Huggy Bear
Encyclopedia
Huggy Bear were an English riot grrrl
band, formed in 1991 in London
, and based in Brighton
.
-based riot grrrl movement led by feminist bands such as Bikini Kill
, Huggy Bear called themselves "boy-girl revolutionaries," both in reference to their political philosophy and the gender makeup of their band.
During the course of their existence, they refused to be photographed or interviewed by mainstream press, nor gave their full names once they began releasing records formally. In spite of a major label bidding war, Huggy Bear stayed with indie label Wiiija
.
Their avant-garde
debut EP
, Rubbing the Impossible to Burst, was released in 1992, and in the same year they began working closely with Bikini Kill as riot grrrl's popularity peaked on both sides of the Atlantic, culminating in a split album on Catcall Records (Huggy Bear) and Kill Rock Stars (Bikini Kill) called Our Troubled Youth/Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, the names of the Huggy Bear and Bikini Kill sides, respectively. Huggy Bear then released a series of EPs, which were collected on Taking the Rough with the Smooch. No longer featuring Slade on guitar, Huggy Bear released Weaponry Listens to Love in 1994, their first full-length album as well as their final release.
On February 14, 1993, Huggy Bear performed "Her Jazz" on the British television program
me, The Word
. After their set, the band stayed in the studio to watch a report on two American models who called themselves "The Barbi Twins
". Huggy Bear and their fans became upset at this and started shouting at the show's presenter Terry Christian
. They were ejected from the studio, and a spokesperson for The Word later said that one of the band's friends had "bit the face of a member of our production team." The performance was given a Melody Maker
cover story
, the event being compared to the Sex Pistols' Bill Grundy
incident.
. Rowley later did some artwork for Skinned Teen
. Hill started Phantom Pregnancies, whilst Elliott and Johnson joined Blood Sausage
. Rowley and Johnson also formed Thee Element of Crime in 1993.
Riot grrrl
Riot grrrl was an underground feminist punk movement based in Washington, DC, Olympia, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and the greater Pacific Northwest which existed in the early to mid-1990s, and it is often associated with third-wave feminism...
band, formed in 1991 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and based in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
History
Rising up in tandem with the Olympia, WashingtonOlympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
-based riot grrrl movement led by feminist bands such as Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill was an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington in October 1990. The group consisted of vocalist and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band is widely considered to be the pioneer of the riot grrrl movement,...
, Huggy Bear called themselves "boy-girl revolutionaries," both in reference to their political philosophy and the gender makeup of their band.
During the course of their existence, they refused to be photographed or interviewed by mainstream press, nor gave their full names once they began releasing records formally. In spite of a major label bidding war, Huggy Bear stayed with indie label Wiiija
Wiiija
Wiiija was a British independent record label. It was founded in 1988 by staff from the Rough Trade Shop in Notting Hill, London. The name Wiiija is a corruption of W11 1JA, the postcode of the Rough Trade Shop in Talbot Street....
.
Their avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Rubbing the Impossible to Burst, was released in 1992, and in the same year they began working closely with Bikini Kill as riot grrrl's popularity peaked on both sides of the Atlantic, culminating in a split album on Catcall Records (Huggy Bear) and Kill Rock Stars (Bikini Kill) called Our Troubled Youth/Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, the names of the Huggy Bear and Bikini Kill sides, respectively. Huggy Bear then released a series of EPs, which were collected on Taking the Rough with the Smooch. No longer featuring Slade on guitar, Huggy Bear released Weaponry Listens to Love in 1994, their first full-length album as well as their final release.
On February 14, 1993, Huggy Bear performed "Her Jazz" on the British television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
me, The Word
The Word (TV series)
The Word was a 1990s Channel 4 television programme in the United Kingdom.-Format:Its presenters included Mancunian radio presenter Terry Christian, comedian Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Katie Puckrik, Jasmine Dotiwala, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet and "Huffty"...
. After their set, the band stayed in the studio to watch a report on two American models who called themselves "The Barbi Twins
Shane and Sia Barbi
Shane Barbi and Sia Barbi , popularly known as The Barbi Twins, are vegan identical twins, models, physical fitness authors, and animal rights activists....
". Huggy Bear and their fans became upset at this and started shouting at the show's presenter Terry Christian
Terry Christian
Terry Christian is a British television and radio presenter whose credits include Channel 4's late night Youth Entertainment show The Word and ITV1 moral issues talk show It's My Life...
. They were ejected from the studio, and a spokesperson for The Word later said that one of the band's friends had "bit the face of a member of our production team." The performance was given a Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
cover story
Cover story
Cover story may refer to:* a story in a magazine whose subject matter appears on its front cover* a fictitious account that is intended to hide one's real motive, e.g. when a terrorist pretends to be farmer to buy fertilizer or to provide an explanation in case it is found; the story in the case of...
, the event being compared to the Sex Pistols' Bill Grundy
Bill Grundy
William "Bill" Grundy was an English television presenter and former host of Today, a regional news programme broadcast on Thames Television...
incident.
Later projects
After leaving Huggy Bear, Slade joined I'm Being Good and Comet GainComet Gain
Comet Gain are a British indie pop band, formed by singer-songwriter and guitarist David Bower in 1992, with influences including punk, post-punk and northern soul...
. Rowley later did some artwork for Skinned Teen
Skinned Teen
Skinned Teen were a Riot Grrrl band from London, England, active in the early 1990s. They have been cited as an inspiration by Beth Ditto, Kathleen Hanna and Josephine Olaussan of Love Is All.-History:...
. Hill started Phantom Pregnancies, whilst Elliott and Johnson joined Blood Sausage
Blood Sausage (band)
Blood Sausage were in indie rock band from Brighton, England, containing members of Huggy Bear.-History:The band featured vocalist Dale Shaw, who was described as "a self-confessed 'ugly' boy who read soulful beat poetry over whichever noise patterns happened to be passing at the time". Shaw...
. Rowley and Johnson also formed Thee Element of Crime in 1993.
Line-up
- Chris Rowley: vocals, trumpet and piano
- Jo Johnson: guitar and vocals
- Jon Slade: guitar
- Niki Elliott: bass and vocals
- Karen Hill: drums and piano
Discography
- "Rubbing the Impossible to Burst" 7", SEPT´92, WIIIJA 16(only 2000 pressed):
- Katholic Kunt; High Street Jupiter Supercone // Snail Messenger Loss; Single Bullets
- Shimmies in the Super 8, double 7", 4 songs of Huggy Bear, 2 of Darlin´, 1 of COLM, 1 of Stereolab, 1993, DUOPHONIC (only 800 were pressed):
- Trafalgar Square; Godziller; More Music From Bells; Snow White, Rose Red
- "Kiss Curl for the Kid's Lib Guerrillas", 7", DEC´92, WIIIJA 18:
- Derwin; Sizzlemeet // Concrete Life; Carnt Kiss
- "Herjazz", 7", 93, CATCALL/WIIIJA - Trouble001:
- Her Jazz // Prayer; Pro No From Now
- Our Troubled Youth (Huggy Bear) / YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH (Bikini Kill), 8th MARCH.93, CATCALL / Kill Rock Stars 206:
- Jupiter Re-entry; T-shirt; Blow Dry; Nu Song; Into the Mission; Hopscotch; Aqua Girl Star; February 14
- "Don't Die", 7", AUG´93 WIIIJA 23:
- Dissthentic Penetration; Teen Tighterns; No Sleep // Shaved Pussy Poetry; Pansy Twist
- Taking the Rough with the Smooch, LP/CD, 93, KILL ROCK STARS
- "Long Distance Lovers", 7", 93, GRAVITY #9
- Steppin On Bugs; Limit 2 Surf // Tuff Lovin; Code Fucker
- Main Squeeze, miniCD, 94, FELLAHEEN RECORDS Jack 011-2:
- Children Absent From Heaven Says; Red Flipper #2; My Best Kiss
- Weaponry Listens to Love, LP/CD, 21st Nov ´94, WIIIJA
- Getting Close to Nothing, video fanzine, 19??
- "February 14th" / "Into the Mission" - one-sided 7" given out at a Brighton gig
External links
- Huggy Bear gig listing
- Huggy Bear videos at World News