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The Pop Group

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The Pop Group
OriginBristol, England
GenresPost-punk, avant-garde, funk, experimental
Years active1977–1981, 2010–present
LabelsRough Trade, Radar Records
MembersDan Catsis
Gareth Sager
Bruce Smith
Mark Stewart
Past membersSimon Underwood
John Waddington
WebsiteOfficial website

The Pop Group are a British post-punk band formed in Bristol in 1977.

Regarded as a pioneering act of the post-punk era, the Pop Group released three albums and several singles before disbanding in 1981.[2] In 2010, the band reformed, touring and announcing a new record.[3][4]

Career

The group was formed in 1977 by teenagers Mark Stewart (lyrics, vocals), John Waddington (guitar), Gareth Sager (guitar), Simon Underwood (bass) and Bruce Smith (drums, percussion), with various lineup changes and additions occurring thereafter.[2] Inspired by the 1970s work of such artists as Miles Davis, Captain Beefheart, and King Tubby in addition to the burgeoning punk scene, the group's polymorphous post-punk aesthetic drew on funk, free jazz, dub, and experimental music.[2][5][6] Stewart's fevered lyricism took influence from the leftist avant-garde, existential philosophy, and agit-prop sloganeering.[6][7]

Soon after forming, the group began to gain notoriety for their incendiary live performances and were subsequently signed to Radar Records.[5] They issued their debut single, "She Is Beyond Good and Evil" in March 1979.[8] Their debut album, Y, was produced by Dennis Bovell to critical acclaim but low sales figures. Although it did not chart, the album's success was sufficient to convince Rough Trade to sign the band, but not before more line-up changes, with Dan Catsis replacing Underwood on bass.[8] The band's career with Rough Trade commenced with what is possibly their best-known single, "We Are All Prostitutes", which features a guest appearance by free improviser Tristan Honsinger on cello. This was followed by the release of their second album, For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? in 1980, which includes a contribution from US proto-rappers the Last Poets. Shortly afterwards the Pop Group released a split single, "Where There's a Will...", with the Slits, a band with whom they now shared a drummer (Bruce Smith) and managers (Christine Robertson and Dick O'Dell), as well as a growing interest in exploring musical genres such as dub and funk rhythms.

The band split in 1981, after legal wranglings and internal disagreements. Members of the group went on to join bands including Pigbag, Maximum Joy, Head, the Slits and Rip Rig + Panic, the latter notable for the involvement of Neneh Cherry.[8] Stewart collaborated with the On-U Sound posse, issuing records firstly as Mark Stewart and Maffia, then as a solo artist. It was reported on 24 May 2010 that the Pop Group would be reuniting. Stewart announced the first two dates of a reunion tour.[9] Three members of the original line up were part of the reunion with two gigs in London and two in Italy initially confirmed. The band issued a statement explaining the reunion, saying "There was a lot left undone,....we were so young and volatile....Let's face it, things are probably even more fucked now than they were in the early 80's.....and we are even more fucked off!"[3]

The Pop Group played live in Paris (for the first time) on 6 September 2010, at La Machine Du Moulin Rouge venue as part of "L'Etrange Festival" Film Festival which served as a kick off to their five date tour through Europe which included a London gig on New Year's Eve with Sonic Youth and Shellac. In a 2010 interview, Stewart said that the reformed Pop Group was recording a new album, to be titled The Alternate. However, this album never materialized.[4] The band were chosen to perform at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival curated by ATP & Portishead in September 2011 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.[10]

The Pop Group's 1980 LP We Are Time saw its first reissue worldwide (ex. Japan) on October 20, 2014. The band also released a brand new compilation of rarities titled Cabinet of Curiosities. In support of the reissues the band undertook a 7 day UK tour starting on October 20 in Edinburgh and ending on October 26 at the Islington Assembly Hall in London. Richard Williams - who championed the band and featured them on the front of Melody Maker on 24 March 1979 - wrote in his review of the London show: 'one of the most important British bands of the 1970s, the gig provided evidence of their continuing relevance'.[11] In November 2014, the Pop Group announced that they would release their first studio album in 35 years, Citizen Zombie, on 23 February 2015, produced by Paul Epworth.[12] They also posted the album's title track on Soundcloud.[13] As of January 2015, the band have revealed the first single to be taken from Citizen Zombie, entitled Mad Truth [14]

They have been cited as an important influence in the development of alternative music in the 1980s; Mike Watt, of Minutemen and, more recently, Nick Cave, have cited the Pop Group as an important source of inspiration on their own work. In November 2013, the band played the final holiday camp edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival in Camber Sands, England.[15]

Discography

Main article: The Pop Group discography
Studio albums

See also

References

  1. ^ "Related: Associated With". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "The Pop Group: The Oral History of the Post-Punk Pioneers - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Update: The Pop Group Reform". Clash. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b Ryan, Kyle (24 May 2010). "Update: The Pop Group to reunite | Music | Newswire". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  5. ^ a b Dougan, John. "Artist Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  6. ^ a b O'Hagan, Sean (14 September 2010). "The Pop Group: Still Blazing a Trail That Makes Rock Look Conservative". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "The Pop Group Are Back and Fighting Against the "Warm Bath of Apathy"". NOISEY. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 757–758. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  9. ^ "Update: The Pop Group to reunite". The A.V. Club. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ ATP America presents I'll Be Your Mirror curated by Portishead & ATP – All Tomorrow's Parties. Atpfestival.com. Retrieved on 11 April 2014.
  11. ^ "The Pop Group". thebluemoment.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Premiere: The Pop Group - "Citizen Zombie"". NOISEY. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  13. ^ "The Pop Group - Citizen Zombie". SoundCloud. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  14. ^ "The Pop Group". The Pop Group Official Youtube Retrieved January 2015. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  15. ^ End Of An Era Part 2 curated by ATP & Loop – All Tomorrow's Parties. Atpfestival.com. Retrieved on 11 April 2014.
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