The Pop Group

The Pop Group
Origin Bristol, England
Genres Post-punk, avant-garde, funk
Years active 1977–1981, 2010–present
Labels Rough Trade, Radar Records
Associated acts The Slits, Dennis Bovell, New Age Steppers, Maximum Joy, Rip Rig + Panic, Pigbag, Mark Stewart + Maffia [1]
Website Official website
Members Dan Catsis
Gareth Sager
Bruce Smith
Mark Stewart
Past members Simon Underwood
John Waddington

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.[3][4]

Career

Origins and early recordings

The Pop 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).[2] Inspired by the nascent punk rock movement but unimpressed by its stylistic conservatism, the group initially conceived of themselves as a funk outfit.[5] Soon after forming, they began to gain notoriety for their incendiary live performances and were subsequently signed to Radar Records.[6] They issued their debut single, "She Is Beyond Good and Evil," in March 1979 and their debut album, Y, later that year, both to critical acclaim but relatively low sales figures. [7] Regardless, their moderate 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.[7]

The band's career with Rough Trade commenced with the release of their best-known single, "We Are All Prostitutes." This was followed by the release of their second album, For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? 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 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.[7] Stewart collaborated with the On-U Sound posse, issuing records firstly as Mark Stewart and Maffia, then as a solo artist.

Reformation

It was reported on 24 May 2010 that the Pop Group would be reuniting and touring, with three of the original five members returning. [8] The Pop Group's 1980 LP We Are Time saw its first reissue worldwide on October 20, 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 February 23, 2015, the Pop Group released Citizen Zombie, their first studio album in 35 years.[9]

Style and influence

The group's polymorphous post-punk aesthetic has been described as an "aggressive fusion of funk, noise, dub, free jazz, proto-punk, [and] post-Beat poetics."[2][6][10] Theorist Mark Fisher describes their sound as "both carvernous and propulsive, ultra-abstract yet driven by dance music’s physical imperatives."[11] Stewart's fevered lyricism took influence from the leftist avant-garde, existential philosophy, and agit-prop sloganeering.[10][12]

The Pop Group are often considered "pioneers of the late-’70s and early-’80s post-punk scene."[13] They have been cited as an influence in the development of alternative music in the 1980s; Nick Cave of The Birthday Party, Mike Watt of Minutemen, and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth have cited the Pop Group as an important source of inspiration on their own work.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Related: Associated With". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Pop Group: The Oral History of the Post-Punk Pioneers - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Update: The Pop Group Reform". Clash. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Ryan, Kyle (24 May 2010). "Update: The Pop Group to reunite | Music | Newswire". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-stewart-mn0000276849
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dougan, John. "Artist Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 757–758. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  8. ↑ "Update: The Pop Group to reunite". The A.V. Club. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "Premiere: The Pop Group - "Citizen Zombie"". NOISEY. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 O'Hagan, Sean (September 14, 2010). "The Pop Group: Still Blazing a Trail That Makes Rock Look Conservative". The Guardian. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Stealing Fire: The Pop Group`S `Y` Lp: Fact Magazine". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2015-03-26.
  12. ↑ "The Pop Group Are Back and Fighting Against the "Warm Bath of Apathy"". NOISEY. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Everhart, John (2015-02-24). "Review: The Pop Group makes a triumphant return · Music Review · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2015-03-26.

External links