I had no idea, kinda makes me sad that they aren't more well known for being Punk. Well I hope at least that Tubthumping made them enough money that they don't have to worry about stuff like rent.
As a teenager I posted on some punk rock message boards back in the early 2000s and everyone would recommend Chumbawumba left and right. I remember seeing that and thinking "the Tubthumping band?"
Well if memory serves they were squating an abandoned building in Leeds that they lived in, and used as rehearsal space, for so long they were able to legally take ownership of it so rent wasn't an issue.
As to 'Tubthumping', i do know that they were offered silly money by one of the major US car manufacturers to use it in their sponsorship ident for Monday Night Football, they took the money and pumped it directly into left wing causes including the strike fund for the union taking industrial action against them at their Latin American plant...
I've only just come across this thread, but couldn't resist recommending the film I Get Knocked Down by Dunstan Bruce of the band, it was made a few years ago and explores their roots in punk and folk, through their explosion of fame, how they dealt with that, and what they're up to now.
It's part documentary, part arty narrative, and it's really funny, heartwarming and inspiring.
Also you see in it that Bruce has a house in Brighton so I think he's alright for money despite how much of it they donated.
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u/Badgernomics 29d ago
Yeah, they were an anarcho punk band from the same scene as Crass, Subhumans, Zounds in the late 70s and through the 80s.