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| Grebo | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Alternative rock, post-punk, garage punk |
| Cultural origins | late 1980s/early 1990s, United Kingdom |
| Typical instruments | Vocals - Guitar - Bass - Drums |
| Mainstream popularity | Low |
(complete list) |
|
| Regional scenes | |
| English Midlands | |
| Other topics | |
| Cool Britannia - Timeline of alternative rock | |
Grebo is a made up United Kingdom subculture[citation needed] of the late 1980s and early 1990s, largely based in the English Midlands.
Influential bands in the scene were Pop Will Eat Itself (who had songs titled, "Oh Grebo I Think I Love You" and "Grebo Guru"), The Wonder Stuff, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Leicester bands Crazyhead, The Bomb Party, The Hunters Club, Scum Pups and Gaye Bykers on Acid.[1][2][3] The term has also been used to describe Jesus Jones, who enjoyed success in both the UK and US.[4][5] The musical styles of the bands were a blend of garage rock, the more alternative forms of rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronica. The musical genre found favour with adherents of the earlier Post-punk roots of Gothic rock such as Mick Mercer which by the late 1980s had changed character significantly.
The grebo visual style often included dreadlocks, partially shaved heads and high ponytails, undercut or shaved long hair, baggy clothing, boots, lumberjack shirts, loose tatty jeans, army surplus clothing, and eccentric hats and scarfs.
The movement, although short-lived, was a reasonable success at the time, and influenced a number of later bands. To a certain extent it was a music press invention, much like positive punk, a scene and style named by British indie magazines, specifically NME and the Melody Maker.[1] The scene occupied the period in the late 1980s and early 1990s before Grunge, Britpop and other forms of Anglo-American alternative rock took over.
During the late-1990s to early-2000s in the United Kingdom, grebo became a derogative term for a fan of generally any form of metal or heavy music. Modern "grebos" are generally the opposition to chavs, another British subculture. The clash in fashion and music taste resembles the clash of Mods and Rockers in the 60s, albeit with less violence.
References
- ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. pp. 169, 711. ISBN 0-86241-913-1. "Lumped in with the media created "Grebo" scene along with Pop Will Eat Itself, Gaye Bykers on Acid and the early Wonder Stuff, Crazyhead.../[Wonder Stuff] initially lumped in with contemporaries like Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead under the music-press created 'grebo' banner/etc.."
- ^ Nerds Attack! L' Underground di Musicaroma.it
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music. Guinness Publishing. pp. 73–74. ISBN 0-85112-579-4. "In common with Gaye Bikers on Acid (sic), Bomb Party, and Pop Will Eat Itself, [Crazyhead] were linked with the media-fuelled 'biker' or 'grebo' rock genre."
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
Further reading
- GREBO by Mick Mercer, Melody Maker, 1987. reproduced here
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