Artist:Black Grape
Song:A Big Day in the North
Album:It's Great When You're Straight Yeah
Fans of The Madchester Sound are going to want to check out Black Grape. This band was formed after Happy Mondays split up. The big difference was Black Grape included guys from Ruthless Rap Assassins. Happy Mondays split up because of lead singer Shaun Ryder's drug addiction. Plus they were arguing about money. Ryder and Ruthless Rap Assassins percussionist Mark "Bez" Berry decided to form a new group with rapper Paul "Kermit" Leveridge of Ruthless Rap Assassins. He brought in rapper Paul "Psycho" McCarthy and Ruthless Rap Assassins drummer Ged Lynch. The guitarist was Paul "Wags" Wagstaff of the band Black Angels. They brought in producer Danny Saber for the 1995 album It's Great When You're Straight Yeah. They signed with Radioactive Records which at first was distributed by BMG and then switched to MCA. Producer Stephen Lironi of the band Altered Images was brought in. Ryder wrote all the songs. The album topped the British charts and they had three singles chart. The big problem was there were plans for Black Grape to tour the US but they weren't allowed in because of Ryder's drug addiction. Obviously that would limit them financially. Black Grape released two albums and then Ryder had a temper tantrum and fired everyone. Ryder and Leveridge reunited and released a 2017 album. They toured to celebrate Black Grape's 25th anniversary in 2021. And a new album is coming soon. Here's Black Grape performing A Big Day in the North on the British TV show TFI Friday 1996.
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