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Black Grape

{{Short description|English rock band}}

{{About||the tree endemic to Lord Howe Island|Psychotria carronis|varieties of grape|List of grape varieties}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}

{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}

{{more citations needed|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Black Grape

| image = BlackGrape2023.jpg

| caption = Black Grape performing at the Albert Hall in Manchester, 2023

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| origin = Salford, Greater Manchester, England

| genre = {{hlist|Alternative dance|alternative rock|funk rock|Madchester|Britpop}}

| years_active = {{hlist|1993–1998|2010|2015–present}}

| label = {{hlist|Radioactive|UMC}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.facebook.com/BlackGrapeOfficial/|Official Facebook page}}

| current_members =

| past_members =

}}

Black Grape are an English rock band formed in Salford in 1993, featuring former members of Happy Mondays and Ruthless Rap Assassins. Their musical style fuses funk and electronic rock with electronic programming and samples.

History

=Formation, first two studio albums and break-up (1993–1998)=

The band was formed in 1993 by former Happy Mondays members Shaun Ryder and Bez. It was Ryder's first musical project after the disintegration of Happy Mondays due both to his multiple drug addictions and to disagreements about revenues with other band members. The formation of the new band was intended to draw a line between his past life and his new one. Ryder and Bez recruited rappers Paul "Kermit" Leveridge and Carl "Psycho" McCarthy, drummer Ged Lynch (like Leveridge, a former member of Ruthless Rap Assassins), and guitarist Wags (formerly of the Manchester-based group the Paris Angels) and Oli "Dirtycash" Dillon on ocarina. Recording of new material started that year, although the group was not under contract.{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=137}}

In 1995, Black Grape were signed by Radioactive Records (an imprint of major label BMG) and released its debut studio album It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah. The album debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart, and spawned three top 20 singles. The album was certified platinum in the UK in April 1996.

The third single, "Kelly's Heroes" – a song lampooning society's obsession with celebrities and idols that had much to do with Ryder's own previous hero worship of people he now saw as wastrels – had its opening lyric changed before recording from "Don't talk to me about heroes – Most of these guys snort cocaine," to "Don't talk to me about heroes – most of these men sink like subs". Another song on the album, "Temazi Party", mocked the then-current craze for abusing temazepam sleeping pills (a.k.a. 'jellies'), but was deliberately misspelt on the album sleeve as 'Tramazi' instead of 'Temazi' to forestall any legal injunction against the album's release.

The subsequent studio album Stupid Stupid Stupid was less commercially successful, but was certified gold in the UK in January 1998. The group broke-up in 1998 after Ryder fired the rest of the band while touring, starting with Kermit (who was suffering from septicaemia) and ending with Bez (who was unsatisfied with his financial situation).

Lynch went on to play drums and percussion on many other musical works, becoming a noted session musician.

=Reunion (2010–present)=

On 1 April 2010, Ryder briefly reformed Black Grape with producer Danny Saber for a concert as part of the 'Get Loaded in the Dark' gig series at The Coronet in London.{{cite news |last= Clarke |first= Betty |date=5 April 2010 |title= Black Grape |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/05/black-grape-review |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 February 2016 }}

In 2015, Black Grape reunited for a gig in April at the Old Granada Studios in Manchester. The gig was a benefit for Bez's political party, We Are the Reality Party, which coincided with his bid for Parliament in the upcoming general election. Although Ryder and Kermit took to the stage, Bez joined them on stage towards the end of the gig. Soon after, it was announced that Black Grape had signed to Creation Management run by Alan McGee and Simon Fletcher and announced a reunion tour to coincide with 20 years of the band's debut studio album It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah (1995). Although an original member, Bez did not rejoin the band.

Black Grape recorded and released a song "We Are England" in support of the England national football team for the UEFA Euro 2016 football competition, in collaboration with DJ Paul Oakenfold and singer Goldie, under the name 4 Lions. It was released by the management label Fletcher McGee Ltd under license to BMG Rights Management.

On 4 May 2017, it was announced that the group's next studio album, Pop Voodoo would be released on 7 July. On the same day, "Everything You Know Is Wrong" was released.{{cite web|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|title=Black Grape announce first new album in 20 years with new track 'Everything You Know Is Wrong'|url=http://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-new-album-pop-voodoo-everthing-you-know-wrong-shaun-ryder-interview-2065883|date=4 May 2017|website=nme.com|access-date=19 September 2017}} The album was eventually released on 4 August.{{cite web|last=Shaw|first=Mathew|title=Black Grape – Pop Voodoo – album review|url=http://louderthanwar.com/black-grape-pop-vodoo-album-review/|date=2 August 2017|website=louderthanwar.com|access-date=19 September 2017}} Louder Than War listed the album as one of its top 100 albums of 2017, placing it high at #23.{{Cite news|url=http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/870-louder-than-wars-top-100-albums-of-2017/2|title=Louder Than War's Top 100 Albums of 2017|work=Album of The Year|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en-US}}

In September 2021, Black Grape went on the road to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut studio album – originally planned for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic saw the original shows rescheduled

Orange Head, the band's fourth album, was scheduled for release in November 2023, preceded by the single "Milk".{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2023/07/black-grape-orange-head/|title=Black Grape announce new album Orange Head, share new single Milk|work=Classic Pop|date=25 July 2023|access-date=14 August 2023}} Instead the single "Dirt" was released in November, and the album pushed back to January 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.xsnoize.com/black-grape-share-new-single-dirt-from-upcoming-album-orange-head/|title=Black Grape share new single 'Dirt' from upcoming album 'Orange Head'|work=XS Noize|date=29 November 2023|access-date=6 January 2024}}

Orange Head was released on 19 January 2024.

Wags died in March 2025.{{cite web |title=RIP Wags |url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122139756710582638&id=61567479145135&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=isqL9r1zdGZrKXSu# |website=Steve Harrison on Facebook |access-date=22 March 2025 |date=22 March 2025}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details

! scope="col" colspan="6" | Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Certifications

style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |UK
{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/31647/black-grape/ |title=UK chart peaks |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |AUS
{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/kq0M7Y9 | title=Black Grape ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=7 July 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |CAN
Canadian studio albums:

  • {{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.2806.pdf |title=It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah |publisher=RPM |access-date=25 October 2016}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |NZ
{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Black+Grape |title=charts.nz – Discography Black Grape |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=25 October 2016}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |SCO
Scottish albums:

  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/19950813/40/ |title=It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/19950813/40/ |title=Stupid Stupid Stupid |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20170811/40/ |title=Pop Voodoo |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=12 August 2017}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20240126/40/ |title=Pop Voodoo |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=27 January 2024}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |SWE
{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Black+Grape |title=swedishcharts.com – Discography Black Grape |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=25 October 2016}}

scope="row" | It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah

|

| 1

| 111

| 80

| 20

| 2

| 13

|

  • UK: Platinum{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx |title=BPI Certification |publisher=British Phonographic Industry |access-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315204844/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2015 |df=dmy }}
scope="row" | Stupid Stupid Stupid

|

  • Released: 10 November 1997
  • Label: Radioactive (RAR 11716)
  • Formats: CD, CS, DL, LP

| 11

| 139

| —

| —

| 10

| 40

|

  • UK: Gold
scope="row" | Pop Voodoo

|

  • Released: 4 August 2017
  • Label: UMC
  • Formats: CD, DL, LP

| 15

| —

| —

| —

| 8

| —

|

scope="row" | Orange Head

|

  • Released: 19 January 2024
  • Label: DGAFF
  • Formats: CD, DL, LP

| 78

| —

| —

| —

| 5

| —

|

colspan="8" align="center" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

=Singles=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!rowspan="2" style="width:2em;" | Year

!rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title

!colspan="5"| Peak chart positions

!rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album

style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |UK

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |UK
Dance
UK dance singles:

  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-singles-chart/19980301/104/ |title=Marbles |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |AUS
{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/q1abuq2.gif|title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 24 May 2016|publisher=Imgur.com|access-date=25 May 2016}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |SCO
Scottish singles:

  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950604/41/ |title=Reverend Black Grape |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950730/41/ |title=In the Name of the Father |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19951126/41/ |title=Kelly's Heroes |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19960512/41/ |title=Fat Neck |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19960623/41/ |title=England's Irie |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19971026/41/ |title=Get Higher |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19980301/41/ |title=Marbles |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US
Alt.
{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/287731/black-grape/chart |title=US alternative songs chart peaks |publisher=billboard.com |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-date=24 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924113154/http://www.billboard.com/artist/287731/black-grape/chart |url-status=dead }}

rowspan="3" | 1995

| style="text-align:left;"| "Reverend Black Grape"

| 9

| —

| —

| 5

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah

style="text-align:left;"| "In the Name of the Father"

| 8

| —

| 107

| 5

| 31

style="text-align:left;"| "Kelly's Heroes"

| 17

| —

| 158

| 13

| —

rowspan="2" | 1996

| style="text-align:left;"| "Fat Neck"

| 10

| —

| —

| 6

| —

| rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}}

style="text-align:left;"| "England's Irie"

| 6

| —

| —

| 19

| —

1997

| style="text-align:left;"| "Get Higher"

| 24

| —

| 177

| 12

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Stupid Stupid Stupid

1998

| style="text-align:left;"| "Marbles"

| 46

| 39

| —

| 44

| —

rowspan=2 |2017

| style="text-align:left;"| "Nine Lives"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/nine-lives-radio-edit-single/1242532918|title=Nine Lives (Radio Edit) - Single|work=iTunes|date=9 June 2017|publisher=Apple Inc|access-date=4 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240528053856/https://www.webcitation.org/6sSkZxhRA?url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/nine-lives-radio-edit-single/id1242532918|archive-date=28 May 2024|df=dmy-all}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Pop Voodoo

style="text-align:left;"| "I Wanna Be Like You"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/i-wanna-be-like-you-radio-edit-single/1256836683|title=I Wanna Be Like You (Radio Edit) - Single|work=iTunes|date=7 July 2017|publisher=Apple Inc|access-date=4 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240528053934/https://www.webcitation.org/6sSkaNQGh?url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/i-wanna-be-like-you-radio-edit-single/id1256836683|archive-date=28 May 2024|df=dmy-all}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

rowspan="3"|2023

| style="text-align:left;"| "Pimp Wars"

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Orange Head

style="text-align:left;"| "Milk"

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="text-align:left;"| "Dirt"

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

colspan="8" align="center" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

=Promotional singles=

  • 1997 – "Dadi Waz a Badi"{{cite AV media notes|title=Dadi Waz a Badi |others=Black Grape |year=1997 |type=Sleeve |publisher=Radioactive|id=BLACKPROMO 1.97}}

=Film=

  • The Grape Tapes (1997)

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://www.blackgrapeofficial.com/}}
  • {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000091651}}
  • {{discogs artist}}
  • {{IMDb name|id=2784496}}
  • [http://www.nme.com/news/black-grape/49548 NME report on Black Grape Reforming]

{{Happy Mondays}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Grape}}

Category:Alternative dance musical groups

Category:English dance music groups

Category:English rock music groups

Category:Madchester groups

Category:Britpop groups

Category:Alternative rock groups from Salford

Category:Musical groups established in 1993

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1998

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2010

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2015

Category:1993 establishments in England