What the hell is a Beastie Puppet?

In 1988 a guy going by the name of "Frank Sidebottom" released (well tried to release anyway) a single by a side-project of his called "The Beastie Puppets".

Apparently this single was never released officially as there was legal action on behalf of the Beastie Boys. Now whether they had anything to do with it or it was the Record Company or Publishing legal team, we don't know. 

It was to be released by "Go! Discs" (now "Go! Beat") and everything was pressed and ready to go when he were threatened with legal action. A few Promo copies of the 12" did slip through but these are extremely rare.

The cover is quite funny, especially the back sleeve which has a picture of a train crashing into a mountain, a direct rip-off of the Licensed To Ill cover. Also track 2 is titled "No Train to Brooklands"  (Brooklands being a town in England) - another Beastie Boys rip off of the title "No Sleep Till Brooklyn".

I haven't actually heard the tracks from this single, but I have heard other Frank Sidebottom tunes, and all I can say is that it's an acquired taste I guess. He also had his own TV series in 1992 in the UK.

The Beastie Puppets 7"[GOPUP1]
1. We're Gonna To Write Some Invitations to my Party
2. No Train to Brooklands

The Beastie Puppets 12" [GOPUPX1]
1. We're Gonna To Write Some Invitations to my Party (Christmas version)
2. No Train to Brooklands
3. We're Gonna To Write Some Invitations to my Party (Birthday version)