The Pork Dukes are an English

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band, formed 1976 during the first wave of British punk in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

History

The band was originally composed of twin brothers and former Gnidrolog members Colin Goldring (

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

) and Stewart Goldring (

) using the

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

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, ...

) (

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

), Germun LePig (aka Nigel Pegrum, also of Steeleye Span and previously in Gnidrolog) (

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

) (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 that singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto formed in Manchester in 1976. During their career, the band combined elements of punk rock, power pop, and pop punk. The ...

-style

pop punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...

sound with bawdy subject matter, gross-out

toilet humour Toilet humour or potty humour is a type of off-colour humour dealing with: defecation (including diarrhea and constipation), in which case it is called scatological humour (compare scatology); urination; flatulence, in which case it is called f ...

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 (law), company completely or partially owned or controlled by another company, called the parent company or holding company, which has legal and financial control over the subsidia ...

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, including ...

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...

was a fan. The true identities of the Pork Dukes were originally a closely guarded secret, the band playing in pig 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 music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

, 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 Marti ...

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

Keith Moon Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 – 7 September 1978) was an English musician who was the drummer for the rock band the Who. Regarded as one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock music, he was noted for his unique style of playing and ...

Dudley Moore Dudley Stuart John Moore (19 April 193527 March 2002) was an English actor, comedian, musician and composer. He 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 writer-perf ...

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

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...

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 A psychiatric hospital, also known as a mental health hospital, a behavioral health hospital, or an asylum is a specialized medical facility that focuses on the treatment of severe mental disorders. These institutions cater to patients with ...

s (Vilos Styles was training to become a psychiatric nurse 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'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 Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

. 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 Districts of England, local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater Lond ...

, 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-inch EP in its entirety.

References

External links

Pork Dukes @ MySpace

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