Spunge
Encyclopedia
Spunge are a ska punk
band from Tewkesbury
, England
. Through many years of touring, Spunge have toured or played alongside with a number of moderately successful UK
bands; and several more famous American
bands such as Green Day
and Dropkick Murphys
; and been supported on a UK tour by Bowling for Soup
; the latter of whom contributed backing vocals to the song "Centerfold" on the That Should Cover It!
album.
Spunge are the only band who has ever officially been given permission by the Marley family to change the lyrics of a Bob Marley
song, on their cover of "No Woman, No Cry
" (this can be found on their second album, Room for Abuse
). The permission came from Ziggy Marley
, who liked the new version when they played it to him.
), the band went through a lengthy gestation period (adding bassist Simon Bayliss in 1995, and replacing him with Martin Holt in 1997, before emerging with the Kicking Pigeons
in 1998. Having sold 5000 copies at pub gigs the band decided that there was enough potential to leave their day jobs, and make the band a full time concern. Having soon gained a manager in Dave Juste of Birmingham's Xposure Rock Cafe (a regular early haunt), Spunge hit the road, and would eventually notch up well over three hundred gigs in just two years.
Less than a year later in 1999, Spunge released their début album Pedigree Chump
on MoonSka Europe and thus set about introducing the band to a wider audience. Holt tired of touring, so good friend Chris Murphy joined to play bass.
Their second album Room for Abuse
was recorded at DEP International Studios
, and released on Sucka-Punch Records in 2000, featuring the single "Ego" plus covers
of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" and Sublime's "Santeria". The album version of "No Woman No Cry" - was completed with new lyrics from Copeland - was the first cover of a Bob Marley song ever to receive permission to be altered by the Marley family, as Ziggy liked it so much. All this attention brought them to the eyes of B-Unique and a deal was signed in February 2002.
led to Spunge's third studio album, The Story So Far
. It spent one week in the UK Albums Chart
at #48. The first single to be taken from it was "Jump on Demand
". Produced by John Cornfield
, "Jump on Demand" reached #39 in the UK Singles Chart
. It also topped the Kerrang! TV chart for two weeks. The follow-up "Roots", peaked at #52 in the UK
chart
. However, communication between the band and their record label
was not good. Both releases had been delayed after the band had arranged sold out tours and promotional appearances.
The album, The Story So Far, was then scheduled for release at the end of August 2002 on the same day as the Reading and Leeds Festivals which the band were playing. The band then recorded a cover of "Oliver's Army
" with Steve Harris, which Alex Donnelly at BBC Radio 1
stated he would 'A list'. The label again asked for a tour to go with the release, and that was arranged for November and December 2002. The band were in full control of all the promotion for the tour and most shows were sold out with over 15,000 tickets sold to Spunge fans. With no financial support from the label, and no press coverage, the planned single was not released.
Following a meeting in December between label and the band's management, Spunge and B-Unique parted company. Despite this the band went on to play the inaugural Download Festival
at Castle Donington in July 2003, alongside Audioslave
, NOFX
and Metallica
. They parted company with their manager, Dave Juste, around this time, and decided to manage themselves. They also created their own record label, Dent'All Records
, in 2004. All subsequent recordings have been released on this label.
a collection of covers, previously unavailable live demos and two brand new songs. The album was successful, with sales still continuing.
During 2004, the band returned to the recording studio
to record two tracks for the next album, with the intention of producing a video
for one of them to coincide with a major tour in October and November 2004. The two tracks were "Backstabber" and "One More Go". A video was commissioned through Goblin Pictures for "One More Go" and was sent out to several television stations in the hope of getting it played on air. Spunge also decided to put on an all-day gig at Cheltenham
Town Hall. Hosted by Dent'All Records and Spunge, this became Extraction Fest 2004. The show was a success, but the video did not get aired, but their planned autumnal tour went ahead.
The band decided to release a full length DVD (The High Life) incorporating the video for "One More Go" on 21 March 2005.
On the 6 November 2006, Spunge released a re-recorded version of their second album called Room for Abuse 2006
that also included a DVD, which was also a re-release of their first video Skankin 'N' Skulkin
.
On 20 August 2007, the band announced it had finished the fourth studio album and would be releasing it on 12 November. The album was self-titled
. In October 2007, as part of the promotion for their new album, Spunge released as a free download on their website and Myspace site, their b-side
"Happy Ending". The band undertook two tours supporting the album's release.
When interviewed by BBC Gloucestershire on 27 April 2009, the band mentioned that they had started writing new material, and are looking into the possibility of doing a European tour in the near future.
The band undertook two tours in March and April 2010, one of which was supporting Dropkick Murphys
.
On Monday 3rd September 2011, the band digitally released a new double A single, "Nothing At All"/"Higher Ground", following recording sessions earlier in the year.
Ska punk
Ska punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...
band from Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Through many years of touring, Spunge have toured or played alongside with a number of moderately successful UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
bands; and several more famous American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bands such as Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
and Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
; and been supported on a UK tour by Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
; the latter of whom contributed backing vocals to the song "Centerfold" on the That Should Cover It!
That Should Cover It!
That Should Cover It! is a covers album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It also contains three re-recorded songs from earlier in the band's career and two completely new songs. It was released on February 23, 2004, on the band's own label Dent'All Records.The CD-ROM also contains the music...
album.
Spunge are the only band who has ever officially been given permission by the Marley family to change the lyrics of a Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
song, on their cover of "No Woman, No Cry
No Woman, No Cry
"No Woman, No Cry" is a reggae song by Bob Marley & The Wailers. The song first became known in 1974 through the studio album Natty Dread. The live version from the 1975 album Live! is perhaps best known — it was this version which was released on the greatest hits compilation Legend. The original...
" (this can be found on their second album, Room for Abuse
Room for Abuse
Room for Abuse is the second full-length album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It was released on 9 October 2000 on Sucka-Punch Records, and recorded at DEP International Studios, Birmingham ....
). The permission came from Ziggy Marley
Ziggy Marley
David "Ziggy" Marley is a Jamaican musician and leader of the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. He is the oldest son of famed reggae musician Bob Marley...
, who liked the new version when they played it to him.
Pedigree Chump and Room for Abuse
Conceived in July 1994, with almost the same line up as today (the only difference being that Copeland used to double up on bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), the band went through a lengthy gestation period (adding bassist Simon Bayliss in 1995, and replacing him with Martin Holt in 1997, before emerging with the Kicking Pigeons
The Kicking Pigeons EP
The Kicking Pigeons EP is an EP by the British ska punk band Spunge released in March 1998. The EP was mainly sold to audiences at gigs to promote the band, and eventually sold 5,000 copies. It is now no longer available....
in 1998. Having sold 5000 copies at pub gigs the band decided that there was enough potential to leave their day jobs, and make the band a full time concern. Having soon gained a manager in Dave Juste of Birmingham's Xposure Rock Cafe (a regular early haunt), Spunge hit the road, and would eventually notch up well over three hundred gigs in just two years.
Pedigree Chump
Pedigree Chump is the first album from the British ska punk band Spunge. It was released following the success of the The Kicking Pigeons EP a year earlier which sold 5,000 copies to early followers at pub gigs....
on MoonSka Europe and thus set about introducing the band to a wider audience. Holt tired of touring, so good friend Chris Murphy joined to play bass.
Their second album Room for Abuse
Room for Abuse
Room for Abuse is the second full-length album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It was released on 9 October 2000 on Sucka-Punch Records, and recorded at DEP International Studios, Birmingham ....
was recorded at DEP International Studios
DEP International Studios
DEP International Studios is a recording studio situated in Digbeth, Birmingham, UK. Designed by Recording Architecture, the studio is owned by dub music band UB40 . Situated in Birmingham's Eastside area, it still exists today.- Studio One :...
, and released on Sucka-Punch Records in 2000, featuring the single "Ego" plus covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" and Sublime's "Santeria". The album version of "No Woman No Cry" - was completed with new lyrics from Copeland - was the first cover of a Bob Marley song ever to receive permission to be altered by the Marley family, as Ziggy liked it so much. All this attention brought them to the eyes of B-Unique and a deal was signed in February 2002.
The Story So Far
The new recording contractRecording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
led to Spunge's third studio album, The Story So Far
The Story So Far (Spunge album)
The Story So Far is the third album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It was released on 26 August 2002 on the B-Unique Records label and recorded at two studios, Sawmills and Jacobs...
. It spent one week in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at #48. The first single to be taken from it was "Jump on Demand
Jump On Demand
"Jump On Demand" is a single released by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge on June 3, 2002. The single was released as a 7" vinyl and two CD versions. The first CD contains the music video for "Jump on Demand"...
". Produced by John Cornfield
John Cornfield
John Cornfield is a British record producer and sound engineer. He has been working from Sawmills Studios in Cornwall since 1982. As the chief engineer he has assisted some highly respected and regarded producers, including John Leckie and Tom Dowd, and has worked with a vast selection of artists...
, "Jump on Demand" reached #39 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It also topped the Kerrang! TV chart for two weeks. The follow-up "Roots", peaked at #52 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. However, communication between the band and their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
was not good. Both releases had been delayed after the band had arranged sold out tours and promotional appearances.
The album, The Story So Far, was then scheduled for release at the end of August 2002 on the same day as the Reading and Leeds Festivals which the band were playing. The band then recorded a cover of "Oliver's Army
Oliver's Army
"Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces in 1979. It remains his most successful single, spending four weeks at Nº2 in the UK singles chart....
" with Steve Harris, which Alex Donnelly at BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
stated he would 'A list'. The label again asked for a tour to go with the release, and that was arranged for November and December 2002. The band were in full control of all the promotion for the tour and most shows were sold out with over 15,000 tickets sold to Spunge fans. With no financial support from the label, and no press coverage, the planned single was not released.
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
at Castle Donington in July 2003, alongside Audioslave
Audioslave
Audioslave was an American rock supergroup that formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001. It consisted of former Soundgarden lead singer/rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell and the former instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine: Tom Morello , Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk...
, NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
and Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. They parted company with their manager, Dave Juste, around this time, and decided to manage themselves. They also created their own record label, Dent'All Records
Dent'All Records
Dent'All Records is an independent record label founded by [spunge], a British Ska punk band. The label was formed after the band felt let down by their existing and previous record labels due to a lack of support in promotion. In 2007, the label signed two other bands, More Than Normal and Cousin...
, in 2004. All subsequent recordings have been released on this label.
That Should Cover It!
On 23 February 2004, the label released its first album, That Should Cover It!That Should Cover It!
That Should Cover It! is a covers album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It also contains three re-recorded songs from earlier in the band's career and two completely new songs. It was released on February 23, 2004, on the band's own label Dent'All Records.The CD-ROM also contains the music...
a collection of covers, previously unavailable live demos and two brand new songs. The album was successful, with sales still continuing.
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
to record two tracks for the next album, with the intention of producing a video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for one of them to coincide with a major tour in October and November 2004. The two tracks were "Backstabber" and "One More Go". A video was commissioned through Goblin Pictures for "One More Go" and was sent out to several television stations in the hope of getting it played on air. Spunge also decided to put on an all-day gig at Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
Town Hall. Hosted by Dent'All Records and Spunge, this became Extraction Fest 2004. The show was a success, but the video did not get aired, but their planned autumnal tour went ahead.
The band decided to release a full length DVD (The High Life) incorporating the video for "One More Go" on 21 March 2005.
Album re-release and self-titled album
Rhythm guitarist Wol (Paul Gurney) left the band in January 2006, due to personal reasons. Spunge decided to carry on as a four piece.Room for Abuse 2006
Room For Abuse '06 is a re-release of Ska Punk band Spunge's 2000 album Room For Abuse. It has been re-mastered to improve the quality. The CD includes a bonus DVD which is a re-release of their earlier video "Skankin 'N' Skulkin"...
that also included a DVD, which was also a re-release of their first video Skankin 'N' Skulkin
Skankin 'N' Skulkin
Skankin 'n' Skulkin - [spunge] On and Off the Road is a video released by the Tewkesbury ska punk band [spunge] in 2001 . The video focuses on a live show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall that took place during 2000, and also includes offstage antics, interviews and the promotional video for the song...
.
On 20 August 2007, the band announced it had finished the fourth studio album and would be releasing it on 12 November. The album was self-titled
Spunge (album)
Spunge is the fourth studio album from British ska punk band Spunge. It was released on 12 November 2007, although the band had sold the albums on their supporting tour from as early as 25 October 2007...
. In October 2007, as part of the promotion for their new album, Spunge released as a free download on their website and Myspace site, their b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
"Happy Ending". The band undertook two tours supporting the album's release.
When interviewed by BBC Gloucestershire on 27 April 2009, the band mentioned that they had started writing new material, and are looking into the possibility of doing a European tour in the near future.
The band undertook two tours in March and April 2010, one of which was supporting Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
.
On Monday 3rd September 2011, the band digitally released a new double A single, "Nothing At All"/"Higher Ground", following recording sessions earlier in the year.
Current members
- Alex Copeland (vocals)
- Damon Robins (lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
) - Chris Murphy (bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Jeremy King (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
)
Former members
- Paul Gurney (rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
) - Simon Bayliss (bass guitar)
- Martin Holt (bass guitar)
Singles
- "Ego" - 19 June 2000
- "Live Another Day/Kicking Pigeons 2001" - 12 February 2001
- "Jump On Demand" - 3 June 2002 - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#39 - "Roots" - 12 August 2002 - UK #52
- "One More Go" - 21 March 2005
- "Backstabber" - 14 January 2006, download onlyDigital distributionOnline distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
- "Nothing At All/Higher Ground" - 29 August 2011, download onlyDigital distributionOnline distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
Albums
- Pedigree ChumpPedigree ChumpPedigree Chump is the first album from the British ska punk band Spunge. It was released following the success of the The Kicking Pigeons EP a year earlier which sold 5,000 copies to early followers at pub gigs....
- 1 March 1999 - Room for AbuseRoom for AbuseRoom for Abuse is the second full-length album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It was released on 9 October 2000 on Sucka-Punch Records, and recorded at DEP International Studios, Birmingham ....
- 9 October 2000 - The Story So FarThe Story So Far (Spunge album)The Story So Far is the third album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It was released on 26 August 2002 on the B-Unique Records label and recorded at two studios, Sawmills and Jacobs...
- 26 August 2002 - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#48 - That Should Cover It!That Should Cover It!That Should Cover It! is a covers album by the Tewkesbury ska punk band Spunge. It also contains three re-recorded songs from earlier in the band's career and two completely new songs. It was released on February 23, 2004, on the band's own label Dent'All Records.The CD-ROM also contains the music...
- 23 February 2004 - Room for Abuse 2006Room for Abuse 2006Room For Abuse '06 is a re-release of Ska Punk band Spunge's 2000 album Room For Abuse. It has been re-mastered to improve the quality. The CD includes a bonus DVD which is a re-release of their earlier video "Skankin 'N' Skulkin"...
- 6 November 2006 - SpungeSpunge (album)Spunge is the fourth studio album from British ska punk band Spunge. It was released on 12 November 2007, although the band had sold the albums on their supporting tour from as early as 25 October 2007...
- 12 November 2007
External links
- Official
[spunge website] -
[spunge Interview April '08] - Sucka-Punch Records website
- Moon Ska Europan website
- B-Unique Records website
- Dent'All Records website