Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants: Difference between revisions
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Quite often he would leap manically about the audience, lost in an almost [[primal scream]] presentation. However, underpinning this, was a tight backing band who could shift from [[punk rock]] ("Trainspotting") to [[Scat singing|scat]]-[[funk]] ("Salt, Sperm, Saliva, Sweat"). |
Quite often he would leap manically about the audience, lost in an almost [[primal scream]] presentation. However, underpinning this, was a tight backing band who could shift from [[punk rock]] ("Trainspotting") to [[Scat singing|scat]]-[[funk]] ("Salt, Sperm, Saliva, Sweat"). |
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Since 2009, Reed has been living on and off in China, playing gigs in [[Beijing]] and played the first ever Rock gigs in the south, western city of[[Zunyi]], which is a town with a population equivalent to Glasgow, Manchester or Liverpool. |
Since 2009, Reed has been living on and off in China, playing gigs in [[Beijing]] and played the first ever Rock gigs in the south, western city of [[Zunyi]], which is a town with a population equivalent to Glasgow, Manchester or Liverpool. |
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==Media exposure== |
==Media exposure== |
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Revision as of 07:26, 6 November 2010
Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants were a cult Glasgow based band, who have supported Debbie Harry,[1] Simple Minds, The Fall and John Otway.[2]
Biography
It was founded by Hugh O'Hagan, now commonly known as Hugh Reed, circa 1990 from an amalgam of members of The Harlequin Cabbage Bugs, Halcyon Days, The Rythmn Kittens and the Trouser Coughs including at different times Lawson Campbell, Stewart MacDonald and Lindsey Watt.
The band had a large number of different members throughout its existence, in addition to core personnel Hugh O'Hagan, and slightly later, Tom Docherty. Tom's younger brother, Terence Docherty was their first guitarist, and returned later as part of the Hugh Reed Explosion. Tom's youngest brother, Tony Docherty, was an occasional bassist. The association between the Docherty brothers and Reed still carrys on.
The Velvet Underpants was particularly noted for its highly theatrical presentation and witty use of pun, titles "Take a Walk on the Clydeside" and "Smells Like Troon Harbour" being examples, and also, of course, the name of the band.[citation needed]
Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants lasted until Valentine's Day 1998, but was later reborn as the Hugh Reed Explosion.
Song material would range from discussion of public perceptions of trainspotters and descriptions of hangovers, to accounts of what can happen when you drink in Glasgow's east end during an Old Firm game while wearing the wrong football scarf.
A typical Underpants gig would feature a stage dressed with numerous television sets all turned on, glitter balls and an overhead projector having coloured oils dropped on it. Reed would go through numerous costume changes and actions ranging from a policeman to a bride to illustrate each song.
Quite often he would leap manically about the audience, lost in an almost primal scream presentation. However, underpinning this, was a tight backing band who could shift from punk rock ("Trainspotting") to scat-funk ("Salt, Sperm, Saliva, Sweat").
Since 2009, Reed has been living on and off in China, playing gigs in Beijing and played the first ever Rock gigs in the south, western city of Zunyi, which is a town with a population equivalent to Glasgow, Manchester or Liverpool.
Media exposure
The band's first single, "Six tae Wan", was used by BBC Radio 1 as the theme to a series on Scottish rock music. O'Hagan and various band members also appeared on Scottish Television's late night debate programme, Trial By Night in 1994.
On the recommendation of a friend, who saw Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants on local television, Deborah Harry invited the band to support her eleven date 1993 UK tour.
Hugh O'Hagan also appearred in the 1996 film, Trainspotting, as the man failing to chat up Renton's love interest, Dianne played by Kelly Macdonald.
Discography
Albums
- Take a Walk on the Clydeside - 1996
- Ni Fa Feng Le Ma? - R U Mad? - 2010
Singles
- "Six to Wan" - 1991
- "Satellite Baby" - 1992
Videos/DVDs
- Carry On Up the Underpants - 2002
References
- [the first two links are out of date, all other links are contemporary]
- Hugh Reed interview Geneva, Switzerland
- Hugh Beijing benefit gig 2009
- Hugh Reed Glasgow gig 2010
- Gig review Libertine's, Ayr, Scotland 2010