Scum Pups was a grunge,Steven Wells "NME" 22 February 1992, IPC Media. punk rock,Mark Sutherland "NME" 15 May 1993, IPC Media. three piece band,"Maximum Rock n Roll" No.115, December 1992, San Francisco, CA. that formed in Leicester,Max "INDICATOR" Vol.2, No.8, Aug 1993, p.23 England in November 1989. The band formed while at sixth form college with Matt Day (Midge)"KERRANG!" No.406, 22 August 1992, page 54, Bauer Media. heading the trio. The band recorded their first single EP with Hinckley-based Motivate RecordsTY "Maximum Rock n Roll" No.95, April 1991, San Francisco, CA. while still teenagers in September 1990. This led to a strong teenage fanbase with a reputation for enjoying stage diving and moshing at their gigs.
The band quickly gathered a strong fanbase after being signed to Nottingham label Sycophant RecordsDave Morrison "SELECT" April 1992 and began appearing with the likes of Fudge Tunnel, Silverfish and Daisy Chainsaw."INDICATOR" Vol.1, No.12, December 1992, p.6 It was while with Sycophant Records, the band released their first 'mini' album Babykill, which held No.17 in the Melody Maker indie album charts, during March 1992.Charts: "Melody Maker", 14 March 1992, page 28, IPC Media.
The band signed with Stayfree Music in 1992 and embarked on touring with Crazyhead."Demolition" Feb 1991. During 1992 the band released their second EP "Shudder" on Stayfree, with added sponsorship from N.T.V. Music. It was at this stage that the founder bass player Clive Cartwright left, to be replaced by Marcus (Pepper) Hessin.Max "INDICATOR" Vol.2, No.8, Aug 1993, p.8
The band spent the remaining 18 months touring up and down the country with the likes of Headcleaner and Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction"KERRANG!" (no.418), 14 November 1992, Bauer Consumer Media. as well as touring in France. In 1993 the band released a further album Sonic Sculptures, and shared an EP single with Doncaster based band, FUSE; but on return from a further tour in France during February 1994, the band decided to split.
The band had two distinct styles during its four years of activity. The band was initially described as grunge, grebo or metal, but from 1992 onwards, the band took a distinctive turn towards a more glam rock/punk approach, with elements of popMörat "KERRANG!" No.387, 11 April 1992, Bauer Media. and rock thrown in. It was during this latter stage that their 5th member joined as a backing singer Janet Brown, in 1993.
Members Matthew Day - guitar & vocals (1989–1994) Clive Cartwright - bass & backing vocals (1989–1992) Roger Watson - drums (1989–1994) Marcus Hessin - bass & backing vocals (1992–1994) Janet Brown - backing vocals (1993) Gaz Birtles - sax (1993)
Discography Motivate Records was the band's first label, distributed under Southern Records Distribution. Sycophant released their first mini-album in 1992, also distributed under S.R.D.
Stayfree Music based in Leicester, was run by the former frontman of The Hunters Club, Ian Redhead, and managed Scum Pups through to their eventual split in February 1994.
Find Out Why - 7" Single EP released 1990 Motivate Records. Babykill - 12" and CD mini album (Bonus track on CD) released 1991 Sycophant Records. Shudder - 12" Single EP released 1992 Stayfree Music. Sonic Sculptures - CD album released 1993 Stayfree Music. "Hit Single" / "Hammer" - 7" Single released 1993 Stayfree Music.
Current Roger Watson eventually moved on to form the stoner rock group The Kings Of Frog Island
References
External links Official website Last.FM Radio MySpace Website