Scum Pups

Scum Pups were a grunge,[1] punk rock,[2] three piece band,[3] that formed in Leicester,[4] England in November 1989. The band formed while at sixth form college with Matt Day (Midge)[5] heading the trio. The band recorded their first single EP with Hinckley-based Motivate Records[6] while still teenagers in September 1990. This led to a strong teenage fanbase with a reputation for enjoying stage diving and moshing at their gigs.

The band quickly gathered a strong fanbase after being signed to Nottingham label Sycophant Records [7] and began appearing with the likes of Fudge Tunnel, Silverfish and Daisy Chainsaw.[8] It was while with Sycophant Records, the band released their first 'mini' album Babykill,[1] which held No.17 in the Melody Maker indie album charts, during March 1992.[9]

The band signed with Stayfree Music in 1992 and embarked on touring with Crazyhead.[10] During 1992 the band released their second EP "Shudder"[8] on Stayfree, with added sponsorship from N.T.V. Music. It was at this stage that the founder bass player Clive Cartwright left, to be replaced by Marcus (Pepper) Hessin.[11]

The band spent the remaining 18 months touring up and down the country with the likes of Headcleaner and Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction[12] as well as touring in France.[11] In 1993 the band released a further album Sonic Sculptures, and shared an EP single with Doncaster based band, FUSE; but on return from a further tour in France during February 1994, the band decided to split.

The band had two distinct styles during its four years of activity. The band was initially described as grunge, grebo or metal,[1] but from 1992 onwards, the band took a distinctive turn towards a more glam rock/punk[2] approach, with elements of pop[13] and rock thrown in. It was during this latter stage that their 5th member joined as a backing singer Janet Brown, adding a female touch to the band in 1993.