Namesakes #179: The Purple Gang

The web of lies tells me that, "The Purple Gang was Detroit’s most notorious organized crime gang in the 1920s and 1930s". But I prefer to think that so many different acts have chosen The Purple Gang as a band name not in tribute to those nefarious scallywags... but as a reference to one of the seminal rock 'n' roll hits...

Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
The whole rhythm section was a Purple Gang

Whatever the reason, I was surprised how many Purple Gangs there have been...

THE PURPLE GANG #1

Once upon a time (well, around 1965 to be accurate) in Hollywood, we find a Purple Gang who began by playing gigs at gas stations, eventually landing a record contract and... well, that was about it, really. Keyboard player Harry Garfield went on to become a Senior Vice-President of Music at Universal in the 90s. Each member of the band wore one purple glove while performing. Not the same glove.

The Purple Gang - Bring Your Own Self Down

THE PURPLE GANG #2

Stockport band, produced by Joe Boyd, who enjoyed a certain notoriety in 1968 when their single Granny Takes A Trip was banned by the BBC. It didn't help that their lead singer, Pete Walker, delighted in the stage name "Lucifer". According to various sources, the controller of the BBC at the time remarked, “...a song with a dubious title designed to corrupt the nation’s youth – and a band that boasts a warlock for a singer will not be tolerated by any decent society.” John Peel, on the other hand, would later say that, “...Granny is one of the all-time great records.”

After enjoying a whiff of success in Bulgaria and Hungary with the single Sunset Over The Mersey (which I couldn't find on the tube of you), the band split up in the early 70s, only to reform in 1998 because that's what bands do.

The Purple Gang - Granny Takes A Trip

THE PURPLE GANG #3

Next up, some Aussie post-punks from 1984.

The Purple Gang - No Tranquilizers

PURPLE GANG #4

80s funk from Detroit, with a song that would no doubt get JK Rowling frothing at the mouth...

The Purple Gang - She's A He She

THE PURPLE GANG #5

Today's token umchicka-umchicka-umchicka nonsense from 1997.

The Purple Gang - Ghetto / Resolve

THE PURPLE GANG #6

Michigan-based guitar band comprising four 17 year olds when they started playing together in 1997. Their entry on the camp of bands says, "They were together for roughly 3 years, until they got tired of no one coming to their shows, and then they started new bands with similar results." I like them for their honesty.

The Purple Gang - Poster Art In Poland

PURPLE GANG #7

Detroit hip hop crew from the early 21st Century...

Purple Gang - Chips R Down

PURPLEGANG #8

Proper old-skool hip hop band from Pittsburgh in 2012. They got in here today by writing an eponymous tune.

PurpleGang - PurpleGang

THE PURPLE GANG #9

Well, at least these guys dressed for the occasion! Rap-rock crossover act from 2013, produced by the Insane Clown Posse, featuring Jumpsteady, Sugar Slam and Legz Diamond (he's the bloke in the middle).

Legz Diamond & The Purple Gang - Made Man

What - no Prince?

Which ones are royalty... and which ones leave you purple in the face?