[spunge]

[spunge] are a ska punk group from Tewkesbury, United Kingdom. They are active from 1997 to the present, although the band says it is conceived in July 1994. The name is written with lower-case letters and brackets, and the band explains that the brackets are there so the letters do not fall out. Lead singer Alex Copeland also notes that the first letter is not capitalised.

Early line-up and first releases

The band forms with almost the same line-up that continues later, with Alex originally doubling on bass. Simon Bayliss joins on bass in 1995, then Martin Holt replaces him in 1997. [spunge] emerges with the Kicking Pigeons EP in 1998 after building a following through pub gigs and extensive live shows. They sell 5,000 copies of the EP before leaving day jobs to focus on the band full time.

The group gains management through Dave Juste of Birmingham’s Xposure Rock Cafe and plays more than 300 gigs in two years. Their debut album, Pedigree Chump, appears in 1999 on MoonSka Europe and introduces their mix of ska, dub, punk and comedy to a wider audience.

Room For Abuse and cover versions

For the second album, Room For Abuse, the band records at DEP International Studios and releases the record on Sucka-Punch Records in 2000. It includes the single “Ego” and versions of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” and Sublime’s “Santeria”. Their version of “No Woman No Cry” uses new lyrics written by Alex, and the Marley family gives permission for the song to be altered. The band is the only act to receive official permission from the Marley family to change the lyrics of a Bob Marley song.

Major-label period and The Story So Far

Attention from these releases leads to a deal with B-Unique in February 2002. The first single from The Story So Far is “Jump On Demand”, produced by John Cornfield, and it reaches the Top 40 while also topping the Kerrang! TV chart for two weeks. Follow-up single “Roots” also charts in the Top 50. The band’s release schedule is disrupted by delays and tensions with the label, and the relationship ends shortly afterwards.

During this period the band records a cover of Elvis Costello’s “Oliver’s Army” with Steve Harris. The band also tours the UK extensively, with sold-out shows and strong fan support despite limited media backing.

Self-management, Dent’All Records and later activity

After leaving B-Unique and parting company with manager Dave Juste, [spunge] begins managing itself. It then sets up its own label, Dent’All Records, for its own releases and for other bands. The label’s first CD is That Should Cover It, issued in 2004, a collection of covers, previously unavailable live demos and two new [spunge] songs.

In 2004 the band records “Backstabber” and “One More Go”, commissions a video for “One More Go” through Goblin Pictures, and hosts Extraction Fest 2004 at Cheltenham Town Hall as a Dent’All Records and [spunge] all-dayer. When television playlists do not pick up the video, the band releases “One More Go” and the DVD The High Life itself in 2005, alongside the One More Go Tour.

Line-up changes and festivals

In early 2006, Wol leaves the band after more than a decade, and [spunge] continues as a four-piece. The group also plays the first Download Festival at Castle Donington in July 2003, alongside acts including Audioslave, NOFX and Metallica, and appears at other smaller festivals.