The Nipple Erectors

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Nipple Erectors


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Background = group_or_band
Alias = The Nips
Origin = London, England
Genre = Punk rock
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Years_active = 1977-1980
Label = Soho, Chiswick, Big Beat
Associated_acts = The Pogues, The Men They Couldn't Hang
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Past_members = Shane MacGowan, Shanne Bradley, Roger Towndrow, Arcane Vendetta, Gavin "Fritz" Douglas, Grinny, Roger Travis Williams, James Fearnley, Jon Moss
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The Nipple Erectors were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1977, and are notable as Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan's first musical group.

Career

Initially consisting of vocalist/songwriter MacGowan (known at the time as 'Shane O'Hooligan'), bassist/songwriter/original punk artist Shanne Bradley, guitarist/artist Roger Towndrow and drummer Arcane Vendetta; the band released four singles and there was one bootleg live album between 1978 and 1981. Although initially inspired by the The Stooges, the Nipple Erectors split from traditional 'punk sound' by incorporating elements of rockabilly, R&B and pop into their music.

The band renamed themselves The Nips following the release of their first single, "King of the Bop"/"Nervous Wreck", in June 1978, on Soho Records. This was followed with the release of "All The Time in the World"/"Private Eye". By May 1979 the bands line up had changed to include Gavin "Fritz" Douglas, on guitar and Grinny on drums. The pop-punk anthem, "Gabrielle" was released in November 1979, first on Soho Records, and then reissued on Chiswick Records. By the time of its release, Grinny had been replaced by Roger Travis Williams, on drums. Gavin Douglas' guitar playing on this record marked a change in the bands sound to a more melodic style. A live album, "Only the End of the Beginning" was released on Soho Records in 1980, from a recording made whilst on tour with the Purple Hearts. Two other live bootlegs have recently appeared, "Live at The 101 Club" and "Live at the Hope and Anchor" both recorded in late 1979, on which Fritz' guitar playing can be heard to be heavily influenced by Mick Green of The Pirates.

In 1980 The Nips recorded a demo for Polydor Records at their studio in Bond Street. It was produced by Paul Weller. There were 4 songs recorded for this session, including "Happy Song" "Nobody to Love", "Ghost Town" (co written by Douglas/Macgowan), and an unknown fourth song. "Happy Song"/"Nobody to Love" was released as a single in October 1981, on Test Pressing Records. The Nips announced to the press that they were quitting after a last gig at London's Covent Garden Rock Garden on March 10, 1980. MacGowan and Bradley did reform the band later that year, albeit briefly. The line up included James Fearnley on guitar, but The Nips finally split up at the end of 1980.

In 1987 Big Beat released a compilation on LP named "Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver" which later released on CD as "The Nips 'n' Nipple Erectors". It is a collection of both sides of the first three singles by the Nipple Erectors/Nips, as well as adding four outtakes: "So Pissed Off" and "Stavordale Rd, N5" (first issued on LP in 1987), and "Venus in Bother Boots" and "Fuss & Bother".

On the 6th of May 2008 The Nipple Erectors reformed, playing a (semi) secret gig at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, London. The line-up consisted of Shanne Bradley, Shane MacGowan, Eric Le Baton and Fritz Douglas. Shanne's daughter Eucalypta sang backing vocals on the final number 'Gabrielle'.

Discography

ingles

* "King of the Bop" (1978) - also included on the NME compilation album, "Pogo A Go Go"
* "All the Time in the World" (1978)
* "Gabrielle" (1979)
* "Happy Song" (1981)

Albums

* "Only the End of the Beginning" (1980) - live at Wolverhampton Poly. Purple Hearts tour
* "Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver" (1987) - posthumous singles compilation
* "Live at the 101 Club" (1980) - Live at The 101 Club, Clapham
* "Live at the Hope and Anchor" (1979)
* "The Tits of Soho" (2000)

External links

* [http://www.thenips.net The Nips: Licensed to Cool - a fan site] .
* [http://punk77.co.uk/groups/nipplerectors.htm Nipple Erectors biography at punk77.co.uk] .
* [http://www.myspace.com/fritzovdenips] Gavin "Fritz" Douglas on myspace.
* [http://www.myspace.com/thenippleerectors ] The Official Nipple Erectors myspace