# Grebo (music)

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Subgenre of alternative rock

Grebo Stylistic origins Indie rock electronic punk rock folk hip hop psychedelia pop Cultural origins Late 1980s – early 1990s, Midlands, England Regional scenes English Midlands Other topics Cool Britannia

**Grebo** (or **grebo rock**)[1] was a short-lived [subculture](/source/Subculture)[2] and broadly defined [subgenre](/source/Subgenre) of [indie rock](/source/Indie_rock) centred around the [English Midlands](/source/Midlands), particularly [Stourbridge](/source/Stourbridge) and [Leicester](/source/Leicester). Musically, the genre incorporated elements of [electronic](/source/Electronic_music), [punk rock](/source/Punk_rock), [folk](/source/Folk_music) and [hip hop music](/source/Hip_hop_music) into indie rock. The scene occupied the period in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the United Kingdom before the popularisation of [Britpop](/source/Britpop) and [grunge](/source/Grunge).[3]

## Etymology

Derived from "[greaser](/source/Greaser_(subculture))",[4] the word "grebo" began being used in the 1970s as a slang term for bikers with long hair.[5][6] The word was re-fashioned by the group [Pop Will Eat Itself](/source/Pop_Will_Eat_Itself) that represented a brand of [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) [subculture](/source/Subculture) of the late 1980s and early 1990s, largely based in the [English Midlands](/source/English_Midlands).[7][8][6] The scene particularly was centred on [Stourbridge](/source/Stourbridge) and [Leicester](/source/Leicester).[9]

## History

Fronted by [Pop Will Eat Itself](/source/Pop_Will_Eat_Itself), [the Wonder Stuff](/source/The_Wonder_Stuff) and [Ned's Atomic Dustbin](/source/Ned's_Atomic_Dustbin), the bands quickly gained attention: Pop Will Eat Itself's 1989 singles "[Wise Up! Sucker](/source/Wise_Up!_Sucker)" and "[Can U Dig It?](/source/Can_U_Dig_It%3F)" both entered the UK Top 40 and Stourbridge briefly became a tourist attraction for young indie rock fans. The seminal albums from the scene were released between 1989 and 1993: the Wonder Stuff's *[Hup](/source/Hup_(album))* and *[Never Loved Elvis](/source/Never_Loved_Elvis)*; Ned's Atomic Dustbin's *[God Fodder](/source/God_Fodder)* and *[Are You Normal?](/source/Are_You_Normal%3F)*; and Pop Will Eat Itself's *[This Is the Day...This Is the Hour...This Is This!](/source/This_Is_the_Day...This_Is_the_Hour...This_Is_This!)* and *[The Looks or the Lifestyle?](/source/The_Looks_or_the_Lifestyle%3F)*. In this period, the scene's bands became fixtures, sometimes headliners, at [Reading Festival](/source/Reading_Festival), sold millions of albums and were frequently featured on the covers of magazines like *NME* and *[Melody Maker](/source/Melody_Maker)*.[10] Grebo bands were distinct from prior indie rock groups not only because of their broad influences, but their subversion of the twee or unhappy moods of most other bands in the genre, and their pursuit of a heavier sound and aesthetic. The scene came to include the stylistically similar bands of nearby Leicester: [the Bomb Party](/source/The_Bomb_Party), [Gaye Bykers on Acid](/source/Gaye_Bykers_on_Acid), [Crazyhead](/source/Crazyhead), [the Hunters Club](/source/The_Hunters_Club) and [Scum Pups](/source/Scum_Pups).[11] The term has also been used to describe [Jesus Jones](/source/Jesus_Jones) from [Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire).[1][12]

A younger subset of grebo bands emerged around 1991, who were in turn labelled "fraggle" bands.[13] During this movement, the dominant sound was a style of indie rock that was heavily indebted to punk and Nirvana's *[Bleach](/source/Bleach_(Nirvana_album))* album, while also occasionally making use of [drum machines](/source/Drum_machines).[14] *[Gigwise](/source/Gigwise)* writer Steven Kline described the style as "filthy guitars, filthier hair and t-shirts only a mother would wash". Prominent fraggle acts included [Senseless Things](/source/Senseless_Things), [Mega City Four](/source/Mega_City_Four) and [Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine](/source/Carter_the_Unstoppable_Sex_Machine).[14]

## Characteristics

The grebo genre was broadly defined, and used more as a name for the Stourbridge scene than as a genre label.[10] For the most part, it was a style of [indie rock](/source/Indie_rock) which drew influences from a diverse array of genres, including [electronic](/source/Electronic_music), punk, [folk](/source/Folk_music), [hip-hop music](/source/Hip-hop_music),[10] [dance-rock](/source/Dance-rock), [psychedelia](/source/Psychedelic_music)[15] and [pop](/source/Pop_music).[8][16] Pop Will Eat Itself adopted an [industrial](/source/Industrial_music) alternative rock style[17] that combined "[heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) and [hard rock](/source/Hard_rock) guitar riffs, electro-dance rhythms, samples and [rap](/source/Rapping) vocals."[18] While Gaye Bykers on Acid's use of hip-hop and dance beats was considered as "a major innovation in mid-'80s alternative rock,"[19] Ned's Atomic Dustbin focused on "the hyper punk aspect" of the movement, relying on "catchy [hooks](/source/Hook_(music)) and a dual-bass sound."[20]

Grebo artists and fans sported long hair, [dreadlocks](/source/Dreadlocks) and baggy shorts.[21][15]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-highbeam_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-highbeam_1-1) Kim, Jae-Ha (12 January 1992). ["'Grebo rock,' as synthesized by Ned's Atomic Dustbin"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121102033959/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4091046.html). [Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times). Archived from [the original](http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4091046.html) on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bernstein, Jonathan (2012). *Knickers in a Twist: A Dictionary of British Slang*. Canongate. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0857869456](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0857869456).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Roach, Martin; Snowball, Ian; McKenna, Peter (2015). *Tribe - A Personal History of British Subculture*. John Blake. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1784188979](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1784188979).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Garland, Emma (24 February 2020). ["Introducing: The Grown-Up Greebo"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-is-greebo-fashion-subculture/). *[Vice Media](/source/Vice_Media)*. Retrieved 26 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Warbrook, Colette (15 May 2015). ["The Way We Were: Bikers met at the Windy Ridge Cafe in the 60s"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150628144443/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Way-Bikers-met-Windy-Ridge-Cafe-60s/story-26508301-detail/story.html). [The Sentinel](/source/The_Sentinel_(Staffordshire)). Archived from [the original](http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/way-bikers-met-windy-ridge-cafe-60s/story-26508301-detail/story.html) on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-charlatan_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-charlatan_6-1) Robb, John (2010). *The Charlatans We Are Rock*. Random House. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1409034391](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1409034391).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mods_7-0)** Rogers, Jude (25 February 2010). ["From mod to emo: why pop tribes are still making a scene"](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/feb/25/emo-pop-tribes-mods-punks). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 14 April 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-allmusic_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-allmusic_8-1) Vladimir Bogdanov (editor), *All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide To Electronic Music*, page 404 (Backbeat Books, 2001). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87930-628-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87930-628-9). Quote: "Honing a fusion of rock, pop, and rap which they dubbed 'grebo', the Poppies kickstarted a small revolution."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Banks, Joe. [""A Burst Of Dirty Thunder": The Rise And Fall Of Grebo"](https://thequietus.com/culture/books/rich-deakin-grebo-the-loud-and-lousy-story-of-gaye-bykers-on-acid-and-crazyhead-interview/). *[The Quietus](/source/The_Quietus)*. Retrieved 25 November 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Guardian_Grebo_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Guardian_Grebo_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Guardian_Grebo_10-2) Sword, Harry (29 March 2018). ["Wise up suckers! How grebo rivalled Britpop as the sound of 90s indie"](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/29/wise-up-suckers-how-grebo-rivalled-britpop-as-the-sound-of-90s-indie). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Banks, Joe (6 November 2021). [""A Burst Of Dirty Thunder": The Rise And Fall Of Grebo"](https://thequietus.com/articles/30791-rich-deakin-grebo-the-loud-and-lousy-story-of-gaye-bykers-on-acid-and-crazyhead-interview). *[The Quietus](/source/The_Quietus)*. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Greene, Jo-Ann. ["Jesus Jones - Live at the Marquee"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-marquee-mw0001024970). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Harris, John (7 January 2010). *Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll The Ultimate Guide to the Music, the Myths and the Madness*. [Little, Brown and Company](/source/Little%2C_Brown_and_Company). **Fraggle** c.1991: Name for alternative rock bands, some of whom basically represented younger end of 'Grebo' genre, reputedly coined by band-booker at indie venue Harlow Square in recognition of similarity between scruffily attired groups/fans and characters from Muppets spin-off TV show Fraggle Rock. Bands: Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Senseless Things, Mega City Four

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Beaumont_2018_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Beaumont_2018_14-1) Beaumont, Mark (27 July 2018). ["Nine NME-invented scenes that shook the world (or didn't) from C86 to shroomadelica, fraggle and the NAM"](https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/2360346-2360346). *[NME](/source/NME)*. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-avclub-12_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-avclub-12_15-1) Modell, Josh (13 October 2014). ["Dudes on 'ludes: 15 bands named after drugs that aren't weed"](http://www.avclub.com/article/dudes-ludes-15-bands-named-after-drugs-arent-weed-210345). [The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club). Retrieved 12 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Abebe, Nitsuh. ["Ned's Atomic Dustbin - God Fodder"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/god-fodder-mw0000264418). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** McCormick, Neil (3 June 2011). ["Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past by Simon Reynolds: review"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/8552382/Retromania-Pop-Cultures-Addiction-to-Its-Own-Past-by-Simon-Reynolds-review.html). [The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph). Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Popson, Tom (29 September 1989). ["Pwei: From Grebo Pop To Raucous Rock"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/09/29/pwei-from-grebo-pop-to-raucous-rock/). [Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune). Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Ankeny, Jason. ["Gaye Bykers on Acid"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gaye-bykers-on-acid-mn0000801448). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Abebe, Nitsuh. ["Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Are You Normal?"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/are-you-normal-mw0000091697). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-petridis_21-0)** Petridis, Alexis (3 May 2002). ["The way we listen now"](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/03/shopping.artsfeatures). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 13 April 2017.

## Further reading

- *GREBO* by [Mick Mercer](/source/Mick_Mercer), [Melody Maker](/source/Melody_Maker), 1987. [reproduced here](https://web.archive.org/web/20091027101804/http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Show/4356/melodymaker87.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Grebo (music)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grebo_(music)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grebo_(music)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.