Spunge (often typeset as [spunge]) is a ska punk band from Tewkesbury, England. Through many years of touring, Spunge have toured with or played alongside a number of UK bands; and several American bands such as Green Day, Dropkick Murphys and Reel Big Fish; and been supported on a UK tour by Bowling for Soup; the latter of whom contributed backing vocals to the song "Centerfold" on the That Should Cover It! album.

In 2019 the band toured the UK supporting Reel Big Fish, playing the same set they recorded for the album Live in 'nam... (Cheltenham)

History

Pedigree Chump and Room for Abuse

Conceived in July 1994, with almost the same line up as today (the only difference being that Copeland used to double up on bass), the band went through a lengthy gestation period (adding bassist Simon Bayliss in 1995, and replacing him with Martin Holt in 1997), before emerging with the Kicking Pigeons EP in 1998. Having sold 5000 copies at pub gigs the band decided that there was enough potential to leave their day jobs, and make the band a full-time concern. Having soon gained a manager in Dave Juste of Birmingham's Xposure Rock Cafe (a regular early haunt), Spunge hit the road, and would eventually notch up well over three hundred gigs in just two years.thumb|200px|right| Cover to Kicking Pigeons.

Less than a year later in 1999, Spunge released their début album Pedigree Chump on MoonSka Europe and thus set about introducing the band to a wider audience. Holt tired of touring, so good friend Chris Murphy joined to play bass.

Their second album Room for Abuse was recorded at DEP International Studios, and released on Sucka-Punch Records in 2000, featuring the single "Ego" plus covers of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" and Sublime's "Santeria". The album version of "No Woman No Cry" – complete with new lyrics from Copeland – was the first cover of a Bob Marley song ever to receive permission to be altered by the Marley family, as Ziggy liked it so much. All this attention brought them to the eyes of B-Unique and a deal was signed in February 2002.

The Story So Far

The new recording contract led to Spunge's third studio album, The Story So Far. It spent one week in the UK Albums Chart at No. 48. It also topped the Kerrang! TV chart for two weeks. The follow-up "Roots", peaked at No. 52 in the UK chart.

On 25 November 2013 the band released Greatest Hit......S album which is a compilation of their greatest hits voted by fans during the PledgeMusic project. Band said they are letting the fans to decide the track listing for the album. All of the tracks were re-recorded in 2013 for this album and few of them were mixed up a bit. Greatest Hit......S is sold in CD format only by the band themselves at their shows. The digital version is widely available through digital music stores and services.

Hang On? and single releases (2014–present)

Spunge announced through social media that they are making a new studio-album which will be released in digital format on 5 December for everyone who has preordered it from their PledgeMusic event.

The physical CD will be only available for preorder through PledgeMusic and won't even be available for sale at the shows.

This will be the band's 8th full-length album and 5th album with new original tracks.

In late 2018 the band released two new singles "Liar" and "Get Out" through the band's own label, Dent’All Records. The band announced in an interview that they are writing new songs and instead of a new album release they will be releasing the new tracks regularly throughout 2019 as singles.

On 4 November a new single "No One Said It Was Easy" and a music video was released. The video accompanying the single is filmed and produced by Elliot Withers from Lion Island Media.

In addition to Singles, after their latest album the band has also released 2 Live Albums: "Live in London EP" (2016) and "Live in 'nam... (Cheltenham)" (2019).

Band members

Current members

  • Alex Copeland (vocals)
  • Damon Robins (lead guitar)
  • Chris Murphy (bass guitar)
  • Jeremy King (drums)

Former members

  • Paul Gurney (rhythm guitar)
  • Simon Bayliss (bass guitar)
  • Martin Holt (bass guitar)

Discography

Albums

  • Pedigree Chump – 1 March 1999
  • Room for Abuse – 9 October 2000
  • The Story So Far – 26 August 2002 – UK No. 48