The Nips
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Shanne Bradley |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Punk rock music, singles, albums |
The Nips are a London-based English punk rock ensemble established in 1976 under the original name the Nipple Erectors, founded by punk musician Shanne Bradley. This group represents the initial band of Shane MacGowan.
History
The founding members consisted of vocalist and songwriter Shane MacGowan (initially known as 'Shane O'Hooligan'), bassist and songwriter Shanne Bradley, guitarist Roger Towndrow, and drummer Adrian Fox, also known as "Arcane Vendetta". Their first performance took place at the Roxy Club in 1977. From 1978 through 1981, they released four singles alongside a bootleg live album. Influenced by the Stooges, their musical style blended aspects of rockabilly with 1960s garage rock.
Following their debut single, "King of the Bop"/"Nervous Wreck" (issued June 1978 on Soho Records), the band abbreviated their name to the Nips and put out the garage punk record "All the Time in the World"/"Private Eye", featuring Phil Rowland (from Eater (band)) on drums. By May 1979, guitarist Gavin "Fritz" Douglas had joined the lineup. The single "Gabrielle" was released in November 1979 through Soho Records and later reissued by Chiswick Records, with John ("Grinny") Grinton (formerly of Skrewdriver) on drums; Grinton was soon succeeded by Roger Travis Williams. Douglas' guitar contributions signaled a transition toward a more melodic sound.
Their live album, Only the End of the Beginning (Soho Records, 1980), captured performances from a tour supporting the Purple Hearts.
In 1980, the Nips recorded demo tracks at Polydor Records' Bond Street studio under the production of Paul Weller. The session included "Happy Song", "Nobody to Love", "Ghost Town", and "Love To Make You Cry". The personnel featured MacGowan on vocals, Bradley on bass, Douglas handling guitar duties, and Mark Harrison (formerly of Bernie Tormé Band) on drums. The single "Happy Song"/"Nobody to Love" was released in October 1981 via Test Pressing Records. The band declared their disbandment following a final concert held on 10 March 1980 at London's Covent Garden Rock Garden. Later that year, MacGowan and Bradley briefly revived the group with guitarist James Fearnley and drummer Jon Moss (previously with The Damned (band)), culminating in a last performance in December 1980 at London's Music Machine alongside the Jam. Moss subsequently became a founding member of Culture Club with Boy George.
In 1981, Bradley directed the band's musical focus toward Greek, Cretan, and Irish roots and folk traditions. Their early live repertoire had featured the folk tune "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway", with Towndrow on guitar. This formation included MacGowan, Bradley, John Hasler (ex-Madness (band)) playing standup snare drum, and Scottish/Irish folk fiddler David Rattray. Later that year, Bradley took a hiatus from her musical pursuits; meanwhile, MacGowan and Hasler formed Pogue Mahone, which would later be known as the Pogues. In 1984, Bradley co-established the Men They Couldn't Hang, performing at Camden's "The Alternative Country and Western Festival".
In 1987, an anthology LP titled Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver was issued by Big Beat, credited to "Nips n Nipple Erectors". This compilation assembled singles originally released on Soho Records along with outtakes such as "So Pissed Off" and "Stavordale Rd, N5". Subsequent CD versions included additional tracks like "Venus in Bovver Boots" and "Fuss & Bother".
Reformation
On 6 May 2008, the Nipple Erectors reunited for a confidential performance at London's 100 Club on Oxford Street. The ensemble included Shanne Bradley, Shane MacGowan, Eric "Le Baton" Baconstrip, and Fritz Douglas. Bradley's daughter, Eucalypta, contributed backing vocals on the closing song "Gabrielle". A month later, they appeared again without MacGowan, who was substituted by Eucalypta on lead vocals while he was in Ireland. In 2009, Shanne Bradley and Gavin Douglas journeyed to Ireland. On 16 August 2009, they held rehearsals alongside drummer Mick Cronin at Philly Ryans Bar in Nenagh, Tipperary.
Singles
- "King of the Bop" (with "Nervous Wreck" as B-side) (credited as Nipple Erectors, 1978), Soho Records
- "All the Time in the World" (B-side: "Private Eye") (1979), Soho Records
- "Gabrielle" (B-side: "Vengeance") (1980), Soho Records
- "Happy Song" (B-side: "Nobody to Love") (1981), Test Pressings Records
Albums
- Only the End of the Beginning (1980), Soho Records [Live recording from March 1980 at Wolverhampton Polytechnic during Purple Hearts tour]
- Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver (1987), Big Beat Records [Compilation featuring all Soho singles and B-sides plus additional unreleased material]