The Higsons
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Norwich , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Funk-punk music |
The Higsons were a British band known for their funk-punk sound, active between 1980 and 1986.
History
Formed in 1980 at the University of East Anglia located in Norwich, Norfolk, England, The Higsons made their initial appearance on the Norwich - A Fine City compilation. Their first single, titled "I Don't Want to Live with Monkeys," was issued in 1981 through the Romans In Britain label. Subsequently, the group released additional singles on their own Waap! Records imprint and, in 1982, became among the earliest non-ska artists to sign with 2 Tone Records.
Their vibrant blend of funk and punk rhythms earned them chart attention, particularly with the 1982 release "Conspiracy," which featured the catchy line "Who stole my bongos?; Did you steal my bongos?". After parting ways with 2 Tone Records, they launched their sole studio album, Curse of the Higsons, in 1984 under Upright Records. This album included a rendition of "Music to Watch Girls By", which climbed to number 83 on the UK singles chart, boosted by an electronic 12-inch remix renamed "Music to Watch Boys By". Although sessions for a follow-up album began, the band performed their last concert in March 1986 before amicably dissolving.
Post-breakup activities
Charlie Higson established himself as a notable comedy writer and actor on The Fast Show. Dave Cummings, who had previously played guitar for Scottish rock group Del Amitri, reunited with Higson as a scriptwriter for The Fast Show and continues his career writing for radio, television, and film. Terry Edwards joined Gallon Drunk in 1993, led his own musical projects, and worked extensively as a session musician. Simon Charterton initiated several bands including The Aftershave, Zook, Nitwood, and Simon & the Pope; he also collaborated with Edwards in the Near Jazz Experience. Meanwhile, Stuart McGeachin and Colin Williams transitioned into full-time careers outside music.
Robyn Hitchcock paid tribute to The Higsons with his track "Listening to the Higsons," which references their song "Got to Let This Heat Out" through the lyric "I thought I heard them singing 'Gotta let this hen out'." Hitchcock adopted this misheard phrase as the title of his 1985 live album recorded with The Egyptians.
Band members
- Charlie "Switch" Higson (lead vocals / harmonica / piano)
- Terry Edwards (guitar / saxophone / trumpet / backing vocals / piano)
- Stuart McGeachin (guitar / vocals)
- Simon Charterton (drums / vocals)
- Colin Williams (bass / vocals)
- David Cummings (guitar / vocals)
Albums
- The Curse of the Higsons (October 1984)
Cassette
- The Higsons Live at the Jacquard Club, Norwich 11.2.82 (limited edition of 4000) (April 1982), Backs Records / Chaos Tapes
Compilation albums
- Attack of the Cannibal Zombie Businessmen (singles anthology) (1987), Waap Records
- It's a Wonderful Life (compilation featuring BBC Radio 1 sessions) (1998), Hux label
- Run Me Down - The Complete Two-Tone Recordings (Record Store Day 2023), Sartorial Records
UK singles
| Title | Date | UK Chart | UK Indie Chart | Label | Format | Cat ref. | Other tracks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I Don't Want to Live with Monkeys" | July 1981 | — | 5 | Romans in Britain | 7" | HIG2 | "Insect Love" | |
| 12" | — | — | ||||||
| "The Lost and the Lonely" | November 1981 | — | 10 | Waap | 7" | WAAP1 | "It Goes Waap" | |
| "(Got to Let This) Heat (Out)" | November 1981 | — | 10 | Waap | 12" | 12WAAP1 | "It Goes Waap" (re-recorded) | |
| "Conspiracy" | March 1982 | — | 5 | Waap | 7" | WAAP2 | "Touchdown" | |
| "Tear the Whole Thing Down" | October 1982 | — | — | 2 Tone | 7" | CHSTT21 | "Ylang, Ylang" | |
| 12" white label promo | CHSTT1221 | "Ylang, Ylang" | ||||||
| "Run Me Down" | February 1983 | — | — | 2 Tone | 7" | CHSTT24 | "Put the Punk Back into Funk Pts 1 & 2" | |
| 12" | CHSTT1224 | "Run Me Down" (Long Version) "Run Me Down" (instrumental) "Put the Punk Back into Funk Pts 1 & 2" | ||||||
| "Push Out the Boat" | November 1983 | — | 4 | Waap | 7" | WAAP4 | "Round and Round Pub Mix" | |
| 12" | 12WAAP4 | "Round and Round Pub Mix" "Push Out the Boat" (extended) | ||||||
| "Music to Watch Girls By" "Music to Watch Boys By" |
7": 1983 12": Sep 1984 |
— | 2 | Upright | 7" | UP9 | "Music to Watch Girls By" (7" only) "Lying on the Telephone" |
|
| UPT9 | "Music to Watch Boys By" (distinctive 12" version) "Lying on the Telephone" Live recordings from The Lyceum, July '84 |
|||||||
| 1985 | — | — | R4 | 7" | FOR2 | "I Walk the Land" | ||
| 12" | 12FOR2 | Extended and instrumental versions of "Take It" and "I Walk the Land" | ||||||
| "Lost and the Lonely" | December 1981 | — | — | Vinyl Magazine No. 9 (Netherlands) | Flexidisc | V9 | "Jigsaw Mentallama" by Virgin Prunes |
BBC Radio 1 Live Performance
On 7 September 1983, a one-hour live concert was captured and aired from London's Paris Theatre. The Higsons opened the show with a 30-minute set, followed by the Norwich-based group the Farmer's Boys.
- Performed songs:
- "Gangway"
- "Where Have All the Club-A-Go-Gos Went Went?"
- "Born Blind"
- "Music to Watch Boys By"
- "Heat"
- "Run Me Down"
- "Clanking My Bucket"
- "Push Out the Boat"
Video Recordings
- Jacquard Club, February 1982 live session (distributed by MEI) – available exclusively as an audio cassette, no video footage.
- The Camden Palace, live on 2 November 1984 (aired on London Weekend Television's 'Live In London' programme on 19 January 1985)
- I Don't Want To Live With Monkeys Live [2006] (Cherry Red reissued version of the Camden Palace performance)