Their uncompromising, dissonant sound spanned punk, free jazz, funk and dub music. Their lyrics were, more often than not, politically charged. In '79 they issued their debut single, "She is Beyond Good and Evil" on the Radar label.
The band reformed in 2010 for a reunion tour. In November 2014, the Pop Group announced that they would release an album of new material titled "Citizen Zombie" on 23 February 2015. The album was produced by Paul Epworth.
Their debut album Y, was produced by reggae veteran Dennis Bovell to critical acclaim but low sales figures. Although it did not chart, the album's success was sufficient to convince Rough Trade to sign the band, but not before more line-up changes, with Dan Katsis, formerly a guitarist in the Glaxo Babies, replacing Underwood on bass.
The band's career with Rough Trade commenced with what is possibly their best-known single "We Are All Prostitutes", which featuring a guest appearance by free improviser Tristan Honsinger on cello. This was followed the release of their second album, For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? in 1980, which included a contribution from US proto-rappers The Last Poets.
Shortly afterwards The Pop Group released a split single, "Where There's a Will There's A Way", with The Slits, a band with whom they now shared a drummer and managers (Christine Robertson and Dick O'Dell), as well as a growing interest in exploring dub and funk rhythms.
The band split in 1981, after legal wranglings and internal disagreements. Members of the group went on to form bands including Pigbag, Maximum Joy, Head and Rip Rig & Panic, the latter notable for the involvement of Neneh Cherry.
Singer Mark Stewart, meanwhile, collaborated with Adrian Sherwood and the On-U Sound posse, issuing records firstly as Mark Stewart and Maffia, then as a solo artist.
The Pop Group and associated bands started a Bristol 'scene' that would later spawn trip-hop.
It was reported on 24 May 2010 that the Pop Group would be reuniting. Stewart announced the first two dates of a reunion tour. Three members of the original line up were part of the reunion with two gigs in London and two in Italy initially confirmed. The band played live in Paris (for the first time) on 6 September 2010, at La Machine Du Moulin Rouge venue as part of "L'Etrange Festival" Film Festival which served as a kick off to their five date tour through Europe which included a London gig on New Year's Eve with Sonic Youth and Shellac.
In a 2010 interview, Stewart said that the reformed Pop Group was recording a new album, to be titled The Alternate. However, this album never materialized. The band were chosen to perform at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival curated by ATP & Portishead in September 2011 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
They have been cited as an important influence in the development of alternative music in the 1980s; Mike Watt, of Minutemen and, more recently, Nick Cave , have cited the Pop Group as an important source of inspiration on their own work. In November 2013, the band played the final holiday camp edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.
The Pop Group's 1980 LP We Are Time saw its first reissue worldwide (ex. Japan) on October 20, 2014. The band also released a brand new compilation of rarities titled Cabinet of Curiosities. In support of the reissues the band undertook a 7 day UK tour starting on October 20 in Edinburgh and ending on October 26 at the Islington Assembly Hall in London. Richard Williams - who championed the band and featured them on the front of Melody Maker on 24 March 1979 - wrote in his review of the London show: 'one of the most important British bands of the 1970s, the gig provided evidence of their continuing relevance'
We Are All Prostitutes
The Pop Group Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the ones you can't control
have only one another to depend upon
displaced from society Outcast we are
we have nothing to live up to
Hey! loud fast music
Hey! sweat and dirt
Hey! sounds from man's soul
Hey! Black clouds of smoke
Hey! it's time to lose control
COME ON GET UP NOW
Vengeance with our fists
screaming in the air
Whoa ohhhh ohhhh We are all we have tonite
all these joys and sorrow
i gladly sadly bring
this music is all we got
the only place i need
is drinking here tonite
together with you all
Hey! loud fast music
Hey! sweat and dirt
Hey! sound's from man's soul
Hey! noise of battle
Hey! Black clouds of smoke
Hey! it's time to lose control
the only place i need
is drinking here with you
WE ARE ALL WE HAVE
this noise is all we got
so let me hear you sing
WE ARE ALL WE HAVE TONITE
Hey! loud fast music
Hey! sweat and dirt
Hey! songs from man's soul
Hey! the only songs we need
Whoa ohhhh ohhhh we are all we have tonite
The Pop Group's song We Are All Prostitutes is a call to action, a rallying cry against the restrictions of society and the control that powerful forces exert over individuals. The chorus repeats the phrase "we are all we have tonight," emphasizing the need for unity among the marginalized and cast aside. The lyrics speak of displacement and isolation, noting that those who are unable to be controlled by society must rely on each other.
The verses paint a picture of a group of outcasts who have "nothing to live up to," finding solace and release in the "loud fast music" and "sweat and dirt" of their gatherings. The imagery of "sounds from man's soul" and "black clouds of smoke" evokes a sense of rebellion and resistance against the forces that seek to oppress them. The purpose of this music is made clear: "this noise is all we got," and it serves as a unifying force for those who have been rejected by society.
Overall, the song is a call to arms for those who feel they have no place in the world. By coming together and embracing their shared experiences, they can find strength and purpose in the face of adversity. The lyrics are powerful and evocative, urging the listener to join in the fight for freedom and self-determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa Whoa ohh we are all we have tonite
We are a group of people who have nothing else but each other and the present moment.
the ones you can't control
We are marginalized, outcast individuals whom society has excluded and rejected.
have only one another to depend upon
We rely only on each other for support and strength.
displaced from society Outcast we are
We feel estranged from the societies that have left us behind and cast us out.
we have nothing to live up to
Since we lack social acceptance and approval, we are freed from societal expectations and are allowed to be ourselves.
Hey! loud fast music
We enjoy music that is dynamic, energetic and agile.
Hey! sweat and dirt
We embrace the physicality and rawness of the music we love and play.
Hey! sounds from man's soul
Music is an expression of our innermost emotions and feelings that come from the depths of our soul.
Hey! noise of battle
The music we make is a way of fighting back against the injustices of society that have made us feel powerless and helpless.
Hey! Black clouds of smoke
The intensity and passion of the music we create is like a dark, foreboding cloud that engulfs us.
Hey! it's time to lose control
The music we love and play is so powerful and liberating that we need to let go and allow ourselves to experience it completely.
COME ON GET UP NOW
We urge everyone to stand up and join us in our rebellion and resistance against the social injustices of the world.
Vengeance with our fists
We feel angry and resentful towards those who have wronged us and we want to fight back with all our might.
screaming in the air
We shout and scream out our frustrations, pain and anger in the hope that we can release these emotions.
all these joys and sorrow i gladly sadly bring
The music we create is a mixture of joy and sadness, and we embrace both emotions equally.
this music is all we got
Music is our lifeblood and the only thing we have that keeps us going in a world that has rejected and marginalized us.
the only place i need is drinking here tonite together with you all
We don't need anything else but the music and the company of those who share our passion for it.
WE ARE ALL WE HAVE
Our group is our only family, and we will look after each other no matter what.
this noise is all we got
Our music is the only thing that we truly own and that nobody can take away from us.
so let me hear you sing
We urge you to join us in celebrating the power and beauty of music.
Hey! songs from man's soul
The music we love and create comes from our deepest, most elemental humanity.
Hey! the only songs we need
We don't need anything else but the music that speaks to our souls and makes us feel alive.
Whoa ohhhh ohhhh we are all we have tonite
We are a community of people who are united by our shared love of music and each other, and nothing else matters tonight.
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@freia66
Best song to play right before going to work
@Koettnylle
Best song to sing at work
@brucevair-turnbull8082
@@Koettnylle And best song to sing the moment before you turn the light off each and every night.
@jlc7841
R.I.Power Mark.
@theeniwetoksymphonyorchest7580
And while at work in team meetings and appraisals
@BunkHarvestIII
U2 learned to live the lie pretty early on. Prophetic words.
@GabrielEtinzon
R.I.P. Mark Stewart. You made my life better
@newsles2
A sad loss. Genius band.
@SantosSantos-bf5sz
Used to hang at punk dump in 70s 80s. They played this on pa EVERY weekend rip.
@_tk9428
What a powerful, intense voice.
Rest in peace, Mark. Thank you for your music.