Black Grape were a rock and roll band from England, formed in 1993 by former members of Happy Mondays, Shaun Ryder and Bez. They recruited rappers Kermit and Jed, plus guitarist Wags, formerly of the Manchester based group the Paris Angels. Recording of new material started that year, although the group were not under contract.

In 1995 they signed to Radioactive Records (an imprint of major label BMG) and released their debut album. It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah. It immediately charted at number one in the UK Albums Chart, and spawned three Top Twenty singles.

Black Grape's music is funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples. Ryder's lyrics seemed to derive mainly from nonsense rhymes and humorous catch phrases. It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah received critical acclaim in the UK, but the group made little impact in the U.S..

Subsequent album Stupid Stupid Stupid was less favoured. The group split in 1998 after Ryder fired the rest of band (starting with Kermit who suffered from septicemia and even Bez who got unsatisfied of his financial situation) while touring.

Discography

Albums

• It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah (1995) #1 UK
• Stupid Stupid Stupid (1997) #11 UK

Singles

• "Reverend Black Grape" (1995) #9 UK
• "In the Name of the Father" (1995) #8 UK
• "Kelly's Heroes" (1995) #17 UK
• "Fat Neck" (1996) #10 UK
• "England's Ire" (1996) #6 UK
• "Get Higher" (1997) #24 UK
• "Marbles" (1998) - #46 UK

External link

• All Music Guide reference