Gabba (band)

Last updated

Gabba is a London-based British tribute band performing ABBA songs in the stripped down punk style of the Ramones, a style of pop punk they dubbed discopunk and claim to have invented. [1] They formed in 1996 and took their name in 1999. They have released one album as of 2006.

Contents

History

Gabba was informally formed in 1996 [2] by Stig Honda, alleged "professor at the Osaka Rock 'n' Roll High School", who enrolled five students from all over the world to fuse the disco-pop of Abba and the punk rock of the Ramones, creating "disco-punk".

In 1999, the band took its name of "GABBA, The Discopunk Sensation". The name is an acrostic on the members' nicknames, echoing both the "gabba gabba hey!" chorus from the Ramones' song "Pinhead" and the name of ABBA.

Their second recording and official debut album, the CD Leave Stockholm (1999), was produced by Stigma Records (UK) and sub-distributed by Rough Trade Records.

According to a band statement, " [In 2001] GABBA release their complex 3rd album, the Spanish language "Tijuana Dance". However, the album was banned and withdrawn from sale after just 1 week for being "Anti-Establishment", due to some confusion over Bee Bee's appalling Spanish translations which inadvertently accused the Queen of England[ sic ] of being a Nazi Stormtrouper (in a stupor, no less). It is unclear if the album will ever be released again. " [3]

Some of the facts on their Internet Website are similar to real facts of ABBA and Ramones:

Media attention

They have been aired mostly in the UK, [1] [4] on Steve Lamacq's BBC Radio 1 The Evening Session, [5] on BBC Television's The Beat Room, [6] on BBC Radio Scotland's The Beat Patrol, [7] and webcast on Virtue TV [8] (now Interoute TV).

They have been written about in magazines such as Mojo , [9] Melody Maker , [10] NME , [11] Time Out , Music365.com, [12] CMJ New Music Monthly , [13] The Ramones UK Fan Club Newsletter, [14] and the London Evening Standard .

They have played along bands such as Negativland, The Rezillos, and Chicks on Speed, in various outlets in London, and at the 1999 Christmas parties of Rough Trade Records [15] and Fierce Panda Records. [16]

In related media, their autobiographical musical short film "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" (written and directed by Cliff Homow, [17] alias "Cliffy Hormone", and Midge Devitt) won the 2003 "Special Independent Film Award" at London's counterculture Portobello Film Festival. [18]

Members

On stage, acrostically

Backstage

(The countries of origin are alleged by the members, who could possibly be all British.)

Discography

Albums
Singles and songs on compilations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABBA</span> Swedish pop group

ABBA are a Swedish pop supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names arranged as a palindrome. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the best-selling music acts in the history of popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Ramone</span> American punk rock singer (1951–2001)

Jeffrey Ross Hyman, known professionally as Joey Ramone, was an American singer, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of the punk rock band Ramones. His image, voice, and his tenure with the Ramones made him a countercultural icon. He, along with the guitarist Johnny Ramone, are the only two original members who stayed in the band until the disbandment in 1996.

<i>Ramones</i> (album) 1976 studio album by the Ramones

Ramones is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on April 23, 1976, by Sire Records. After Hit Parader editor Lisa Robinson saw the band at a gig in New York City, she wrote several articles about the group and asked Danny Fields to be their manager. Fields agreed and convinced Craig Leon to produce Ramones, and the band recorded a demo for prospective record labels. Leon persuaded Sire president Seymour Stein to listen to the band perform, and he later offered the band a recording contract. The Ramones began recording in January 1976, needing only seven days and $6,400 to record the album.

<i>Shameless</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Therapy?

Shameless is the sixth full-length album by the rock band Therapy?, and the third and final to be released on Ark 21 Records. It was released on 3 September 2001. The album was recorded at Bob Lang Studios in Seattle from January to February 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me First and the Gimme Gimmes</span> American punk rock band

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in San Francisco in 1995. The band's lineup consists of Spike Slawson, CJ Ramone, Joey Cape, Pinch and John Reis. Dave Raun, Chris Shiflett, and Fat Mike are former members.

<i>Leave Home</i> 1977 studio album by the Ramones

Leave Home is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones. It was released on January 10, 1977, through Sire Records, with the expanded CD being released through Rhino Entertainment on June 19, 2001. Songs on the album were written immediately after the band's first album's writing process, which demonstrated the band's progression. The album had a higher production value than their debut Ramones and featured faster tempos. The front photo was taken by Moshe Brakha and the back cover, which would become the band's logo, was designed by Arturo Vega. The album spawned three singles, but only one succeeded in charting. It was also promoted with several tour dates in the United States and Europe.

<i>The ABBA Generation</i> 1999 studio album by A-Teens

The ABBA Generation is the debut studio album by Swedish pop group A-Teens. It was released on 25 August 1999 by Stockholm Records. The album is composed of cover versions of well-known ABBA songs. The album spawned four singles, "Mamma Mia", "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! ", "Super Trouper", and "Dancing Queen".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonzo Goes to Bitburg</span> 1985 single by the Ramones

"Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" is a protest song by American punk rock band the Ramones. It was issued as a single in the UK by Beggars Banquet Records in mid-1985. The song is an emotionally charged commentary on the Bitburg controversy from earlier that year, in which U.S. president Ronald Reagan had paid a state visit to a German World War II cemetery and gave a speech where numerous Waffen-SS soldiers were buried. Lyrically, the song was a departure from the usual Ramones topics. While not commercially successful, it was critically well received.

<i>Animal Boy</i> 1986 studio album by Ramones

Animal Boy is the ninth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released through Sire Records on May 19, 1986. Due to conflicts within the group, the album features less of lead singer Joey Ramone, both in performing and writing, and less performing from guitarist Johnny Ramone. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone wrote and sang more on this album than on previous albums, and Richie Ramone became the first drummer to write songs for the band since Tommy Ramone, the band's original drummer. Richie also wrote for Too Tough To Die (1984). The album spawned four singles, all of which charted on the UK Singles Chart, as well as other charts. In addition to singles, the band promoted their album using a music video for "Something to Believe In", which parodied the contemporary benefit concerts Live Aid and Hands Across America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Trouper (song)</span> 1980 song by ABBA

"Super Trouper" is a song by the Swedish pop group ABBA, and the title track from their 1980 studio album of the same name, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It was released in November 1980 as the album's third single. The song – with lead vocals by Anni-Frid Lyngstad – had the working title "Blinka Lilla Stjärna", and was the last track to be written and recorded for the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SOS (ABBA song)</span> 1975 single by ABBA

"SOS" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in June 1975 as the fifth single from their self-titled 1975 album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Love</span> Welsh indie band

Helen Love are an indie band from Wales whose music is a combination of punk rock, bubblegum pop and disco dance music. The band was formed in 1992 by Helen Love with Sheena, Roxy, and Mark (keyboards). Current members are Helen, Sheena and Ricardo Autobahn.

<i>Loud, Fast Ramones: Their Toughest Hits</i> 2002 greatest hits album by The Ramones

Loud, Fast Ramones: Their Toughest Hits is a compilation of Ramones songs. Curated by Johnny Ramone, the initial 50,000 copies of the album include the 8-song bonus disc Ramones Smash You: Live ’85. The bonus disc features previously unreleased live recordings made on February 25, 1985 at the Lyceum Theatre in London. It is notable for being the only officially released live recording on CD to feature Richie Ramone on drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polar Studios</span> Recording studio in Stockholm, Sweden

Polar Studios was a recording studio in Stockholm, Sweden, which operated from 1978 through 2004. The studio was formed by ABBA musicians Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and the band's manager Stig Anderson, owner of the Polar Music recording label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Long (ABBA song)</span> 1974 single by ABBA

"So Long" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA, released as the first single from their album ABBA. "So Long" was written and composed by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with lead vocals by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pet Sematary (song)</span> 1989 single by Ramones

"Pet Sematary" is a single by American punk rock band Ramones, from their 1989 album Brain Drain. The song, originally written for the Stephen King 1989 film adaptation of the same name, became one of the Ramones' biggest radio hits and was a staple of their concerts during the 1990s. The song plays over the film’s credits.

<i>Greatest Hits Live</i> (Ramones album) 1996 live album by Ramones

Greatest Hits Live is the third live album by the punk rock band the Ramones. It was released in 1996 on Radioactive Records.

<i>Oro: Grandes Éxitos</i> 1992 compilation album by ABBA

ABBA Oro: Grandes Éxitos is a greatest hits compilation album by ABBA, first released by Polydor in the United States in 1992, in which the songs are sung in Spanish. This album is the Spanish equivalent of their Gold: Greatest Hits album. The included songs were originally released on Gracias Por La Música in early 1980. It was certified Gold in Argentina.

<i>Number Ones</i> (ABBA album) 2006 compilation album by ABBA

Number Ones is a compilation album of recordings by Swedish pop group ABBA, released by Polar Music in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramones</span> American punk rock band

The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often cited as the first true punk rock band. Although they never achieved significant commercial success, the band is seen today as highly influential in punk culture.

References

  1. 1 2 "Archive". Gabba Inc. 2006. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016.
  2. "Bjoey". Gabba Inc. 1999. Archived from the original on 10 May 2000.
  3. 1 2 "Discography". Gabba Inc. 2006. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016.
  4. "Up and coming music bands". Alternative-Links. Archived from the original on 12 February 2005.
  5. "BBC Radio Studios, Maida Vale - 26 July 1999". Gabba Inc. 2000. Archived from the original on 26 October 2000.
  6. "G2, Glasgow - 23 November 1999". Gabba Inc. 2000. Archived from the original on 25 October 2000.
  7. "BBC Radio Scotland - 24 November 1999". Gabba Inc. 2000. Archived from the original on 19 January 2001.
  8. "Live Broadcast: GABBA". VirtueTV.com. 2001. Archived from the original on 10 February 2001.
  9. Irvin, Jim (September 1999). "One! Two! Three! Four! Five?". Mojo. Archived from the original on 19 June 2001 via Gabba Inc.
  10. "Naked Ruby/Gabba review". Melody Maker. 10 July 1999. Archived from the original on 18 March 2005 via Gabba Inc.
  11. "Gabba". NME. 14 August 1999. Archived from the original on 8 March 2001 via Gabba Inc.
  12. Jelbert, Steve (10 June 1999). "Gabba". Music365.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2004 via Gabba Inc.
  13. "Gabba". CMJ New Music Monthly . No. 83. July 2000. Archived from the original on 23 August 2003 via Gabba Inc.
  14. "Reviews! Gabba". The Ramones UK Fan Club Newsletter. No. 24. February 2000. Archived from the original on 19 June 2001 via Gabba Inc.
  15. "Notting Hill Arts Club, London - 13 December 1999". Gabba Inc. 2000. Archived from the original on 26 October 2000.
  16. "Bull & Gate, London - 14 December 1999". Gabba Inc. 2000. Archived from the original on 25 October 2000.
  17. "Cliff Homow". IMDb.
  18. Barnett, Jonathan (1 October 2003). "Portobello Film Festival Report (1st–21st August 2003)". Portobello Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2 February 2004.
  19. "Life's a Gas: Tribute To Joey". Gabba Inc. 2001. Archived from the original on 12 December 2001.
Official links
Resource links