Grebo (music)
| Grebo | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Late 1980s – early 1990s, United Kingdom |
| Regional scenes | |
| English Midlands | |
| Other topics | |
| Cool Britannia | |
Grebo(orgrebo rock)[1]was a short-livedsubcultureand subgenre ofalternative rock[2]that incorporated influences frompunk rock,electronic dance music,hip hopandpsychedelia.The scene occupied the period in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the United Kingdom before the popularisation ofBritpopandgrunge.[3]The genre and its attributes were largely absorbed intoindustrial rock,which would emerge after the sub-genre's demise in the late1980s,which then led to the development ofindustrial metalin the1990s.
History and etymology
[edit]Derived from "greaser",[4]the word "grebo" began being used in the 1970s as a slang term for bikers with long hair.[5][6]The word was re-fashioned by the groupPop Will Eat Itselfthat represented a brand ofUnited Kingdomsubcultureof the late 1980s and early 1990s, largely based in theEnglish Midlands.[7][8][6]The scene particularly was centred onBirmingham.[9]
Influential bands in the scene were theStourbridge-based bandsPop Will Eat Itself(who had songs titled, "Oh Grebo I Think I Love You"[7][10]and "Grebo Guru" ),the Wonder Stuff,andNed's Atomic Dustbin,along withLondonbandCarter USMandLeicesterbandsCrazyhead,the Bomb Party,the Hunters Club,Scum PupsandGaye Bykers on Acid.[11][12][13]The term has also been used to describeJesus Jones,who enjoyed success in both the United Kingdom and the United States.[1][14]
Although short-lived, the movement was a success and influenced several later bands. To a certain extent it was a music press invention, much likepositive punk,a scene and style named by British indie magazinesNMEand theMelody Maker.[11]The music genre has declined rapidly since its popularity in the'90s,so the genre is only found in theunderground scene.
Characteristics
[edit]Grebo bands drew influences from a diverse array of genres, includingdance-rock,psychedelia,[15]pop,hip hop,[8]punk rockandelectronica.[16]Pop Will Eat Itself adopted anindustrialalternative rock style[17]that combined "heavy metalandhard rockguitar riffs, electro-dance rhythms, samples andrapvocals. "[18]While Gaye Bykers on Acid's use of hip-hop and dance beats was considered as "a major innovation in mid-'80s alternative rock,"[19]Ned's Atomic Dustbin focused on "the hyper punk aspect" of the movement, relying on "catchyhooksand a dual-bass sound. "[20]
Grebo artists and fans sported long hair,dreadlocksand baggy shorts.[9][15]
References
[edit]- ^abKim, Jae-Ha (12 January 1992)."'Grebo rock,' as synthesized by Ned's Atomic Dustbin ".Chicago Sun-Times.Archived fromthe originalon 2 November 2012.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^Bernstein, Jonathan (2012).Knickers in a Twist: A Dictionary of British Slang.Canongate.ISBN978-0857869456.
- ^Roach, Martin; Snowball, Ian; McKenna, Peter (2015).Tribe - A Personal History of British Subculture.John Blake.ISBN978-1784188979.
- ^Garland, Emma (24 February 2020)."Introducing: The Grown-Up Greebo".Vice Media.Retrieved26 July2024.
- ^Warbrook, Colette (15 May 2015)."The Way We Were: Bikers met at the Windy Ridge Cafe in the 60s".The Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon 28 June 2015.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^abRobb, John (2010).The Charlatans We Are Rock.Random House.ISBN978-1409034391.
- ^abRogers, Jude (25 February 2010)."From mod to emo: why pop tribes are still making a scene".The Guardian.Retrieved14 April2017.
- ^abVladimir Bogdanov (editor),All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide To Electronic Music,page 404 (Backbeat Books, 2001).ISBN0-87930-628-9.Quote: "Honing a fusion of rock, pop, and rap which they dubbed 'grebo', the Poppies kickstarted a small revolution."
- ^abPetridis, Alexis (3 May 2002)."The way we listen now".The Guardian.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^Wuelfing, Howard Jr. (February 1988). "Pop Will Eat Itself - Now For a Feast!".Spin.3(9): 33.
- ^abStrong, Martin C. (1999).The Great Alternative & Indie Discography.Canongate. pp.169,711.ISBN0-86241-913-1.
Lumped in with the media created "Grebo" scene along with Pop Will Eat Itself, Gaye Bykers on Acid and the early Wonder Stuff, Crazyhead.../[Wonder Stuff] initially lumped in with contemporaries like Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead under the music-press created 'grebo' banner/etc..
- ^Larkin, Colin (1992).The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music.Guinness Publishing. pp. 73–74.ISBN0-85112-579-4.
In common with Gaye Bikers on Acid (sic), Bomb Party, and Pop Will Eat Itself, [Crazyhead] were linked with the media-fuelled 'biker' or 'grebo' rock genre.
- ^Theroux, Alexander (1992).The Grammar of Rock: Art and Artlessness in 20th Century Pop Lyrics.Fantagraphics Books. p. 309.ISBN978-1-60699-616-4.
as well as a track by grebo band Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
- ^Greene, Jo-Ann."Jesus Jones - Live at the Marquee".AllMusic.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^abModell, Josh (13 October 2014)."Dudes on 'ludes: 15 bands named after drugs that aren't weed".The A.V. Club.Retrieved12 April2017.
- ^Abebe, Nitsuh."Ned's Atomic Dustbin - God Fodder".AllMusic.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^McCormick, Neil (3 June 2011)."Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past by Simon Reynolds: review".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^Popson, Tom (29 September 1989)."Pwei: From Grebo Pop To Raucous Rock".Chicago Tribune.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^Ankeny, Jason."Gaye Bykers on Acid".AllMusic.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^Abebe, Nitsuh."Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Are You Normal?".AllMusic.Retrieved13 April2017.
Further reading
[edit]- GREBObyMick Mercer,Melody Maker,1987.reproduced here
