The Pork Dukes are an English punk rock band, formed 1976 during the first wave of

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

punk in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, England.

History

The band was originally composed of twin brothers and former

Gnidrolog Gnidrolog was a British progressive rock band. Gnidrolog at Allmusic/ref> History The band was founded in 1969 by twin brothers Colin and Stewart Goldring, who were joined by drummer Nigel Pegrum from Spice and Peter "Mars" Cowling on bass. ...

members Colin Goldring (

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

) and Stewart Goldring (

) using the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individu ...

s Vilos and Horrendus Styles, respectively – alongside Scabs (aka Rick Kemp of

Steeleye Span Steeleye Span are a British folk rock band formed in 1969 in England by Fairport Convention bass player Ashley Hutchings and established London folk club duo Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. The band were part of the 1970s British folk revival, and we ...

) (

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and sc ...

), Germun LePig (aka

Nigel Pegrum Nigel John Pegrum (born 22 January 1949) is a music producer and former drummer, most known for playing on many albums by Steeleye Span. Biography Nigel Pegrum played drums with an early line-up of the Small Faces, then with Lee Grant And The ...

, also of Steeleye Span and previously in Gnidrolog) ( drums) (later replaced by Bonk aka. Rocky Rhythm) and Mack E. Valley ( keyboards). He was later replaced by Guardian Angel partway through the recording sessions for the second album. Combining a

Buzzcocks Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton, England in 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto. They are regarded as a seminal influence on the Manchester music scene, the independ ...

-style

pop punk Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...

sound with bawdy subject matter, gross-out

toilet humour Toilet humour, or potty or scatological humour (compare scatology), is a type of off-colour humour dealing with defecation, diarrhea, constipation, urination and flatulence, and to a lesser extent vomiting and other bodily functions. It sees su ...

and profanity in their songs, the band released their debut single "Bend and Flush" b/w "Throbbing Gristle" in 1977 on Wood Records, a

subsidiary A subsidiary, subsidiary company or daughter company is a company owned or controlled by another company, which is called the parent company or holding company. Two or more subsidiaries that either belong to the same parent company or having a sa ...

of Caroline Records UK created specifically for the band. Due to the lyrical content of their recordings, the band struggled for airplay, though

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, includin ...

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...

was a fan. The true identities of the Pork Dukes were originally a closely guarded secret, the band playing in

pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus s ...

masks during live performances. Various rumours circulated amongst fans and in the music press that the band was actually

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...

, The Rezillos,

Fairport Convention Fairport Convention are an English British folk rock, folk rock band, formed in 1967 by guitarists Richard Thompson (musician), Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol, bassist Ashley Hutchings and drummer Shaun Frater (with Frater replaced by Martin ...

or Tenpole Tudor in disguise. It was also suggested that either

Keith Moon Keith John Moon (23 August 19467 September 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band the Who. He was noted for his unique style of playing and his eccentric, often self-destructive behaviour and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Moon grew ...

Dudley Moore Dudley Stuart John Moore CBE (19 April 193527 March 2002) was an English actor, comedian, musician and composer. Moore first came to prominence in the UK as a leading figure in the British satire boom of the 1960s. He was one of the four writ ...

may have been lead singer. The controversy surrounding the band and backlash from

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...

groups led to them being unable to find a management company to represent them or perform at large venues (gigs were frequently played unannounced at small community centres to avoid protesters). Towards the end the band were playing gigs at

mental institution Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental health hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, are hospitals or wards specializing in the treatment of severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, dissociati ...

s (Vilos Styles was training to become a

psychiatric nurse Psychiatric nursing or mental health nursing is the appointed position of a nurse that specialises in mental health, and cares for people of all ages experiencing mental illnesses or distress. These include: neurodevelopmental disorders, schizo ...

at this point) to entertain the patients. Following the release of the studio album ''Pink Pork'' and three singles on Wood Records, the band broke up in 1979, with the album ''Pig Out of Hell'' being released posthumously by Wood somewhere between 1979 and 1981. Bonk (aka. Rocky Rhythm) later played for The Revillos, Tenpole Tudor and The Damned frontman

Dave Vanian David Vanian (born David Lett, 12 October 1956) is an English rock musician, and lead singer of the punk rock band the Damned. Formed in 1976 in London, the Damned were the first British punk band to release a single, release an album, have a ...

's Phantom Chords. In April 2001, the Pork Dukes reformed with Max Styles on drums and Andy Pandy on bass to record "Save the Pigs", following the foot and mouth outbreak in the UK. Bonk (aka. Rocky Rhythm) rejoined in 2002 and the band recorded the live album ''Squeal Meat Again'' at the Cartoon Club in Croydon, South London. In November 2002, the Styles/Styles/Styles/Pandy line-up embarked on the band's first US tour taking in eight dates in Pennsylvania and New York supported by The Clap. New member Vince Santini (ex-The Revillos) joined on bass guitar / vocals in 2003 after Pandy left the UK. They continue to record and tour. On 30 August 2008, the band played a one-off gig at London's 12 Bar Club.

Discography

Singles

* "Bend and Flush" b/w "Throbbing Gristle" (1977) * "Making Bacon" b/w "Tight Pussy" (1977) * "Telephone Masturbator" b/w "Melody Makers" (1978) * "Pop Stars" b/w "Save the Pigs, Burn the Fucking Farmers (God Save the Pigs)" (2005)

EPs

* "Filthy Nasty: Live" (1994) * "Telephone Masturbator EP" (1999) * "Pop Stars EP" (2004)

Albums

* ''Pink Pork'' (1977) * ''Pig Out of Hell'' (1978) * ''Pig In A Poke'' (1979)

''Pink Pork/Pork Dukes''

"Pork Dukes" is the first studio album by the Pork Dukes. This album is commonly known as "Pink Pork". Although this album was believed by many sites as released in 1979, these sites were going by the release year of the second pressing. The first pressing of the album, known as just "Pork Dukes", was pressed in November 1978, while the second pressing, known as "Pink Pork", was pressed in December 1979. This album was very obscure in the punk industry, but it is noted by most fans of the Pork Dukes for its profane toilet humor.

Track Listing:
1. Dirty Boys (You Dirty Cunts)
2. Stuck Up (Your Ass)
3. Bend & Flush
4. Melody Maker (You're Just A Bunch Of Wankers)
5. Telephone (Masturbator)
6. Sick For Sex
7. Down Down Down
8. Soho Girls
9. Tight Pussy
10. (I Like Your) Big Tits (Let's See If It Fits)
11. Penicillin Princess
12. Loser
Notes:
Track 3 is a re-recording with the organs.
Tracks 4-5 is also found on their third single.
Track 6 on the vinyl pressings is mislabeled as "Sick Of Sex".
Track 9 is also found as the B-side of their second single called "Making Bacon".

''Pig Out Of Hell''

"Pig Out Of Hell" is the Pork Dukes second studio album (their posthumous album). This album is rarer than "Pink Pork" and no singles were released from this album. This album was released in 1980 although recorded in 1978. Track Listing:
1. Devil Driver
2. House Of The Rising Sun
3. Three Men In An Army Truck
4. My Mother Gave Me A Gun For Christmas
5. Gin Sin
6. Let's Spend The Night Together
7. I'm A Guitar
8. Day Tripper
9. Do You Love Me
10. Marxist Leninist Feminist
11. Around And Around

''Pig In A Poke''

"Pig In A Poke" is another posthumous album by the Pork Dukes recorded in 1979, but released three years after in 1982. This album is extremely rare; even rarer than "Pig Out Of Hell". None of the songs from this album are put into any compilations.

''Filthy Nasty''

"The Filthy Nasty Pork Dukes E.P." (a.k.a. Filthy Nasty) is a live E.P. released by the Pork Dukes in 1994. This performance was four tracks long and was performed in 1977, before their "Bend & Flush" single was released the same year in August. The sound quality is a little poor and the vocals are rather low in the mix.
Track Listing:
1. Telephone Masturbator
2. Bend & Flush
3. Down Down Down
4. Throbbing Gristle

''All the Filth!''

''All the Filth!'' is a Pork Dukes

compilation album A compilation album comprises tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several performers. If by one artist, then generally the tracks were not originally intended for rel ...

. Released in 1999, it is notable as the first CD release to feature some of the band's long out-of-print 1970s era recordings. Alongside the A and B-sides of the first three singles and a selection of tracks from the studio albums ''Pink Pork'' and ''Pig Out of Hell'', the album also featured several previously unreleased tracks from the ''Pink Pork'' sessions and unreleased material recorded in the early 1990s. The album was re-issued by Damaged Goods Records in 2007 with four additional tracks from the 2004 Pop Stars EP.

''Squeal Meat Again!''

''Squeal Meat Again!'' is the first full-length live album from the Pork Dukes. It was recorded on 10 May 2002, at The Cartoon Club,

Croydon Croydon is a large town in south London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London. It is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensive ...

, shortly following the band's decision to reform.

''Kum Kleen!''

''Kum Kleen!'' is a compilation album from the Pork Dukes. Alongside a first-time-on-CD roundup of tracks from the long deleted albums ''Pink Pork'' and ''Pig Out of Hell'', the compilation features several previously unreleased studio rarities dating from 1976 − 79 and the ''Filthy Nasty: Live'' 7" EP in its entirety.

References

External links

Pork Dukes @ MySpace

Pork Dukes in BBC News
{{Authority control Musical groups from London English punk rock groups