Pigbag

Profile:Pigbag was started by Chris Hamlyn in Cheltenham in late 1980. He recruited multi-instrumentalist Roger Freeman, (an old friend from his hometown Birmingham) along with Chris Lee (trumpet) and James Johnstone (guitar / alto sax). Later Drew "Chip" Carpenter (drums) and Mark Smith (bass) both old school mates of James and former members of his previous band Hardware, were recruited for informal rehearsals. It was at these jam sessions that their first hit was developed, from an idea Hamlyn had before the band was formed.

Simon Underwood, previously of The Pop Group was invited to join, along with his old friend and tenor sax player Ollie Moore. Simon's connections with manager Dick O'Dell landed their first gig, supporting The Slits at Bristol's Romeo and Juliets. Based on the crowd's enthusiastic response to a 20 minute performance of their first song, O'Dell invited them to record the track for his label Y Records the very next day.

Their first single, "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag", was released in 1981 on Dick O'Dell's Y Records, taking inspiration for the title (if not the music) from James Brown's "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag". The instrumental release quickly became an underground dance hit, selling many thousands of copies and appearing high in the independent charts. Feeling that he had created and lost control of a 'monster' with too many egos to contend with, Hamlyn abandoned the band.

April 1982 saw the release of their first album "Dr. Heckle & Mr Jive", which was massively successful topping the indie charts for several weeks. A major college tour followed in the spring which put a lot of stress on the band, particularly Roger Freeman. "Papa's" was re-released, receiving club play and making the UK charts, peaking at number 3. The band also made two appearances on "Top of the Pops" on April 8th & 22nd. Freeman departed after the first (turning up later in Dr. Calculus).

A new lineup, including Brian Nevill and Oscar Verden, began rehearsals on April 27th, following up with "The Big Bean" (which peaked at number 40) and a tour of the UK, Europe, New York and Japan.

New York vocalist Angela Jaeger, previously of The Drowning Craze, joined for the next LP, "Lend An Ear," recorded in late summer 1982, followed by a Christmas "Top of the Pops" appearance. In 1983, Angela and Simon Underwood were married at Hammersmith Registry Office with notables from the music scene in attendance, including John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten).

A single, "Hit The 'O' Deck" and the album "Lend An Ear" were released in 1983, followed by a final tour of UK and Europe. Following poor critical reception to the new direction and internal differences, Pigbag split in June 1983, with Angela, James and Simon forming Instinct.
URLs:http://www.pigbag.com/
Members:Angela Jaeger, Chip Carpenter, Chris Hamlyn, Chris Lee, James Johnstone, Ollie Moore, Roger Freeman, Simon Underwood
Name Variations: All | Pigbag | Pig Bag
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Releases:
Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag (Maxi, Single) ◄ (10 versions)   Y Records ... 1981
Sunny Day ◄ (4 versions)   Y Records ... 1981
Dr Heckle And Mr Jive ◄ (5 versions)   Y Records ... 1982
Getting Up (Single) ◄ (5 versions)   Y Records ... 1982
The Big Bean (Single) ◄ (4 versions)   Y Records ... 1982
Favourite Things (LP)   Y Records 1983
Hit The 'O' Deck (Maxi) ◄ (4 versions)   Y Records ... 1983
Lend An Ear (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Y Records ... 1983
Pigbag ◄ (2 versions)   Y Records ... 1983
Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag ◄ (10 versions)   Kaz Records ... 1985
The Best Of Pigbag (CD, Comp)   Kaz Records 1987
Spirit / Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag (12")   Kaz Records 1990
Papa's Got A Brand New PigBag (CD, Single)   Kaz Records 1994
Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag (12")   Kaz Records 1994
BBC Sessions (CD, Album)   Strange Fruit 1998
Papa's Got A Brand New Pig Bag / The Backside (12", Maxi)   Rockport Records GmbH  
Production:
Can You Reach (10")   Active Records (2) 1994
Slam The Breaks On II (2xLP, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Lacerba 2000
Rough Trade Shops - Post Punk 01 (2xCD) Sunny Day Mute Records Ltd. 2003
Tracks Appear On:
GAP Tracks 1 (Cass, Comp, Promo) Papa's Got A Brand New... GAP Records 1981
Birth Of The Y (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Six Of One ... Y Records ... 1982
Chartbusters 82 Volume 2 (LP, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Ronco 1982
Jive Wire (Cass) A Live Orangutango New Musical Express 1982
Modern Heroes (LP, Comp) Big Bean TV Records 1982
Disco Express (LP) Papa's Got A Brand New... Arcade 1983
November 88 - Mixes 1 (12") Papa's Got A Brand New... DMC 1988
Let's Go Crazy 1 (CD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Arcade 1990
Hardest Hits Volume Two (CD) Papa's Got A Brand New... SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1992
Kult Dance Klassix (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Papa's Got A Brand New... Total Recall (3) 1992
Mega Instrumental Hits Collection (4xCD, Comp + Box) Papa's Got A Brand New... BR Music 1992
Rock & Wave Vol. 1 - The Hits From The Underground (2xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Columbia 1992
The Indie Scene 81 (CD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Connoisseur Collection 1992
24 Disco Classics 1 (CD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Dance Factory, Dance Factory 1995
Overpowered By Funk (CD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Renaissance (2) 1995
Disco Classics - The Box (3xCD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Dance Factory, Dance Factory 1997
Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Dance Hits Of The '80s (CD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Rhino Entertainment Company 1997
Once In A Lifetime (2xCD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Telstar 1997
Slam Jams Vol. 1 (CD, Comp) Poppa's Got A Brand Ne... Quality Records / Quality Music & Video 1997
Superhits Of The 80's (4xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... L&D Records 1997
100 Superhits From The 80's (5xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... ABCD 1998
Frosh (CD) Papa's Got A Brand New... PolyGram 1998
I Love Tecno Pop (3xCD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Blanco Y Negro (2) 1998
Ska Trax - The New Generation (CD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Universal Music (Canada) 1998
Dance - The Alternative (2xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Polygram TV 1999
Disco Classics In The Mix (CD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Dance Factory 1999
Disco Heat (2xCD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Dance Factory 1999
I ♥ Tecno Pop (3xCass) Papa's Got A Brand New... Blanco Y Negro (2) 1999
Las Mejores Canciones Dance Del Siglo (12xCD, Mixed) Papa's Got A Brand New... Blanco Y Negro (2) 1999
Postpunk Chronicles: Scared To Dance (CD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Rhino Entertainment Company 1999
Slam The Breaks On II (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Papa's Got A Brand New... Lacerba 2000
The Mix Of The Century Vol. II (2xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New ABCD 2000
Rude Boy Revival (2xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Telstar TV 2002
Surrrrround (Cass) Brazil Nuts Zoot Sunrise Sounds 2002
Rough Trade Shops - Post Punk 01 (2xCD) Sunny Day Mute Records Ltd. 2003
80's Underground Clubbing (2xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Bang! Music 2004
Back To School - Winter Term (CD) Papa's Got A Brand Ne... Express Newspapers 2004
De Maxx Long Player 6 (2xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Sony Music Entertainment (Belgium) 2004
The Trip - Tom Middleton (2xCD, Promo) Papa's Got A Brand New... Family Recordings (UK) 2004
The Trip Created By Tom Middleton (2xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Family Recordings (UK) 2004
12"/80s/2 (3xCD) Papa's Got A Brand New... Family Recordings (UK) 2005
Real Eighties (3xCD + Box) Papa's Got A Brand New... Virgin, EMI Records 2005
Commercial Collection 291 (2xCD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New DMC 2007
100% New Wave (5xCD, Comp) Papa' Got A Brand New ... EMI Music (Belgium) 2008
Feel Good 80's (3xCD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Sony Music Entertainment 2009
Luvafair (31xFile, MP3, Comp, VBR) Papa's Got A Brand New... Not On Label (Steven R. Gilmore Self-released) 2009
Classic Cuts 32 Rare/Collectables (CD, Comp) Papa's Got A Brand New... Music Factory  
The Best Of New Wave Club Class-X Vol. 2 (YY) ◄ (2 versions) Papa's Got A Brand New... Antler-Subway  
Unofficial Releases:
This Aint No Test! - Part 2 (12", Ltd, TP, Promo, Mixed) Papa's Got A Brand New... Not On Label 1983
Afrodisiak (LP) Papa's Got A Brand New... Diamond Rekord 1987
Disco Indulgence Volume 4 (12", W/Lbl) Love Shack vs. Papa's ... Not On Label (Illicit Remix Series) 2006
As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 11 (CD, Mixed, Promo) Papas Gotta Brand New Bag Waxedhead Recordings 2007
Ono Holland (CDr, Ltd) As It Will Be Ono 2008
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