My Top Ten: Purple Gang

Showing posts with label Purple Gang. Show all posts

Tuesday, 10 March 2026

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?

Sunday, 9 March 2025

Snapshots #386: Family Snapshots!

So*... that's why Peter Gabriel helped launch yesterday's quiz... and why he turned up again this morning with the answers. He knows a thing or two about a Family Snapshot...

Here are 15 songs about relatives...

(*More apologies to CC.)

15. One third of Annabella's band had a typical tempo of 115–130 bpm.

Annabella Lwin was in Bow Wow Wow. A third of that is Bow. House music has a typical tempo of 115–130 bpm. Bow + House =

Bauhaus - Watch That Grandad Go

14. No echo.

While Echo & The Bunnymen were on a break, Ian and Will had another band...

Electrafixion - Sister Pain

13. Sounds like the plasticine used by our itinerant friend.

Ernie gets around a bit, doesn't he? I wonder if he always takes his Play-Doh with him?

Ernie K-Doe - Mother-In-Law

12. Without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

A quote taken from early on in Genesis. This is later Genesis though... I figured you'd probably prefer them without their heads. Shoot me - I always liked this song.

Genesis - No Son Of Mine

11. Ronnie Barker's wireless breakfast show.

Porridge Radio - Nephews

10. Animal makes a fortune from high-waisted suits.

He played keyboards with The Animals for a while, presumably wearing his zoot suit.

Zoot Money - The Uncle Willie

9. Confusion over dark hall ban after 11pm.

"Dark hall ban" was an anagram. After 11pm, it's midnight.

Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - Annie's Aunt Fanny

Uncle Willie and Aunt Fanny. Fnar.

8. Bo?

Clearly, I was thinking of Ms. Derek, first initial B...

Derek B - Bad Young Brother

He gets paid in pounds, not in dollars.

7. Emily Dickinson had a discerning palate.

E.D. was a gourmet...

Eydie Gorme - Yes My Darling Daughter

6. Twice in one weekend? FFS!

He's here, and at this week's Number One. The extra F is how bloggers of a certain vintage refer to him... you'll know why if you fell victim to his anti-blog campaign back in the day.

That said, he made some great solo records after leaving the Undertones. And I'd completely forgotten this one... mustn't have heard it in 40 years, but it still sounds good.

Feargal Sharkey - Listen To Your Father

5. Prohibition criminals... or Prince's mates.

The Purple Gang - Granny Takes A Trip

4. The name of my first cat. (I realise that's a pretty niche clue, but think of your standard cat names and you might get it.)

My first cat was called Fluffy. We had another one at the same time called Frisky. Remember that in case I ever post a picture of a band with that name.

Fluffy - Husband

3. Switch off the bassist, he clashes with the rest of the band.