The UK group’s beginnings are steeped in dubious lore. In 1978 Max Splodge, at that point a drummer, took over from Gerry Healy in Alien Sex Fiend for several months before teaming with guitarist Pat Thetic Von Dale Chiptooth Noble in the short-lived Faber Brothers duo. After a stint at Butlins Holiday Camp in Bognor, Sussex ended in dismissal, the pair returned to London and launched a new outfit. Billing themselves Splodgenessabounds, they began performing in March 1979; although personnel shifted constantly, one early configuration featured Max Splodge on vocals alongside his girlfriend Baby Greensleeves, Pat Thetic and Miles Runt Flat on guitars, Donkey Gut (born Winston Forbe) on keyboards, Whiffy Archer on paper and comb, plus Desert Island Joe Lurch Slythe and a dog. Robert Rodent came in on bass in early 1980, prompting Flat’s departure. The band first reached a wider audience in 1980 with the unexpected success of “Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please,” a track that irritated countless landlords. Their set also included such numbers as “I’ve Got Lots Of Famous People Living Under The Floorboards Of My Humble Abode,” “Simon Templar,” and a biting version of Rolf Harris’ “Two Little Boys.” Max Splodge additionally took a role in the play Camberwell Beauty. Following a split with Deram Records in 1982, the act moved to Razor as simply Splodge and issued In Search Of The Seven Golden Gussets, an homage to legendary feminine undergarments. The roster at that stage comprised Ronnie Plonker and Tone Tone The Garden Gnome on guitar, Smacked Arse O’Reardon on bass, and Poodle on drums. Max subsequently cut a solo single for Neat, “Phut Phut Splodgenik,” written with Tony James of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, before linking up with the Angelic Upstarts. He reactivated Splodgenessabounds in the late 90s, producing fresh studio albums on the Captain Oi! label with rotating musicians.
