Pigbag

Pigbag captured the restless spirit animating post-punk circles at the turn of the 1980s. Rather than locking into any single style, the band fused funk and jazz within an open-ended approach. Chris Hamlyn (clarinet, percussion), Roger Freeman (percussion, trombone), Chris Lee (trumpet), and James Johnstone (saxophone, guitar) formed the group in 1980. Early on they concentrated on loose collective jamming. To introduce a rock foundation they recruited drummer Chip Carpenter and bassist Mark Smith, both of whom had previously worked with Johnstone in Hardware. Former Pop Group bassist Simon Underwood came aboard as well and brought saxophonist Ollie Moore into the fold.

A strong opening slot for the Slits led to a deal with Y Records. Three singles and two BBC sessions appeared before the band issued its first album, Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive, in 1982. Hamlyn left after the initial single; Freeman departed by the close of that year. Brian Nevill and Oscar Verden joined to fill the gaps. The LP failed to match the earlier singles’ popularity or sales momentum, prompting the reissue of the 1980 debut single “Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag.” On its second release the track climbed higher, reaching the Top Five of the mainstream chart.

After one more single in 1983, ex-Drowning Craze singer Angela Jaeger joined on vocals. She and Underwood married before the year ended. Pigbag nevertheless dissolved following a final single and the disappointing reception of their second album, Lend an Ear. Johnstone, Underwood, and Jaeger carried on together as Instinct. Moore performed with Float up CP, while Freeman later appeared in Doctor Calculus alongside Stephen Duffy.