them impossible but it also prevented them doing an album for anybody else,  as they could not secure a release from their contract. The matter was left in the hands of lawyers and the band went off to do their own thing. It was in this intervening period that Polaris were formed.

With Mr Ray taking a break from the band, the three other members, Mark, Dave and Scot (who adopted the names Muggy, Jersey and Harris)  began working on songs for the Nickelodeon show "The Adventures of Pete and Pete". They recorded "Hey Sandy" - which became Pete and Pete's theme tune "Staggering" (later renamed "She is Staggering"), "Everywhere" and "Summerbaby" for the first series of the show which was originally aired in 1993. These songs were also edited into episodes of the show which were aired as early as 1991. Not only could the band be seen energetically leaping around the Wrigley's front lawn singing "Hey Sandy" at the beginning of every episode, but they also made a guest appearance in the episode "Hard Day's Pete" where they were reunited with Mr Ray (who plays guitar) to sing Summerbaby in Mrs Chicutti's garage. They recorded the other songs which make up the Polaris album for the second and third series and also released a short tape which was given away as part of a Kelloggs Frosted Mini Wheats offer. This was entitled "Happily Deranged: Music from the Adventures of Pete and Pete" and contained the full length tracks "Hey Sandy", "Staggering" and "Coronado II". Up until the release of the full length Polaris album, this was like a Holy Grail to fans of the show and the band.

In 1996, the band went back to being Miracle Legion, under Mark's own label, Mezzotint. This would prevent troubles like those experienced at Rough Trade and Morgan Creek. Free from the pressures the band were under at these previous record labels, they produced their latest (and possibly final) album, "Portrait of a Damaged Family": possibly the greatest Miracle Legion record of all, featuring standout tracks "Madison Park" and "I wish I was Danny Kaye". The latter shows the band's appreciation for the easy listening god - they even once toured under the name The Danny Kaye Band.

After this, Mr Ray left to jam with another Connecticut band, The Jellyshirts`, while in 1997, Mark released a solo album under the Mezzotint label, entitled "Fathering". However the CD fans had been waiting for didn't come till 1999. Rumours had been going for years about a Polaris album. In '97 people began saying that there might be an album released in the Autumn of 1998. Then, in late '98, an official release date was set : January the first 1999. It was eventually put back by a month but it was definitely worth the wait. "Music from the Adventures of Pete and Pete" by Polaris is the greatest album of all time.

Nobody knows what the future is for Polaris, Miracle Legion or Mark as a solo performer, but whichever direction Mezzotint takes is going to be good.

Polaris - the whole galaxy salutes you!