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Chumbawamba

Real Name:
Lou Watts, Neil Ferguson, Boff Whaley, Jude Abbot
Profile:
This anarchist pop punk band is probably best known for the single "Tubthumping", which was everywhere in 1997, but probably less well known is the fact that this was taken from their eight studio album, "Tubthumper".

Formed in a squat in Leeds, England, in 1984, Chumbawamba released their first single, "Revolution", in 1985. Their musical style has changed through the years, initially a shouting punk band, later recording some folk songs, then, with the "Jesus H Christ" album, they discovered electronic music.

That album, however, was built around numerous samples of other groups and, when they found out how much clearing them would cost, they scrapped it (though, it was released as a bootleg and, in recent years, via their chumbawamba.tv site as mp3s) and rerecorded the album without the samples and with a new focus on censorship.

"Anarchy" was their response to criticism from their contemporaries for their move into pop music, funny, political and musically experimental. The anti-Nazi song "Enough is Enough", recorded with regular collaborator MC Fusion, was released as a single and launched Fusion's new group Credit to the Nation. They had minor chart success, but nothing compared to what was to come.

The disappointing "Swingin' with Raymond" followed and was the end of their relationship with One Little Indian. Deciding that there's no such thing as a good capitalist, big or small, they signed with EMI, whom they had criticised in the past. The band were heavily criticised once again, but the massive worldwide success of "Tubthumper" allowed the band to fund numerous political campaigns around the world.

They were never to repeat the success of that single and proudly proclaimed themselves one hit wonders and their relationship with EMI only lasted one more album and a few singles. Independent again with Mutt Records, and with long-time producer Neil Ferguson now officially a member, they have continued to experiment with their style, recording "Readymades", mixing folk samples with dance beats, the soundtrack to the Alex Cox film "Revengers Tragedy" and their latest release, "UN", recorded on a mini disc in Latin America and at Chumbawamba's Bradford studio, mixing styles and sounds from different parts of the world.

Since then, they've slimmed down to a four-piece playing folk music with pop influences. The other members have moved on to their own projects.

Always controversial, often under attack from the left and the right, Chumbawamba have always done things their own way and, in their own words, "Never do what you are told."
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Discography

Releases:
Be Happy ! Despite It All... (Demos) (Cass, Spl)   Sky & Trees 1983
Revolution (7")   Agit Prop 1985
Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records: Starvation, Charity and Rock & Roll - Lies & Traditions (LP)   Agit Prop 1986
We Are The World? (7")   Agit-Matter Records 1986
Never Mind The Ballots (Album) (2 versions)   Agit Prop 1987
English Rebel Songs 1381-1914 (Album) (5 versions)   Agit Prop ... 1988
Smash Clause 28! / Fight The Alton Bill! (7")   Agit Prop 1988
Slap! (Album) (4 versions)   Agit Prop ... 1990
(Someone's Always Telling You How To) Behave (Single) (2 versions)   Agit Prop 1992
I Never Gave Up (Single) (3 versions)   Agit Prop ... 1992
Shhh (Album) (4 versions)   Agit Prop ... 1992
Enough Is Enough (Single) (2 versions)   One Little Indian 1993
Timebomb (Maxi, Single) (4 versions)   One Little Indian ... 1993
Anarchy (Album) (6 versions)   London Records ... 1994
Criminal Injustice (12")   One Little Indian 1994
First 2 (Comp) (4 versions)   Agit Prop ... 1994
Give the Anarchist a Cigarette (12", Promo)   One Little Indian 1994
Homophobia (Single, Maxi) (3 versions)   London Records ... 1994
Showbusiness! (3 versions)   One Little Indian ... 1994
Just Look At Me Now (Single) (3 versions)   One Little Indian ... 1995
Swingin' With Raymond (Album) (4 versions)   One Little Indian ... 1995
Ugh! Your Ugly Houses! (Maxi, Single) (2 versions)   One Little Indian 1995
i - Portraits Of Anarchists (CD, EP)   One Little Indian 1996
Amnesia (Single) (8 versions)   EMI Electrola ... 1997
For A Free Humanity: For Anarchy (2xCD, Album)   AK Press Audio 1997
Tubthumper (Album) (8 versions)   EMI Electrola ... 1997
Tubthumping (12")   Universal Records 1997
Tubthumping (Maxi, Single) (16 versions)   EMI Records ... 1997
Japan Only Mini-Album - Amnesia (CD, Album)   Toshiba EMI Ltd 1998
Top Of The World (Olé, Olé, Olé) (Maxi) (3 versions)   EMI Electrola ... 1998
Uneasy Listening (CD)   EMI Records 1998
Uneasy Listening & Tubthumper (2xCD)   EMI Electrola 1998
The ABCs Of Anarchism (CD, EP)   Seeland 1999
Tony Blair (CD, Single, Ltd)   EMI Records 1999
She's Got All The Friends That Money Can Buy (Maxi, Single) (4 versions)   EMI Electrola ... 2000
WYSIWYG (Album) (4 versions)   EMI Records ... 2000
Home With Me (CD, Single)   Mutt Records 2002
Jacob's Ladder (Not in My Name) (CD, Maxi)   Mutt Records 2002
Readymades (2 versions)   Mutt Records ... 2002
Salt Fare, North Sea (CD, Single)   Mutt Records 2002
'Shhhlap!' (2xCD, RE)   Mutt Records 2003
English Rebel Songs 1381-1984 (CD, Album, Rer)   Mutt Records 2003
Revenger's Tragedy (CD)   Mutt Records 2003
On eBay (CD, Maxi)   Edel Records 2004
Un (3 versions)   Mutt Records ... 2004
A Singsong And A Scrap (Album) (3 versions)   No Masters ... 2005
Get On With It Live (CD, Album)   No Masters 2007
The Boy Bands Have Won (CD, Album, Gat)   No Masters, Westpark Music 2008
Remixes:
Jam Tomorrow / One Green Hill (12")   Running Man Records 1996
Production:
Sabrina The Teenage Witch: The Album (Comp) (2 versions) Amnesia (Radio Remix) Geffen Records ... 1998
Martial Beat (2xCD, Comp, Mix) Tubthumping Toshiba EMI Ltd 2002
Appears On:
Too Many Cowboys (2 versions) Adversity Ex Records ... 1987
Wild & Crazy "Noise Merchants"... ...Invade A City Near You: Worst Of The 1 In 12 Club Vol.9/10 (2xLP) Bradford Bad Lad 1 In 12 Records 1990
Teenage Sensation (Live) (CD, EP) Enough Is Enough One Little Indian 1994
Absolute Music 21 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EVA Records ANS (Norway) 1997
Tubthumping (I Am Hardcore) (12")   Traxtorm Records 1997
Tubthumping / La Bamba (CD, Maxi)   Almighty Records 1997
Allez! Ola! Olé! (CD, Comp) Top Of The World (Olé... Columbia 1998
Get Ready For This! (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Popular Records 1998
Happy Rave 10 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping (I Am Hard... Arcade Deutschland GmbH 1998
Hardcore Nation (CD, Comp) Tubthumping (I Am Hard... European Hardcore United 1998
Sabrina The Teenage Witch: The Album (Comp) (2 versions) Amnesia (Radio Remix) Geffen Records ... 1998
The Best Of Traxtorm Records Megamix (CD, Comp, Mixed) Tubthumping (Stunned G... Traxtorm Records 1998
Thunderdome - The Best Of '98 (2xCD, Comp + CD, Comp, Mixed + , Comp, Dig) Tubthumping (I Am Hard... Arcade 1998
Thunderdome XX (Comp) (2 versions) Tubthumping (I Am Hard... Arcade 1998
12" Of Pleasure: The Ultimate Dance Party (CD, Comp + CD, Comp, Mixed) Tubthumping Almighty Records 1999
Here I Stand (CD, Album) This Is The Voice, Thi... pläne 1999
Music For Life: 38 Massive FM Hits (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Warner.ESP 1999
Listen Up - Frosh 2001 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Universal Music Special Markets 2001
Goal! 20 Winning Hits (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI 2002
Martial Beat (2xCD, Comp, Mix) Tubthumping Toshiba EMI Ltd 2002
Pinacolada (2xCD) One Way Or The Other Universal Music Polska, STX Records (2) 2004
Complete Nineties (5xCD, Comp, Copy Prot.) Tubthumping EMI Music (Australia) 2005
Gratis CD Met Exclusieve Voetbalhits (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI Catalogue Marketing (Netherlands) 2006
Made To Move Music Collection - Pop (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI Catalogue Marketing (Netherlands) 2006
Mo' Living EP (CD, EP) Rappaport's Testament:... Touch And Go 2007
101 90s Hits (5xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin, EMI Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. 2008
Life Is Music (5xCD, Comp, Car) Tubthumping EMI Music (Belgium) 2008
Rare Trax Vol. 56 - This Is Not A Folk Song - Protestlieder Nach Punk (CD, Comp, Enh, Car) Give The Anarchist A C... Rolling Stone (Germany) 2008
Tracks Appear On:
Bullshit Detector Two (2xLP) Three Years Later Crass Records 1982
The Animals Packet (Cass) Animals' Song, No Sky & Trees 1983
Dig This: A Tribute To The Great Strike (LP) The Police Have Been W... Forward Sounds International 1985
Red Rhino Distribution (Flexi, 7", Promo) Rich Pop Stars Make Go... Agit Prop, Lil Records, Sin Records, Batfish Inc 1986
A Vile Peace (LP, Comp) Younger Moralists Peaceville 1987
Mindless Slaughter (LP) Knit Your Own Balaclava Recordiau Anhrefn 1987
Twenty Years On- The Summer Of Love? (Cass) Us And Them/The Candid... Pampers Für Alle! Productions 1987
A Pox Upon The Poll Tax (12", Comp) Song Of The Mother In ... Peasant’s Revolt Records 1989
Fuck EMI (LP, Comp) Heartbreak Hotel Rugger Bugger Discs 1989
Greatest Hits; A Benefit For The Trafalgar Square Defence Campaign EP (12") The Day The Nazi Died Peasant’s Revolt Records 1990
Wild & Crazy "Noise Merchants"... ...Invade A City Near You: Worst Of The 1 In 12 Club Vol.9/10 (2xLP) Bradford Bad Lad 1 In 12 Records 1990
The Liberator - Artists For Animals (CD, Album, Comp) Knit Your Own Balaclava Jimco Records 1991
Futureshock (Album, Comp) (3 versions) Enough Is Enough Dino Entertainment 1993
Indie Top 20 Volume 18 (Album, Comp) (2 versions) Enough Is Enough Beechwood Music 1993
Gay Pride (You Don't Know What Your Missing) (7", EP, Comp) Ugliest Part Of The Body Rugger Bugger Discs 1994
Secret Tracks (Cass) Give The Anarchist A C... Select Magazine 1994
Songs From The Tee P (Comp) (2 versions) Time Bomb One Little Indian ... 1994
Better Read Than Dead (Comp) (2 versions) Safety Pin Stuck In My... AK Press Audio ... 1996
No Compromize (2xCD) I Still Haven't Found ... Delerium Records 1996
105 For You Vol. 8 (CD, Comp, Mixed) Tubthumping No Colors 1997
Absolute Dance 16 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EVA Records (Sweden) 1997
Absolute Music 16 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EVA Records (Denmark) 1997
Absolute Music 21 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EVA Records ANS (Norway) 1997
Big Hits 97 (CD) Tubthumping Virgin, EMI Music (South Africa) 1997
Bolero Mix 14 (2xCD) Tubthumping Blanco Y Negro (2) 1997
Bravo Hits 19 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI Electrola 1997
CMJ New Music December '97 - Issue No. 52 (CD, Comp, Promo) Tubthumping College Music Journal 1997
Club Hits 97/98 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin, Circa Records Ltd. 1997
Coca-Cola Hits 1 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI, Oy EMI Finland Ab 1997
Dance Train '97 Vol. 4 (CD) Tubthumping EVA Belgium 1997
Ground Zero (CD, Comp) Tubthumping PolyGram 1997
Het Beste Uit De Mega Top 100 Van 1997 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping PolyGram TV (Netherlands) 1997
Hit Club 97.3 (Comp) (2 versions) Tubthumping EVA Belgium 1997
Hockey Anthems (Megamix) (CD, Maxi) Tubthumping Virgin Records (Sweden) 1997
Just The Best Vol. 14 (2xCD) Tubthumping Polystar Records 1997
Lords Of The Boards (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Ariola 1997
Mr Music Hits 11/97 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Mr Music (Sweden) 1997
Now That's What I Call Music! 38 (2xCD, Album, Comp) Tubthumping EMI Records 1997
Now This Is Music 2 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EVA 1997
Promo Only Radio Series: October 97 (CD, Comp, Promo) Tubthumping Promo Only 1997
The Dome Vol. 4 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping BMG 1997
Total Hits Of '97 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping BMG, BMG Finland Oy 1997
Visions Präsentiert Musik Für Die Neunziger Vol. IV (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Visions Magazine 1997
100% Summer Mix 98 (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Tubthumping Telstar TV 1998
18 Top Hits Aus Den Charts 4/98 (CD, Comp) Top Of The World Top 13 Music-Club 1998
40 Hits Of 1995 - 1998 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Disky 1998
Allez! Ola! Olé! (CD, Comp) Top Of The World (Olé... Columbia 1998
Allez! Ola! Olé!, The Music Of The World Cup (CD, Comp) Top Of The World (Ole ... Sony Music TV, Columbia 1998
Dancemania 9 (CD, Comp, Mixed) Amnesia Toshiba EMI Ltd 1998
Dancemania Speed (CD) Tubthumping (KCP Remix) Toshiba EMI Ltd 1998
ESPN Presents Jock Jams Volume 4 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Tommy Boy Music 1998
Energy Box Vol. 2 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping ZYX Music 1998
Extended Planet Dance (CD) Tubthumping (English V... Private Life Music 1998
Hit Express Vol. 4 (Cass) Tubthumping Podis 1998
In The Mix 98 (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) Tubthumping (Tin Tin O... Virgin, Circa Records Ltd. 1998
Megamixes 185 (12") Tubthumping DMC 1998
Megamixes 186 (12") Tubthumpin', Top Of Th... DMC 1998
Milkshake A CD To Benefit The Harvey Milk Institute (CD) Homophobia (Live Version) Timmi-kat ReCoRDS 1998
More Than A Sound! (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping BMG 1998
Now That's What I Call Music! 39 (2xCD) Amnesia Virgin, EMI Records 1998
Now! 3 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Universal Music (Canada), Warner Music (Canada), EMI Music (Canada) 1998
Party Police Vol. 1 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Sony Music Entertainment (Germany), Sony Music Entertainment (Germany) 1998
PoP=hits (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Universal Music 1998
Pop Goes Dance (CD) Tubthumping (Tin Tin O... EMI Records 1998
Potverdekke, Let's Party (CD) Tubthumping EVA Belgium 1998
Radio 538 - Greatest Hits 5th Anniversary (2xCD) Tubthumping Jive 1998
Sabrina The Teenage Witch: The Album (Comp) (2 versions) Amnesia (Radio Remix) Geffen Records ... 1998
Shine 10 (2xCD) Amnesia PolyGram TV 1998
The 1998 Brit Awards (Comp) (2 versions) Tubthumping Columbia ... 1998
The Best Dance Album In The World...Ever! Part 8 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin, Circa Records Ltd. 1998
The CD Collection 185 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping DMC 1998
The CD Collection 186 (CD, Comp, Ltd) Tubthumpin', Top Of Th... DMC 1998
This Is The A.L.F (Comp) (2 versions) Unilever Mortarhate Records 1998
Top Of The Pops Magazine - Summer Anthems! (CD, Comp) Top Of The World (Olé... Not On Label 1998
Crossing All Over! - The Classix (2xCD) Tubthumping Supersonic Records (2), BMG 1999
Deejay Millenium (2xCD) Tubthumbing EMI Music (Italy) 1999
El Mejor Álbum De Música De Anuncios TV (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI-Odeon, S.A., EMI-Odeon, S.A. 1999
Hockey Anthems - 18 Crosschecking Tracks (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin Records (Sweden) 1999
Millennium Hits 1990 - 1999 (4xCD, Comp) Thubthumping Disky 1999
Millennium Hits 1990-1999 Rock / Dance (CD, Comp) Thubthumping Disky 1999
Music For Life: 38 Massive FM Hits (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Warner.ESP 1999
Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack "Stigmata" (CD) Mary Mary (Stigmatic Mix) Virgin Records America, Inc. 1999
The Absolute Best Of The 90's (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping EVA Records ANS (Norway) 1999
Big Noize (2xCD) She's Got All The Frie... EMI Music (Germany) 2000
Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX Original Soundtrack (2xCD, P/Mixed) Tubthumping, Tubthumping Toshiba EMI Ltd 2000
Dancemania Euro★Mix Happy Paradise (CD, Mixed) Tubthumping (KCP Happy... Toshiba EMI Ltd 2000
Dancemania Speed (12", Promo) Tubthumping (KCP Remix) Toshiba EMI Ltd 2000
Five Days Over Seattle - An Audio Document Of Free Radio Station Y2WTKO (CD) The ABCs Of Press Conf... Cascadia Media Collective 2000
The Best Pub Jukebox In The World ...Ever! (2xCD) Tubthumping Circa Records Ltd., Circa Records Ltd. 2000
The Best Unofficial Footie Anthems... Ever! (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin 2000
The Power Of Cheese (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Rajon Music Group 2000
Zootje Ongeregeld (CD) Enough Is Enough (Live) Strike Records (5) 2000
1000 Original Hits 1998 (CD, Comp) Amnesia EMI Plus (Europe) B.V. 2001
90's Smash-Hits (4xCD) Amnesia Disky 2001
De Pre Historie - De Jaren 90 (Box + 10xCD, Comp) Tubthumping EVA Belgium 2001
De Pre Historie 1997 (CD) Tubthumping EVA Belgium 2001
Listen Up - Frosh 2001 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Universal Music Special Markets 2001
MTV 20: Pop (DVD, Comp) Tubthumping Image Entertainment 2001
Rock With The Stars Volume 2 (CD) Amnesia Disky 2001
The Return Of The Read Menace (CD, Album) Misbehave Honest Don's 2001
Ballermann Hits WM-Party 2002 (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping EMM (EMI Music Media) 2002
Campus Summit 2002 (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) Tubthumping Toshiba EMI Ltd 2002
Dancemania Best Yellow (CD) Tubthumping Toshiba EMI Ltd 2002
Goal! 20 Winning Hits (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI 2002
Martial Beat (2xCD, Comp, Mix) Tubthumping, Tubthumping Toshiba EMI Ltd 2002
The Best Unofficial Footie Anthems... Ever! / World Cup Party Fever (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin 2002
The Dance Box (2 versions) Tubthumping EMI Records 2002
The Greatest Nineties Collection (4xCD, Comp + Box) Tubthumping EMI Records 2002
The World's Absolute Best Ever Beer Songs (2xCD) Tubthumping EMI Music (Australia) 2002
Was Het Nu 70, 80 Of 90? File 5 (2xCD) Tubthumping Virgin Music (Belgium) 2003
Edel - Золотая Середина (CD, Comp) Untitled Play Magazine 2004
Greatest Hits Of The 90's (8xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Disky 2004
Pinacolada (2xCD) One Way Or The Other Universal Music Polska, STX Records (2) 2004
Vive O 2004! (CD) Tubthumping Universal Music (Norway) 2004
Anti-State (Anarcho-Punk Compilation Vol. 2) (CD, Comp) Revolution Overground Records 2005
Complete Nineties (5xCD, Comp, Copy Prot.) Tubthumping EMI Music (Australia) 2005
Party Freekz (2xCD, Comp) Tubthumping ARS Entertainment Belgium 2005
Soundtrack Zur Sozialen Revolution (CD, Comp) On Ebay (Acoustic) Not On Label 2005
The Absolute Very Best Of The World's Beer Songs (3xCD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI Music (Australia) 2005
DJ Selection 73: Rock In The Disco Vol. 1 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Do It Yourself Entertainment Strategic Marketing 2006
Die Hit-Giganten Fußballsongs (2xCD) Top Of The World (Olé... Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Germany) 2006
England The Album 2006 (CD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin 2006
Gratis CD Met Exclusieve Voetbalhits (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI Catalogue Marketing (Netherlands) 2006
Made To Move Music Collection - Pop (CD, Comp) Tubthumping EMI Catalogue Marketing (Netherlands) 2006
Play Station (#04'06) (CD, Comp) Wiliam Francis Play Magazine 2006
101 Party Hits (5xCD, Comp) Tubthumbing Virgin, Virgin 2007
101 90s Hits (5xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Virgin, EMI Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. 2008
90's Club Classix Top 100 (5xCD, Comp) Tubthumping Mostiko 2008
Life Is Music (5xCD, Comp, Car) Tubthumping EMI Music (Belgium) 2008
Rare Trax Vol. 56 - This Is Not A Folk Song - Protestlieder Nach Punk (CD, Comp, Enh, Car) Give The Anarchist A C... Rolling Stone (Germany) 2008
Allez! Ola! Olé! (CD) Top Of The World (Olé... Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.  
By Any Means Necessary (2xLP, Comp) The Day The Nazi Died Youth Against Racism In Europe  
Ultimix 64 (3x12") Tubthumping Part 1, Tu... Ultimix  
Unofficial Releases:
Where Are They Now File (7", Yel) Homeless Hotel Pop Bus 1991
Jesus H Christ (LP)   Everyone's Stealing From Someone 1992
Hit Explosion '97 Volume 10 (2xCD) Tubthumping Double Fun Records 1997
Dynamix Team Training (2xCD, Mixed, Album) Tubthumping Dynamix Music For Fitness 1998
Live Bootleg (CDr, Mixed) NY Mining Disaster 194... Invasion Wreck Chords 2003
Pool Mix 1990's (DVDr, DVD) Tubthumping Pool Records (2) 2007
It's All Been Said Before... (7", Comp) Adversity Not On Label  
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Chumbawamba - Give the anarchist a cigarette