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The Pop Group

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The Pop Group
OriginBristol, England
GenresPost-punk, avant-garde, funk,
free jazz
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 band formed in Bristol in 1977.[1] Their output in the late 1970s, which drew on an iconoclastic range of sources across music, art, and politics, made them a pioneering post-punk act. In 2010, the band reunited, touring and recording for the first time in three decades.

History

Post-punk era (1977-1981)

The Pop Group was formed in 1977 in Bristol by teenagers Mark Stewart (lyrics, vocals), John Waddington (guitar), Gareth Sager (guitar), Simon Underwood (bass) and Bruce Smith (drums, percussion).[1] Inspired by the energy of the punk rock movement but disillusioned by its musical conservatism, the group initially conceived of themselves as a funk outfit, drawing influence from black dance music, the avant-garde, and radical politics. Soon after forming, they began to gain notoriety for their incendiary live performances and were subsequently signed to Radar Records.[2] They issued their debut single, "She Is Beyond Good and Evil," in March 1979 and their debut album, Y, in April of that year, both to critical acclaim but relatively low sales figures.[3] Regardless, their moderate success was sufficient to convince Rough Trade to sign the band. During this period, Dan Catsis replaced Underwood on bass.[3]

The band's career with Rough Trade commenced with the release of the single "We Are All Prostitutes." This was followed by the release of their second album, For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? (1980). 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). The band's last live performance was in 1980 to a crowd of 500,000 people at Trafalgar Square as part of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament protest.[4] They split in 1981, after legal wranglings and internal disagreements. Members of the group went on to collaborate and join bands including Pigbag, Maximum Joy, Head, the Slits and Rip Rig + Panic, the latter notable for the involvement of Neneh Cherry.[3] Stewart collaborated with the On-U Sound posse, issuing records backed by the Maffia, then as a solo artist.

Reformation (2010-present)

It was reported on 24 May 2010 that the Pop Group would be reuniting and touring, with three of the original five members returning.[5] The Pop Group's 1980 LP We Are Time saw its first reissue worldwide on 20 October 2014. The band also released a compilation of rarities titled Cabinet of Curiosities. In support of the reissues the band undertook a 7 day UK tour. On 23 February 2015, the Pop Group released Citizen Zombie, their first studio album in 35 years. They subsequently undertook a worldwide tour, performing dates in the US, Japan, and Australia. An extensive European tour culminated in festival appearances including two live sets at Glastonbury.[6]

February 2016 saw the reissue of their 1980 album For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?, released on CD and digitally for the first time. This was accompanied by the release of a colour vinyl edition of "We Are All Prostitutes," referred to by The Vinyl Factory "as one of the best post-punk songs ever from one of the best post-punk bands ever".[7] A previously unseen video for "We Are All Prostitutes", shot at the Electric Ballroom in November 1979 but thought to be lost, was recovered from the attic of video artist Chris Reynolds and unveiled.

Style and influence

The Pop Group have been called pioneers of the late-’70s and early-’80s post-punk scene.[8] The Guardian wrote that the Pop Group "almost singlehandedly effected the transition from punk to postpunk [and] — ahead of Gang of Four, PiL, A Certain Ratio and the rest – steered punk towards a radical, politicised mash-up of dub, funk, free jazz and the avant-garde."[9] Theorist Mark Fisher describes their sound as "both carvernous and propulsive, ultra-abstract yet driven by dance music’s physical imperatives."[10][11] Rolling Stone described the group as "an explosive mutant gene," asserting that "among their rabble-rousing post-punk contemporaries, none boasted as much sheer musical inventiveness and audacity."[4]

The group was inspired by artists as diverse as Ornette Coleman, King Tubby, Debussy, Funkadelic, Jacques Brel, and Steve Reich in addition to non-musical sources such as French romanticism, Beat poetry, the Situationists,[12][13][14] and existential philosophy.[11][15] Discussing their early work, Mark Fisher wrote that "The Pop Group of Y were not interested in either shaking their fists at authority or in announcing their boredom and dejection. They wanted to re-mystify, not de-mystify, to combat the stupidities and atrocities of the world with new forms of fascination."[16]

The Pop Group have been cited as an influence by artists such as Nick Cave of the Birthday Party, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, Mike Watt of Minutemen, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, and St. Vincent.[12]

Discography

Main article: The Pop Group discography
Studio albums
Singles

References

  1. ^ a b "The Pop Group: The Oral History of the Post-Punk Pioneers - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  2. ^ Dougan, John. "Artist Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b Rolling Stone
  5. ^ "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)
  6. ^ "Premiere: The Pop Group - "Citizen Zombie"". NOISEY. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  7. ^ http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-releases/the-10-best-vinyl-releases-this-week-22nd-february/
  8. ^ Everhart, John (24 February 2015). "Review: The Pop Group makes a triumphant return · Music Review · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  9. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/feb/26/the-pop-group-new-album-citizen-zombie
  10. ^ "Stealing Fire: The Pop Group`S `Y` Lp: Fact Magazine". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ 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)
  12. ^ a b Freaks R Us
  13. ^ Reynolds, Simon (2006). Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-21570-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  14. ^ AllMusic
  15. ^ "The Pop Group Are Back and Fighting Against the "Warm Bath of Apathy"". NOISEY. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  16. ^ Fisher, Mark. "The Pop Group's How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?." Fact. February 2016.
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