Martin Coogan helped give Manchester one of its memorable early-1990s indie singles, long before a television advert introduced the song to another generation. As singer and songwriter with The Mock Turtles, he was central to “Can You Dig It?”, a record that reached the UK Top 20 in 1991 and returned to the charts more than a decade later.
He is also Steve Coogan’s older brother, although their careers followed different paths. Martin’s story runs through local bands, independent record labels, recording studios and radio. It offers a perspective on the Manchester music scene that goes beyond its biggest-selling names, and reveals how independent musicians navigated a changing industry.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Martin Coogan |
| Profession | Musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist and former radio presenter |
| Nationality | British |
| Birthplace | Greater Manchester, England |
| Hometown | Middleton, Greater Manchester |
| Known For | Lead singer of The Mock Turtles |
| Famous Song | Can You Dig It? (1991) |
| Music Genre | Indie rock, alternative rock and psychedelic pop |
| Band | The Mock Turtles |
| Career Beginnings | 1980s |
| Father | Tony Coogan |
| Mother | Kathleen Coogan |
| Famous Brother | Steve Coogan, actor and comedian |
| Other Notable Sibling | Brendan Coogan, broadcaster |
| Business Background | Former owner of Vibe Recording Studios, Manchester |
| Radio Career | Former presenter at The Revolution and Tameside Radio |
| Marital Status | Not publicly verified |
| Children | No reliably verified public information |
| Net Worth | No publicly verified estimate available |
| Notable Achievement | UK Top 20 success with “Can You Dig It?” |
A Manchester Family With Several Creative Paths
The brothers grew up in Middleton, north of Manchester, in a family with strong Irish connections. Their mother, Kathleen, had roots in County Mayo, while their father, Tony, came from a family whose earlier generations had settled in Manchester from Ireland.
Music and performance already had a place in the family’s history. Their paternal grandfather established a dance hall serving Manchester’s Irish community in the 1950s. This family history provides context for a household familiar with entertainment.
The family also includes Brendan Coogan, who worked in broadcasting and presented Top Gear. Martin’s breakthrough came through bands, rather than the screen roles associated with Steve.
The Mock Turtles Before the Hit
Coogan’s route into recording began with Judge Happiness, a Middleton band that released a single in 1985. That year he helped form The Mock Turtles, whose early work took shape on the independent Manchester label Imaginary Records.
The group’s sound drew on psychedelic pop, guitar-driven indie and older art-rock influences. It belonged geographically to the musical movement often called Madchester, although The Mock Turtles were never simply another version of the dance-oriented groups associated with the city.
Their catalogue showed an appetite for musical history. Alongside original material, they recorded covers associated with artists including Syd Barrett, Jimi Hendrix and The Byrds. Coogan’s interest in David Bowie, glam rock and 1960s songwriting helped distinguish their melodic approach.
Building an Album on Limited Studio Time
Their debut album, Turtle Soup, appeared in 1990. Coogan later recalled that its sessions were assembled over an extended period, frequently at night because the musicians had daytime jobs and recording time was expensive.
That working method matters when listening to the album now. Rather than polishing every performance through endless revisions, the band captured arrangements within the practical limits of independent recording. “Head Run Wild” and “Oh Helen How?” reveal a commitment to atmosphere and melody.
How “Can You Dig It?” Changed the Picture
The defining commercial moment arrived in 1991. “Can You Dig It?” reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart, giving the band a national audience at a time when Manchester guitar music was receiving exceptional attention.
The song’s appeal lay in its combination of buoyant rhythm, prominent guitar lines and an instantly recognisable chorus. It worked both as indie pop and as a track capable of crossing into mainstream radio. Coogan’s songwriting supplied the foundation for that crossover.
The follow-up single, “And Then She Smiles”, reached number 44. The album Two Sides peaked at number 33, showing that the group’s chart presence extended beyond one song even if it never produced another Top 20 original single.
Commercial momentum eventually faded, and the wider music industry moved towards different sounds. Yet the recordings remained closely connected with the period in which Manchester’s independent scene briefly became a national cultural story.
The Advert That Brought the Song Back
“Can You Dig It?” received an unusual second chart life after its use in Vodafone advertising in the early 2000s. A remixed version returned to the UK singles chart in 2003, reaching number 19.
The revival introduced the track to listeners who missed its original release. Advertising created exposure, but the strength of the original song helped make the association memorable. The single acquired a second identity in British popular culture, extending its recognition well beyond its initial release.
From Frontman to the Recording Room
Coogan’s later professional life became closely associated with Vibe Recording Studios in Manchester’s Cheetham Hill district. He owned and ran the facility for a period, working with recording and production rather than concentrating solely on performance.
The studio’s history includes links with New Order, connecting everyday recording work with Manchester’s celebrated musical past.
Importantly, Vibe’s present website identifies Martin as a former studio owner. Older biographical descriptions sometimes say that he owns the business, but that should not be taken as confirmation of current ownership.
His experience in studios also shaped how he looked back at his early recordings. In an interview about an expanded edition of Turtle Soup, Coogan discussed recovering old tapes, dealing with damaged material and hearing imperfections that modern production techniques might remove.
The account offers a rare insight into his working priorities: preservation and the character of an original performance could matter as much as technical neatness.
Radio Was Another Part of His Career
Coogan also moved into broadcasting. He hosted the breakfast programme on Oldham-based station The Revolution, where his background in alternative music suited the station’s specialist approach.
That role ended during the station’s 2008 ownership and programming changes, when broadcaster Steve Penk took over the breakfast slot. Coogan subsequently worked on Radio Republic with Phil Beckett at Tameside Radio.
These past positions show how his career extended into broadcasting, without establishing a current presenting role.
Steve Coogan’s Fame and the Brotherly Connection
Steve Coogan took a markedly different route. He became known for comic impersonations, then for creating Alan Partridge, the awkward fictional broadcaster whose television, radio and film appearances established a substantial comedy career.
He also built a reputation as a dramatic actor. His credits include 24 Hour Party People, in which he portrayed Manchester music figure Tony Wilson, and Philomena, which he co-wrote and starred in. The Tony Wilson role makes an intriguing cultural connection: Steve acted in a film about the music landscape in which Martin had worked.
The film’s return to UK cinemas in October 2026 has brought fresh attention to that period of Manchester’s cultural history.
The family relationship is well established, but it should not overshadow the difference between their achievements. Martin was performing and releasing records before his younger brother became widely recognised. Their shared surname explains some public curiosity; it does not make Martin’s career an extension of Steve’s.
Why the Recordings Still Deserve Attention
The reissue of Turtle Soup by Cherry Red Records in 2017 opened up a fuller view of the band. Its expanded material included early singles, cover versions, B-sides and previously unreleased demos recovered from Coogan’s archives.
Those additions are useful because a greatest-hits selection can compress a working band into a single moment. The expanded collection shows experiments, influences and developing ideas that never necessarily reached a mass audience.
Coogan has previously expressed reservations about returning to extensive live performances, citing the work and costs involved. That is not a statement about every future possibility, and it does not establish a reunion timetable.
Conclusion
Martin Coogan’s place in British music rests on tangible work: forming bands, writing and performing a chart hit, developing recordings and participating in Manchester’s studio and radio culture. The second success of “Can You Dig It?” made the song unusually durable, while archive releases have widened the view of his musicianship.
Steve Coogan may be the more familiar name internationally, but Martin’s career stands on its own as part of the history of Manchester indie music.
FAQs
Is Martin Coogan Steve Coogan’s brother?
Yes. Martin is the older brother of Steve Coogan, the British actor, comedian and creator of Alan Partridge. They grew up in Middleton, Greater Manchester, and pursued separate careers. Martin became known through music and broadcasting, while Steve established himself in comedy and film.
What band was Martin Coogan in?
He was the lead singer and a songwriter with The Mock Turtles, formed in 1985. The group is particularly associated with “Can You Dig It?”, which reached number 18 in Britain in 1991. Earlier, he performed with the band Judge Happiness.
Did Martin Coogan write “Can You Dig It?”
Yes. Martin Coogan is credited as the songwriter of The Mock Turtles’ best-known single. Its original chart success came in 1991, before a remixed release reached the UK Top 20 again in 2003 after the song appeared in Vodafone advertising.
Does Martin Coogan still own Vibe Recording Studios?
Vibe Recording Studios currently describes him as a former owner. He was closely involved in running the Manchester studio and working on recording projects, but descriptions of his earlier ownership should not be repeated as though they establish his present business position.
Are The Mock Turtles still performing?
The group has no currently announced tour dates on major concert listings. In an interview discussing the band’s back catalogue, Coogan said the effort and expense of preparing live shows made a return unattractive. That explains his position at the time, rather than ruling out every future appearance.
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