Notsensibles

Last updated

Notsensibles
Origin Burnley, England
Genres Punk rock
Years active1978–1982, 1996, 2005–present
LabelsBent, Redball, Snotty Snail
Members
  • Michael "Haggis" Hargreaves
  • Roger "Rog Sensible" Rawlinson
  • Gary Brown
  • Neil "Nez" Taylor
  • Kevin "Ploppy" Hemingway
Past members
  • Steven "Sage" Hartley, Paul Wright
  • Scott Wilkinson
Website www.notsensibles.net

Notsensibles are a punk rock band from Burnley, England, who had their greatest success with their second single, the tongue-in-cheek "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher".

Contents

History

The band was formed in 1978 by Michael "Haggis" Hargreaves (vocals), Steven "Sage" Hartley (guitar), Roger "Rog Sensible" Rawlinson (keyboards), Gary Brown (bass), and Kevin "Ploppy" Hemingway (drums). [1] [2] The band explained their approach: "all we want to do is make silly records and play silly gigs". [3]

After releasing the "Death to Disco" single in April 1979, they "celebrated" the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister later that year with the single "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher". Initially self-released in a pressing of 1,000, but reissued on the Snotty Snail label due to continuing demand, [3] the release gave them a No. 8 UK Indie Chart hit at the start of 1980, and the band also recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show. [2] [4] According to one review, the song was: "Meant as neither a pro- nor anti-Thatcher song. It revolved around the idea that no-one was too sacred to get the piss taken out of." [5] Writer Simon Reynolds stated that it "...taps into the side of punk all about not taking anything seriously..." [6] At one performance in 2012 Hargreaves claimed that he had "great reverence for Thatcher" [7] [8] The single's B-side included "Gary Bushell's Band of the Week", which poked fun at the journalist. [1]

In March 1980, the band's only studio album, Instant Classic, was released, reaching No. 16 on the UK Indie Chart, and two singles followed, both indie hits, but not selling as well as their earlier single, before the band split up in March 1982. [3] Cherry Red subsidiary Anagram Records issued a compilation of the band's output, Instant Punk Classics, in 1994. [1]

The band reformed for a performance at the first Wasted/Holidays in the Sun festival in 1996, and reformed more permanently in 2005 with the original line-up. The song "I'm In Love with Margaret Thatcher" was featured in the 2011 film The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep. The single was re-released on vinyl and download to celebrate its appearance in the film.

In 2013, after Margaret Thatcher's death, "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" received additional publicity when there was an online campaign to boost the record's re-entry into the charts as a download, to counter the promotion of the song "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" by anti-Thatcher activists. The campaign was initiated by Notsensibles' singer Mike Hargreaves and promoter Suzie Delooze by way of a Facebook page, and was endorsed by Thatcher supporters. [9] [10] Although the Notsensibles' song was reportedly considered "more favourable to Baroness Thatcher", band member Steven Hartley commented that it had been written as a satirical swipe at her. [11] [12] Hargreaves said: "I find it hilarious that Tories have adopted it. The song is a sort-of tribute and sort-of not." [12] The song charted at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart on 12 April 2013. [13]

At the time of the renewed success of the single in 2013, it was reported that Hartley had trained as a doctor and now worked in accident and emergency; Rawlinson was a tree surgeon working for the local council; Hargreaves worked as a nurse; Brown worked in IT; and Hemingway was a businessman. [14]

Hargreaves was the Green Party candidate in Burnley at the 2015 general election. [15]

The band will be performed at the 2016 & 2017 Rebellion Festival in Blackpool. [16] [17]

Discography

Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart [2] unless otherwise stated.

Singles

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gang of Four (band)</span> English rock band

Gang of Four are an English post-punk band, formed in 1976 in Leeds. The original members were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. There have been many different line-ups including, among other notable musicians, Sara Lee, Gail Ann Dorsey, and Mark Heaney. After a brief lull in the 1980s, different constellations of the band recorded two studio albums in the 1990s. Between 2004 and 2006 the original line-up was reunited; Gill toured using the name between 2012 and his death in 2020. In 2021, the band announced that King, Burnham, and Lee would be reuniting for a tour in 2022 with David Pajo on guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Exploited</span> Scottish punk rock band

The Exploited are a Scottish punk rock band from Edinburgh, formed in 1979 by Stevie Ross and Terry Buchan, with Buchan soon replaced by his brother Wattie Buchan. They signed to Secret Records in March 1981, and their debut EP, Army Life, and debut album, Punks Not Dead, were both released that year. The band maintained a large cult following in the 1980s among a hardcore working class punk and skinhead audience. Originally a street punk band, the Exploited eventually became a crossover thrash band with the release of their album Death Before Dishonour in 1987.

A Certain Ratio are an English post-punk band formed in 1977 in Flixton, Greater Manchester by Peter Terrell and Simon Topping, with additional members Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Donald Johnson (drums), and Martha Tilson (vocals) joining soon after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half Man Half Biscuit</span> English rock band

Half Man Half Biscuit are an English rock band, formed in 1984 in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Known for their satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs, the band comprises lead singer and guitarist Nigel Blackwell, bassist and singer Neil Crossley, drummer Carl Henry, and guitarist Karl Benson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attila the Stockbroker</span> English poet and musician

John Baine, better known by his stage name Attila the Stockbroker, is an English punk poet, multi instrumentalist musician and songwriter. He performs solo and as the leader of the band Barnstormer 1649, who combine early music and punk. He has performed over 3,800 concerts, published eight books of poems, an autobiography and in 2021 his Collected Works spanning 40 years. He has released over forty recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ruts</span> British reggae-influenced punk rock band

The Ruts are an English reggae-influenced punk rock band, notable for the 1979 UK top 10 hit single "Babylon's Burning", and an earlier single "In a Rut", which was not a hit but was highly regarded and regularly played by BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel. The band's newfound success was cut short by the death of lead singer Malcolm Owen from a heroin overdose in 1980. Despite this the band continued under a different musical style as Ruts D.C. until 1983 when they disbanded, the band later reformed in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wolfhounds</span> English band

The Wolfhounds are an English noise pop band formed in Romford, Essex, in 1985 by Dave Callahan, Paul Clark, Andy Golding, Andy Bolton and Frank Stebbing, and originally active until 1990. The band reformed in 2005 and continues to write, record and play live, releasing new albums in 2014, 2016, and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teenage Kicks</span>

"Teenage Kicks" is the debut single by Northern Irish punk rock band the Undertones. Written in the summer of 1977 by the band's principal songwriter, the song was recorded on 15 June 1978 and initially released that September on independent Belfast record label Good Vibrations, before the band signed to Sire Records on 2 October 1978. Sire Records subsequently obtained all copyrights to the material released upon the Teenage Kicks EP and the song was re-released as a standard vinyl single on Sire's own label on 14 October that year, reaching number 31 in the UK Singles Chart two weeks after its release

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leather Nun</span> Swedish rock band

The Leather Nun are a Swedish rock group. Careening from garage rock to goth and pop-rock, Leather Nun became cult heroes in their native land and wide abroad.

The Men They Couldn't Hang (TMTCH) are a British folk punk group. The original group consisted of Stefan Cush, Paul Simmonds, Philip "Swill" Odgers, Jon Odgers and Shanne Bradley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spizzenergi</span> English punk/new wave band

Spizzenergi are an English punk/new wave band led by vocalist/guitarist Spizz. Formed in the late 1970s, the band changed its name every year, subsequent names including Athletico Spizz 80, Spizzoil and the Spizzles.

"Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" is a song in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. It is the centrepiece of several individual songs in an extended set-piece performed by the Munchkins, Glinda and Dorothy Gale. Highlighted by the Lollipop Guild consisting of Frankie Rumpf, Jaelen Hurst and Jesse-Carr was also sung by studio singers as being sung by the Winkie soldiers. It was composed by Harold Arlen, with the lyrics written by E. Y. Harburg. The group of songs celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the East when Dorothy's house is dropped on her by the tornado and the death of the Wicked Witch of the West after being splashed with water.

The Three Johns were an English post-punk/indie rock band formed in 1981 in Leeds, England, originally consisting of guitarist Jon Langford, vocalist John Hyatt and bassist Phillip "John" Brennan, augmented by a drum machine.

The Outcasts are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland formed in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural depictions of Margaret Thatcher</span>

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. Her portrayal in the arts and popular culture has been mixed. In the words of one critic she attracted "musical opprobrium like no other British political leader". Such opinion is divergent from mainstream opinion polling which tends to place her as the most popular British prime minister since Winston Churchill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang</span> 1981 single by Heaven 17

"(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" is a song by British synth-pop band Heaven 17. It was their debut single, released on 6 March 1981, also acting as the lead single from their debut studio album, Penthouse and Pavement (1981). It was a minor hit in the UK in 1981, despite being banned by the BBC. It was also a minor dance hit in the US. It developed from an instrumental, "Groove Thang", that Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh created earlier that year for Music for Stowaways, an album they released under the British Electric Foundation name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death and funeral of Margaret Thatcher</span> 2013 ceremonial funeral in London

On 8 April 2013, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, died of a stroke at the Ritz Hotel, London, at the age of 87. On 17 April, she was honoured with a ceremonial funeral. Due to polarised opinions about her achievements and legacy, the reaction to her death was mixed across the UK, including contrasting praise, criticism, and celebration of her life and death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher</span> 1979 single by The Notsensibles

"I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" is a 1979 single by the English punk band Notsensibles. It was originally written as a tongue-in-cheek comment on Margaret Thatcher, and following her death in 2013 was part of a social media campaign to get it to number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song charted at number 35 on the chart on 12 April 2013.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. (2003) "Notsensibles", in The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN   1-84195-335-0
  2. 1 2 3 Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN   0-9517206-9-4
  3. 1 2 3 Gimarc, George (2005) Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock 1970-1982, Backbeat Books, ISBN   0-87930-848-6
  4. ↑ Notsensibles Peel Sessions: Notsensibles Peel Session details at the BBC's Keeping It Peel site
  5. ↑ D. Plyvale, quoted at Notsensibles.com. Retrieved 14 April 2013
  6. ↑ Simon Reynolds, Rip it Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984, Faber & Faber, 2009
  7. ↑ London Evening Standard, Facebook campaign grows to push 'I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher' to top of the charts, 12 April 2013. Accessed 14 April 2013
  8. ↑ Huffington Post UK, Ding Dong Enters Charts, But Could It Be Beaten By 'I'm In Love With Margaret Thatcher'?, 12 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013
  9. ↑ Jason Walsh (13 April 2013). "Who's really behind 'I'm in love with Margaret Thatcher'?". Christian Science Monitor.
  10. ↑ "Campaign to get Burnley band's Margaret Thatcher song to number 1". Lancashire Telegraph. 13 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "R1 Chart show will not play full Margaret Thatcher song". BBC News. BBC. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  12. 1 2 "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher song at no.6 in iTunes chart as protest against Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead". Metro. 13 April 2013. is actually believed to be a sarcastic dig at the former prime minister
  13. ↑ "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead misses number one spot". BBC News. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Lynette Horsbrugh, Notsensibles recall writing Margaret Thatcher song, BBC News Lancashire, 16 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013
  15. ↑ Jacobs, Bill (24 April 2015). "General Election 2015: Liberal Democrats have it all to do in Burnley". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Rebellion Festival 2016 - eFestivals.co.uk". www.efestivals.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Rebellion Festival 2017". festivalsunited.com (in German). Retrieved 27 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.