Collapsed Lung

Collapsed Lung

Collapsed Lung are a group from Harlow, United Kingdom. Their lineup includes Steve Harcourt, Ant Chapman, Jonny Dawe and Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer, and the band is active from 1992 to the present. They work in alternative hip hop and rap rock, and are also tagged as rapcore.

Formation and early history

After their debut performance, the band are invited to play an all-day festival in Harlow, where Steve Harcourt first meets rapper Nihal Arhanayake. Harcourt has previously played in the metal bands Gethsemane and Bomberz. Arhanayake, who is of Sri Lankan descent and is studying law in Twickenham, Surrey at the time, is invited to record material over the group’s existing tracks. The early lineup includes Anthony Chapman on vocals and Johnny Dawe on bass.

Line-up changes

Arhanayake leaves in 1994 after signing a deal for his own group, Muddie Funksters. Go!Discs is the first label to offer Collapsed Lung a deal, but they decline it. The band replace him with rapper Jim Burke and drummer Chris Gutch. Chapman also develops a profile as a DJ at London venues and says the band’s focus is still hip hop. In late 1995, Gutch leaves to join Rehab and is replaced by Jerry Hawkins, who has played in The Fuzz, later The O, and The Atom Seed.

Releases and chart success

Collapsed Lung release Jackpot Goalie in 1995. In 1996 they issue their second album, Cooler, written as C**ler. They also release the double A-side single London Tonight / Eat My Goal in June 1996, which reaches number 31 in the UK charts. Eat My Goal is re-released in 1998 and reaches number 18, later appearing in sportswear advertising.

Final show

The band play their final show at Camden Palace in London in December 1996.