Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

PUB ROCK

UK phenomenon of early '70s centred on public houses of London, where good-time music around country and blues roots developed in reaction to 'pomp rock' (Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer etc) prevalent in charts and stadia. Posthumously acclaimed pioneers were US band Eggs Over Easy: residency at North London Tally Ho pub was followed by Bees Make Honey, Brinsley Schwarz, Quiver, Uncle Dog, others; Eggs returned to USA '72, released Good'n'Cheap on A&M same year (reissued '86 on Edsel). UK record labels attempted to cash in, usually with little reward due to lack of originality in the music and unwillingness of participants to 'dress the part'; indeed Schwarz, whose earlier career had been blighted by hype, revelled in anonymity. Only groups with a freak hit (like Ace's 'How Long') could hope to pull a crowd outside London venues like the Hope and Anchor, Nashville Rooms and the Kensington. Two factors put pub rock in the history books: first was 'Naughty Rhythms' package tour '75 of Dr Feelgood, Chilli Willi and Kokomo, which laid the groundwork for Feelgood's no. 1 live LP Stupidity '76; second was the tour's manager Jake Riviera, who formed Stiff Records, helped Ian Dury (ex-Kilburn and the High Roads), Nick Lowe (ex-Brinsley), Elvis Costello (as Declan McManus of Flip City) to stardom. Punk owed much to pub rock, with Joe Strummer of the Clash and Nick Cash (Keith Lucas) of 999 having served apprenticeships in 101ers, and Kilburns respectively. Southend Rock was a vinyl pub rock compilation; 18 years later Southend Rock 2 on Lunch CD had 19 tracks by Feelgood, Marques Brothers, Famous Potatoes, Hamsters.