Goldbug (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Richard Walmsley, Tony Horkins, Adil Magik |
| Headquarters | London and Brighton , United Kingdom |
| Products | Pop music singles |
Goldbug was a British pop ensemble originating from London and Brighton in 1995, founded by ex-Beatmasters member Richard Walmsley, drummer Tony Horkins, and DJ Adil Magik. The group enlisted session vocalist Sandy McKenzie through an advertisement in Melody Maker.
Their most notable achievement came with a UK chart hit—a rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," which incorporated a sample from the Pearl & Dean theme "Asteroid." Released on 15 January 1996 under Acid Jazz Records, the single gained significant exposure on Radio 1’s Breakfast Show and debuted at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, maintaining a five-week presence. It also reached the top position on the ITV, Dance, and Indie charts. Goldbug made a single appearance on Top of the Pops on 25 January 1996, featuring replacement vocalist Katherine Ellis. Subsequently, Ellis was succeeded by Shari Mjoh (also known as Sharona), who provided lead vocals for their next single, "Real Hip Mary," distributed by EMI.
Following numerous live performances and television appearances, Shari was offered a solo deal by EMI’s managing director Clive Black but opted not to commit fully due to concerns over artistic direction and loyalty to Goldbug. She continues her career as a singer, songwriter, and EDM producer, with a forthcoming release titled "Danger Zone" on iKan Recordings.
In late 1996, Tony Horkins and Adil Magik departed from the band amid contractual disagreements with Walmsley. The subsequent single "Real Hip Mary" did not enter the UK top 75 in 1997. In 2000, Walmsley successfully pursued legal action against Acid Jazz for unpaid royalties related to "Whole Lotta Love," resulting in a considerable financial settlement; however, McKenzie did not receive any royalties due to these legal conflicts.
After the band's dissolution, lead vocalist McKenzie endured significant personal adversity, including a near-fatal assault and periods of homelessness; her assailant is currently incarcerated.
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | IRE | ||
| "Whole Lotta Love" | 1996 | 3 | 80 | 24 |
| "Real Hip Mary" | 1997 | 97 | — | — |