Groop Dogdrill
Encyclopedia
Groop Dogdrill were a rock band
formed in the early 1990s in the Northern English town of Doncaster
, UK, by Damien "Damo" Fowkes (bass), Pete Spiby (vocals/guitar) and Hugh "Hug" Kelly (drums). They achieved modest success, releasing a number of singles
and two album
s in between numerous tours of the UK, before finally splitting up in 2001.
at The Tunbridge Wells Forum, on 24 August 1994. Darren Belk (friend of the band and frontman/guitarist with Beachbuggy
) was playing bass guitar at the time for The Wedding Present. Dogdrill were re-named 'groop' dogdrill by Wedding Present drummer Simon Smith and they played as Groop Dogdrill from that day onwards.
They entered a 'battle of the bands' competition in their hometown of Doncaster, as they were unable to afford the bass gear that would allow them to start working the live circuit. The band easily won the competition (and the bass gear) and also caught the eye of a young producer called Matt Elliss at Axis Studios who offered to record a demo at the studio free of charge. Matt Elliss then passed the song onto a new label called EXP (a subsidiary of ViaCom) which was being run by Feargal Sharkey
, formerly of The Undertones
. The label demoed the band and released a limited edition (500) 7" single 'Gentleman's Soiree'/ 'Silver Boots' before agreeing to record and release a full-length album. After a brief tour of the UK with Cable the band went into the studio to start recording tracks for their debut long player. A further single, 'Gracelands' (1996) and more tours (with A amongst others) followed but financial difficulties forced EXP to fold before the full album was released.
The band were soon picked up by Mantra Records (part of the Beggars Banquet
group) and further tours followed before the album "Half Nelson", recorded for EXP two years earlier, was eventually released by Mantra in 1998. The album chronicled the band's obsessions with Americana
, the Rat Pack
, working class humour, the seedier side of personal and sexual relationships and classic 70s movies with an ever-present combination of metal
, punk
, blues
and rockabilly
at its core.
They began to accumulate a small but loyal fanbase, helped by features in Kerrang!
and NME
, a series of incendiary live shows and a growing (if not necessarily accurate) reputation for on- and off-stage violence. Tours of the UK and Europe followed (with Carter USM
, Therapy?
and Motorhead amongst others) and the band eventually had the opportunity to tour their spiritual home, the USA. A double headline tour with London based Blues/Punk/Sleaze band Penthouse (who were renamed 'Fifty Tons of Black Terror' for the occasion after a legal run-in with the head of the adult magazine who shared their name).
By 1998 most of the band had moved from their hometown of Doncaster to the neighbouring city of Sheffield
but returned to Axis Studios in Doncaster, to again work with Matt Elliss, to record their second album Every Six Seconds, after potential plans to record in Steve Albini
's studio in Chicago
were scrapped.
A UK tour with the YoYos and up and coming indie hotshots The Hives
as first on, preceded the release of "Every Six Seconds" late in 2000. The album showcased a more sonic vocabulary and more diverse songwriting. A number of favourable reviews followed but the band knew Mantra we're not in a financial position to back the band. After meetings the band decide to leave the label before a decision was made on their behalf, as the label was culling its roster. Which included China Drum and upstarts Parva aka The Kaiser Chiefs. Within 3 months the 2nd album had sold as many as the debut release.
A series of unfortunate events followed. With loss of Management, Booking Agent and lack of financial funds, Hug made the decision to quit the band in Dec 2000. Damo and Pete decided to continue and eventually recruited a new drummer Alex Thomas for a handful of gigs. They recorded a new demo in the summer of 2001. This lineup was short-lived however, and the band had permanently split by the end of the year.
After Groop Dogdrill Pete formed Future eX-Wife and is currently (2008) in Black Spiders, and plays drums for Tenebrous Liar.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
formed in the early 1990s in the Northern English town of Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, UK, by Damien "Damo" Fowkes (bass), Pete Spiby (vocals/guitar) and Hugh "Hug" Kelly (drums). They achieved modest success, releasing a number of singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and two album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in between numerous tours of the UK, before finally splitting up in 2001.
Band history
The band were originally called Dogdrill, until they played a show with The Wedding PresentThe Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
at The Tunbridge Wells Forum, on 24 August 1994. Darren Belk (friend of the band and frontman/guitarist with Beachbuggy
Beachbuggy
Beachbuggy were a rock group formed in early 1992 in Doncaster by Jack Straker , Jim VeVee and A.D . The band's name reflected singer and main songwriter Jack's obsession with classic cars, drag racing and Americana...
) was playing bass guitar at the time for The Wedding Present. Dogdrill were re-named 'groop' dogdrill by Wedding Present drummer Simon Smith and they played as Groop Dogdrill from that day onwards.
They entered a 'battle of the bands' competition in their hometown of Doncaster, as they were unable to afford the bass gear that would allow them to start working the live circuit. The band easily won the competition (and the bass gear) and also caught the eye of a young producer called Matt Elliss at Axis Studios who offered to record a demo at the studio free of charge. Matt Elliss then passed the song onto a new label called EXP (a subsidiary of ViaCom) which was being run by Feargal Sharkey
Feargal Sharkey
Feargal Sharkey is a singer from Northern Ireland who first found fame as the lead vocalist of pop punk band The Undertones...
, formerly of The Undertones
The Undertones
The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
. The label demoed the band and released a limited edition (500) 7" single 'Gentleman's Soiree'/ 'Silver Boots' before agreeing to record and release a full-length album. After a brief tour of the UK with Cable the band went into the studio to start recording tracks for their debut long player. A further single, 'Gracelands' (1996) and more tours (with A amongst others) followed but financial difficulties forced EXP to fold before the full album was released.
The band were soon picked up by Mantra Records (part of the Beggars Banquet
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
group) and further tours followed before the album "Half Nelson", recorded for EXP two years earlier, was eventually released by Mantra in 1998. The album chronicled the band's obsessions with Americana
Americana
Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...
, the Rat Pack
Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
, working class humour, the seedier side of personal and sexual relationships and classic 70s movies with an ever-present combination of metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
at its core.
They began to accumulate a small but loyal fanbase, helped by features in Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
and NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, a series of incendiary live shows and a growing (if not necessarily accurate) reputation for on- and off-stage violence. Tours of the UK and Europe followed (with Carter USM
Carter USM
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine is a British indie rock band formed in 1988 by singer Jim "Jim Bob" Morrison and guitarist Les "Fruitbat" Carter. They made their name with a distinctive style of power pop, fusing samples, sequenced basses and drum machines with rock 'n' roll guitars and...
, Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
and Motorhead amongst others) and the band eventually had the opportunity to tour their spiritual home, the USA. A double headline tour with London based Blues/Punk/Sleaze band Penthouse (who were renamed 'Fifty Tons of Black Terror' for the occasion after a legal run-in with the head of the adult magazine who shared their name).
By 1998 most of the band had moved from their hometown of Doncaster to the neighbouring city of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
but returned to Axis Studios in Doncaster, to again work with Matt Elliss, to record their second album Every Six Seconds, after potential plans to record in Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
's studio in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
were scrapped.
A UK tour with the YoYos and up and coming indie hotshots The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...
as first on, preceded the release of "Every Six Seconds" late in 2000. The album showcased a more sonic vocabulary and more diverse songwriting. A number of favourable reviews followed but the band knew Mantra we're not in a financial position to back the band. After meetings the band decide to leave the label before a decision was made on their behalf, as the label was culling its roster. Which included China Drum and upstarts Parva aka The Kaiser Chiefs. Within 3 months the 2nd album had sold as many as the debut release.
A series of unfortunate events followed. With loss of Management, Booking Agent and lack of financial funds, Hug made the decision to quit the band in Dec 2000. Damo and Pete decided to continue and eventually recruited a new drummer Alex Thomas for a handful of gigs. They recorded a new demo in the summer of 2001. This lineup was short-lived however, and the band had permanently split by the end of the year.
Personnel
- Pete Spiby sang with Boneyard prior to Groop Dogdrill.
After Groop Dogdrill Pete formed Future eX-Wife and is currently (2008) in Black Spiders, and plays drums for Tenebrous Liar.
- After Groop Dogdrill Damo Fowkes formed in Three Stages of Pain and is currently in the band Irons.
- Hugh Kelly played with BeachbuggyBeachbuggyBeachbuggy were a rock group formed in early 1992 in Doncaster by Jack Straker , Jim VeVee and A.D . The band's name reflected singer and main songwriter Jack's obsession with classic cars, drag racing and Americana...
from 1991 to 1996 and was an occasional member of The Wedding PresentThe Wedding PresentThe Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
during 1996-97. After leaving Groop Dogdrill Hugh largely retreated from the music business but briefly returned to play with a re-formed BeachbuggyBeachbuggyBeachbuggy were a rock group formed in early 1992 in Doncaster by Jack Straker , Jim VeVee and A.D . The band's name reflected singer and main songwriter Jack's obsession with classic cars, drag racing and Americana...
during 2005-06. He is currently playing with Doncaster band Walker with former BeachbuggyBeachbuggyBeachbuggy were a rock group formed in early 1992 in Doncaster by Jack Straker , Jim VeVee and A.D . The band's name reflected singer and main songwriter Jack's obsession with classic cars, drag racing and Americana...
and Wedding PresentThe Wedding PresentThe Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
members Paul DorringtonPaul DorringtonPaul Dorrington is an English guitarist and bassist best known for his 1991-1995 tenure in The Wedding Present.Dorrington joined Sheffield group AC Temple in 1985, and recorded Rorschach Blot Test, a live compilation album featuring The Dustdevils and Kilgore Trout...
& Darren BelkDarren BelkDarren Belk is an English songwriter, bassist and guitarist best known for his tenures in the bands Beachbuggy and The Wedding Present.Belk was roadie for the bands Cud and The Wedding Present whilst playing guitar and writing songs for his own band Bungalow in the late 1980s/early 1990s...
.
- After Groop Dogdrill Alex Thomas played with Badly Drawn BoyBadly Drawn BoyDamon Gough is an English alternative music singer/songwriter. He was born on 2 October 1969, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. He grew up in the Breightmet area of Bolton, Lancashire, England....
. He currently plays with Bat For LashesBat for LashesNatasha Khan , also known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English musician. She sings and plays the piano, bass, guitar, harpsichord and the autoharp....
Discography
- Half Nelson (album), 25 August 1998
- Every Six Seconds (album), 5 September 2000
External links
- Groop Dogdrill's official MySpace page
- Biography of Groop Dogdrill at allmusic.com
- [ Review of 'Half Nelson' at allmusic.com]
- [ Review of 'Every Six Seconds' at allmusic.com]