Goldie Lookin Chain
Encyclopedia
Goldie Lookin Chain is a comedic rap music group based in Newport
, South Wales
. The group produces humorous, controversial and often explicit songs that satirise hip hop, today's consumer society, the ‘chav
’ culture and life in Newport and south Wales in general.
vernacular, partly to poke fun at "chav culture". Their music also satirises gangsta rap
by highlighting the disparity between the band's deliberately unglamorous image, and the media hype and glamour usually associated with gangsta rap.
record label, the home of rock band The Darkness. Rumours suggest that GLC was signed after record label bosses heard The Darkness playing GLC tracks whilst on tour (source: BBC Radio 1
- GLC Documentary). GLC went on to support The Darkness in the latter stages of their UK tour.
GLC's first UK chart entry was "Half-Man Half-Machine"/"Self Suicide", which reached the top 40. When group member Dwain Xain Zedong was phoned by BBC
chart presenter Wes
on the Official Chart Show to be informed of this, Xain informed the rest of the band that they had reached number 1, much to the shock of the DJ. "Half Man Half Machine
" was a surreal song about one of the members (Eggsy) believing he was a robot, dressing up in foil
, and going to the shops to buy ten fags
and some crisps. The song namechecks
many well-known 1980s 8-bit computer systems including Binatone
, ZX Spectrum
, Commodore 64
, ZX81 and BBC Micro
.
In August 2004, the group reached number 3 in the UK singles chart with "Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do". With the tagline "The gun is the tool, the mind is the weapon", this track - again satirising
the American hip hop scene - was a popular radio hit. The B-side was album track "Soapbar".
Their first nationally-released album was called Greatest Hits, the name a play on both the group's previous lack of commercial success and their "stoner" image; it compiled a mixture of new material and selections from their previous six unofficial albums. It was released in September 2004, and debuted at number 5 in the UK Album Chart. This album was released in May 2005 in the USA with the title "Straight Outta Newport" with cover art similar to NWA
's album Straight Outta Compton
. However, this version of the album was missing two tracks - "Maggot" and "You Knows I Loves You".
Their next single release was "Your Mother's Got a Penis
", with an accompanying video based on a supermarket
theme. "Your Mother's Got a Penis" first appeared on their album The Manifesto, and reached #14 in the UK. This song is based on a sample of Greg Philinganes'
track "Behind The Mask" (originally by the Yellow Magic Orchestra
and later covered by Eric Clapton
in 1987).
The band - informally known as "the Chain" or simply "the GLC" - released, "You Knows I Loves You", a parody of 1980s love songs from the albums Greatest Hits and The Manifesto, on 13 December 2004; this reached number 22 in the UK chart. "Your Missus Is A Nutter" is the first single from second album Safe As Fuck. The album was originally going to be called "Safety In Numbers", a tribute to the album Power in Numbers
by alternative L.A. rap group Jurassic 5
. The single reached #14 in the UK. They dedicated the song to Victoria Beckham
, which resulted in them being summoned by the Newport
mayor's office, who also objected to the title of their album, Safe as Fuck.
In June 2010 the GLC played at a student ball in Cambridge. During the last song there was a stage invasion which caused the stage to collapse; no one was injured.
On September 25, 2010 the GLC hosted a celebrity golf challenge in Newport featuring Howard Marks
, Dirty Sanchez
, Super Furry Animals
, The Automatic
and many other Welsh stars.
to perform before the World Cup
qualifying match against England
at Cardiff
's Millennium Stadium
. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the nature of the band's music and the participation of England star David Beckham
, the band dedicated "Your Missus Is a Nutter
" to the footballer about his wife, who was present at the match. The ensuing furore, with the Welsh
football authorities having to apologise to the Beckhams (despite David Beckham appearing to take the joke in good humour) as well as expressing outrage at the band's perceived lack of respect, prompted many people to question exactly why the organisers had hired them to play in the first place. In January 2009, GLC appeared on This Feeling TV, and revealed more about the incident.
. He finished in third place behind Michael Barrymore
and the non-celebrity Chantelle Houghton
.
In 2005, Eggsy appeared on a special music edition of Celebrity Weakest Link
, and proved himself to be quite astute despite his stoner image, finishing second to eventual winner Fish
(born Derek William Dick, formerly of Marillion
).
Rhys and Eggsy have appeared together on many TV shows as presenters and guest presenters, most recently "Sport Wales" and an Olympics TV show.
In 2010, They appeared on BBC3's 'Snog, Marry, Avoid' where three members of Goldie Lookin Chain, Rhys, Eggsy and Adam had a make under.
a couple of months previously and were now going to release material on their own Gold Dust Records, which was formed on 7 March 2006 by Adam Hussain. They then formed Gold Dust Records, which is to be producing more music, with an album set for release late summer 2007. There was also talk of a GLC movie at some point, but the band are focussing on their musical career first.
Shortly before they got dropped by their label, they were on tour with UK rock band Feeder
. The tour was postponed until the new year when Feeder frontman Grant Nicholas
developed bleeding vocal cords, whilst performing at the Brighton Centre. Then before the tour was rescheduled, the GLC were dropped. They still toured with Feeder when the tour was resumed.
Goldie Lookin Chain then co-headlined The Full Ponty
music festival day one on 27 May 2006, also with Feeder.
They have also recently taken part in this year's Gumball 3000
doing a DJ set for the pre-race party and taking part in the opening stage in a Bedford Rascal Van.
The group appeared in the 17 June 2006 episode of Doctor Who Confidential
, expressing their love of Doctor Who
and its local Cardiff production.
In August 2006, the band performed in Ibiza
as part of the Ibiza Rocks
nights in San Antonio Bay at BarM. Also present at their gig were Wee Man from Jackass and Matthew Pritchard
from Dirty Sanchez.
The GLC released a limited-edition album entitled Under the Counter which is a collection of songs made between 2004 and 2006, in early 2008, which was followed in March 2009 by ASBO4Life, the first GLC LP with no sampled material.
In July 2009, the band played many festivals including the main stage at Kendal Calling
music festival in the Lake District.
In 2010 GLC released a remix album and a new LP called The Mix Tape Two and in December 2010 the GLC released a Christmas LP called It's a Goldie Lookin Christmas (the fairytale of Newport), featuring 12 tracks including "Dubstep Christmas" and "You'll Never Be Alone On Christmas Day".
GLC's next album will be out on the 17th October 2011 and is called "Blue Waffle", featuring new songs including "Biscuit", "I seen your mother", "K hole" and "If I told you".
in the 2004–05 season
, and are often seen on stage in Newport County shirts. In Newport County's record-breaking 2009–10 season
, GLC members provided commentary for the club's popular internet radio service.
He is quite recognisable due to his green eyes and natural two-tone beard. He claims to have lived for 2000 years and contributes a blog-style record of his and the band's adventures both on tour and in their daily lives on the Goldie Lookin Chain website, known as Mysty's Musings.
One of the tracks featuring his rap is based on 'Englishman In New York' by Sting. Another track has samples from 'The Model' by German synth group Kraftwerk
. In his rap for the record R'n'B, he name-checks Enya
and the track Orinoco Flow. He has also rapped on the intro to a track called 'Paranoia' which is based musically on the track Walking in the Air
, which was made famous by fellow Welsh warbler Aled Jones
as a young chorister.
He is most famously known for pretending to be a robot on the track "Half Man, Half Machine". He has appeared on Irish radio station Q102 (presenter was Pete Wilson) talking about the song "Your Missus Is A Nutter" and the album "Safe as Fuck". It was also quoted in a podcast that his real-life name was Jonothan.
In the track "Professor Doppelganger", the Professor Doppelganger character interviews several of the other AKA characters under hypnosis, so Eggsy is actually speaking to himself in different voices. He is a big fan of the children's TV show The Moomins. Eggsy also Reviews horror films on Shonk Video with Rhys, which can be seen on You tube.
He is the only member of The GLC to have an album (Adam Hussain's Truth & Slander) named after him. Adam's Nan features on one track (Nan Jam) and according to Adam's rap she's 84. The track "Charmschool" is based on the original theme tune for the 1980s TV show Grange Hill.
Adam is a fan of the TV show SpongeBob SquarePants
. He has also featured on the show Doctor Who Confidential along with other members of the band displaying his large collection of over 250 Doctor Who videos and DVDs. Adam grew up in Leeds. He has often spoken of being bullied at school for being good at sports.
He is recognisable by his wearing of two hats (hence his nickname). His nickname is also a play on the British swear word Twats.
He fronts the track Shotgun Surgery.
He writes, produces and creates mixes for all of the tracks the band have made and also creates music for his own projects. Also known for his work in the kitchen and he has had several recipes published although he turned down an offer to appear on Celeb Master Chef. He is also a keen inventor and has several innovative products awaiting Patent.
Between 2007 and 2008 Rhys and Eggsy presented the week day drive time shows on XFM South Wales. Rhys also occasionally stands for comedian Rhod Gilbert on BBC Radio Wales with Eggsy. Rhys and Eggsy also introduce the shows on MTV UK on Sunday evenings. Rhys is also the manager of German techno band DIGITALsex. Rhys also DJs across the world with Eggsy.
Rhys is also one of eight celebrities chosen to participate in an intense week learning Welsh in an eco-friendly chic campsite in Pembrokeshire in the series cariad@iaith:love4language
shown on S4C in July 2011.
He headlines on tracks such as "Dogporn" and "Mike Balls Unofficial World Cup Anthem". According to an interview for the online site for S4C (Welsh Channel 4), the animal Mike would most like to be is an octopus.
The youngest member of the GLC crew. Billy has appeared on the Irish Radio show Q102 (presenter Pete Wilson) speaking about his relations in Ireland, Maggot in Celebrity Big Brother, and the band Sparks because he and Eggsy were pretending to be The Mael Brothers on Big Brother's Little Brother.
Billy is also a fully qualified landscape gardener. He is normally to be seen wearing leisurewear, and is most recognisable by his tennis-style head-bands.
Frank Burnside, in the ITV show The Bill
. He features on the intro to "Superhero".
Nicknamed 'the Bear' because of his impressive chest hair, Grayham also fronts The Tenant's Supermen (who have now split up) with Adam Hussain.
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. The group produces humorous, controversial and often explicit songs that satirise hip hop, today's consumer society, the ‘chav
Chav
A chav is a term that is used in the United Kingdom to describe a stereotype of teenagers and young adults from an underclass background.-Etymology:...
’ culture and life in Newport and south Wales in general.
Background
Many of the songs contain references to places and hang-outs local to Newport. Much of the humour comes from the adoption of hip-hop style and language, adapted into the local South WalesSouth Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
vernacular, partly to poke fun at "chav culture". Their music also satirises gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
by highlighting the disparity between the band's deliberately unglamorous image, and the media hype and glamour usually associated with gangsta rap.
History
The group recorded 6 albums before gaining a major record deal and were signed to the East/WestEast/West
East/West is a 1999 French film directed by Régis Wargnier, starring Sandrine Bonnaire , Oleg Menshikov , Sergei Bodrov Jr. and Catherine Deneuve...
record label, the home of rock band The Darkness. Rumours suggest that GLC was signed after record label bosses heard The Darkness playing GLC tracks whilst on tour (source: BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
- GLC Documentary). GLC went on to support The Darkness in the latter stages of their UK tour.
GLC's first UK chart entry was "Half-Man Half-Machine"/"Self Suicide", which reached the top 40. When group member Dwain Xain Zedong was phoned by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
chart presenter Wes
Wes Butters
Wes Butters , is a radio broadcaster, formerly of BBC Radio 1, and writer.-Early life:...
on the Official Chart Show to be informed of this, Xain informed the rest of the band that they had reached number 1, much to the shock of the DJ. "Half Man Half Machine
Half Man Half Machine
"Half Man Half Machine" is a song by the Welsh Rap act Goldie Lookin Chain from their Greatest Hits album. In May, 2004 the song reached #32 on the UK Singles Chart.-Track listing:*A1 Half Man Half Machine*A2 Half Man Half Machine...
" was a surreal song about one of the members (Eggsy) believing he was a robot, dressing up in foil
Aluminium foil
Aluminium foil is aluminium prepared in thin metal leaves, with a thickness less than , thinner gauges down to are also commonly used. In the USA, foils are commonly gauged in mils. Standard household foil is typically thick and heavy duty household foil is typically .The foil is pliable, and...
, and going to the shops to buy ten fags
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
and some crisps. The song namechecks
Name-dropping
Name-dropping is the practice of mentioning important people or institutions within a conversation, story, song, online identity, or other communication. The term often connotes an attempt to impress others; it is usually regarded negatively, and under certain circumstances may constitute a breach...
many well-known 1980s 8-bit computer systems including Binatone
Binatone
Binatone is a private company owned by brothers Partap and Gulu Lalvani. Binatone was started in the United Kingdom in 1958 to import and distribute consumer electronics...
, ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, ZX81 and BBC Micro
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
.
In August 2004, the group reached number 3 in the UK singles chart with "Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do". With the tagline "The gun is the tool, the mind is the weapon", this track - again satirising
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
the American hip hop scene - was a popular radio hit. The B-side was album track "Soapbar".
Their first nationally-released album was called Greatest Hits, the name a play on both the group's previous lack of commercial success and their "stoner" image; it compiled a mixture of new material and selections from their previous six unofficial albums. It was released in September 2004, and debuted at number 5 in the UK Album Chart. This album was released in May 2005 in the USA with the title "Straight Outta Newport" with cover art similar to NWA
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
's album Straight Outta Compton
Straight Outta Compton
The lyrics on the album were mainly written by Ice Cube and MC Ren. Critics of the album expressed their view that the record glamorized Black-on-Black crime, but the emcees stated that the group was simply showing the reality of living in the areas of Compton, California, and South Central Los...
. However, this version of the album was missing two tracks - "Maggot" and "You Knows I Loves You".
Their next single release was "Your Mother's Got a Penis
Your Mother's Got a Penis
"Your Mother's Got a Penis" is a song by the Welsh Rap act Goldie Lookin Chain from their Greatest Hits album, released In November 2004. The song reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart on 06/11/2004....
", with an accompanying video based on a supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
theme. "Your Mother's Got a Penis" first appeared on their album The Manifesto, and reached #14 in the UK. This song is based on a sample of Greg Philinganes'
Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
track "Behind The Mask" (originally by the Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
and later covered by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
in 1987).
The band - informally known as "the Chain" or simply "the GLC" - released, "You Knows I Loves You", a parody of 1980s love songs from the albums Greatest Hits and The Manifesto, on 13 December 2004; this reached number 22 in the UK chart. "Your Missus Is A Nutter" is the first single from second album Safe As Fuck. The album was originally going to be called "Safety In Numbers", a tribute to the album Power in Numbers
Power in Numbers
Power in Numbers is the third studio album from the alternative hip-hop group Jurassic 5 .It picks up where their previous album, Quality Control left off, with a short double bass sample playing the same riff that the last song on Quality Control, "Swing Set", ended with.The album features a...
by alternative L.A. rap group Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
. The single reached #14 in the UK. They dedicated the song to Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
, which resulted in them being summoned by the Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
mayor's office, who also objected to the title of their album, Safe as Fuck.
In June 2010 the GLC played at a student ball in Cambridge. During the last song there was a stage invasion which caused the stage to collapse; no one was injured.
On September 25, 2010 the GLC hosted a celebrity golf challenge in Newport featuring Howard Marks
Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks is a Welsh author and former drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug...
, Dirty Sanchez
Dirty Sanchez
Dirty Sanchez is commonly mistaken to be an act where the faecal matter it purposefully smeared onto a partner's upper lip. The term 'dirty sanchez' originated in the porn industry, particularly films involving ass to mouth action. It describes the Dirty Sanchez is commonly mistaken to be an act...
, Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
, The Automatic
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
and many other Welsh stars.
Controversy
In a further controversial incident in 2005, GLC were invited by the Football Association of WalesFootball Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
to perform before the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifying match against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
's Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the nature of the band's music and the participation of England star David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
, the band dedicated "Your Missus Is a Nutter
Your Missus Is a Nutter
"Your Missus is a Nutter" is a song by the Welsh satirical rap act Goldie Lookin' Chain . It has more of a "rock" sound than their previous records, heavily drawing on a sample taken from Serge Gainsbourg's song Cannabis....
" to the footballer about his wife, who was present at the match. The ensuing furore, with the Welsh
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
football authorities having to apologise to the Beckhams (despite David Beckham appearing to take the joke in good humour) as well as expressing outrage at the band's perceived lack of respect, prompted many people to question exactly why the organisers had hired them to play in the first place. In January 2009, GLC appeared on This Feeling TV, and revealed more about the incident.
On Television
In January 2006, Maggot appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He finished in third place behind Michael Barrymore
Michael Barrymore
Michael Kieron Parker , better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is a British comedian who appeared as a presenter of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television in the 1980s and 1990s. These included Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music and Kids Say...
and the non-celebrity Chantelle Houghton
Chantelle Houghton
Chantelle Vivien Houghton is an English glamour model and television personality. She was the first 'non-celebrity' to feature in the Channel 4 reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother in 2006....
.
In 2005, Eggsy appeared on a special music edition of Celebrity Weakest Link
Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a British television quiz show, currently broadcast on BBC Two. It was devised by Mr Wilton and Euan Green and Cathy Dunning, and developed for television by the BBC Entertainment Department. It has since been replicated around the world. The UK version is hosted by Anne...
, and proved himself to be quite astute despite his stoner image, finishing second to eventual winner Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
(born Derek William Dick, formerly of Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
).
Rhys and Eggsy have appeared together on many TV shows as presenters and guest presenters, most recently "Sport Wales" and an Olympics TV show.
In 2010, They appeared on BBC3's 'Snog, Marry, Avoid' where three members of Goldie Lookin Chain, Rhys, Eggsy and Adam had a make under.
Return to independence, and current plans
On 7 March 2006 it was reported that the GLC had been dropped from Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
a couple of months previously and were now going to release material on their own Gold Dust Records, which was formed on 7 March 2006 by Adam Hussain. They then formed Gold Dust Records, which is to be producing more music, with an album set for release late summer 2007. There was also talk of a GLC movie at some point, but the band are focussing on their musical career first.
Shortly before they got dropped by their label, they were on tour with UK rock band Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
. The tour was postponed until the new year when Feeder frontman Grant Nicholas
Grant Nicholas
Grant Nicholas is a Welsh musician, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist of the rock band Feeder, along with bassist Taka Hirose and drummer Karl Brazil.-Early years:...
developed bleeding vocal cords, whilst performing at the Brighton Centre. Then before the tour was rescheduled, the GLC were dropped. They still toured with Feeder when the tour was resumed.
Goldie Lookin Chain then co-headlined The Full Ponty
The Full Ponty
The Full Ponty was a music festival first held in Pontypridd on the 27–28 May 2006. The name Full Ponty is a pun on Full Monty, and Ponty, the local nickname of the town...
music festival day one on 27 May 2006, also with Feeder.
They have also recently taken part in this year's Gumball 3000
Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is an annual international road rally which takes place on public roads, with a different route around the world each year. Founded in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, it sees an annual entry of 120 cars, which are mostly exotic and powerful sports cars. However, more unusual entries ...
doing a DJ set for the pre-race party and taking part in the opening stage in a Bedford Rascal Van.
The group appeared in the 17 June 2006 episode of Doctor Who Confidential
Doctor Who Confidential
Doctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
, expressing their love of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and its local Cardiff production.
In August 2006, the band performed in Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
as part of the Ibiza Rocks
Ibiza Rocks
Ibiza Rocks is a summer-long festival of live music that has run annually in San Antonio, Ibiza since 2005. Normally the festival consists of seventeen consecutive weekly Wednesday night concerts in the courtyard of the Ibiza Rocks Hotel...
nights in San Antonio Bay at BarM. Also present at their gig were Wee Man from Jackass and Matthew Pritchard
Matthew Pritchard
Mathew Pryderi Pritchard , is a Welsh professional skateboarder, daredevil and one quarter of the Dirty Sanchez crew, who have their own television programme on MTV and also appears on Balls of Steel with Pancho as the Pain Men.-Dirty Sanchez:Pritchard is often seen as the founder of Dirty Sanchez,...
from Dirty Sanchez.
The GLC released a limited-edition album entitled Under the Counter which is a collection of songs made between 2004 and 2006, in early 2008, which was followed in March 2009 by ASBO4Life, the first GLC LP with no sampled material.
In July 2009, the band played many festivals including the main stage at Kendal Calling
Kendal Calling
Kendal Calling is an independent music festival held annually at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, Cumbria. It has grown from a two-day, 900 capacity event in 2006 to an 8000 capacity three-day music festival...
music festival in the Lake District.
In 2010 GLC released a remix album and a new LP called The Mix Tape Two and in December 2010 the GLC released a Christmas LP called It's a Goldie Lookin Christmas (the fairytale of Newport), featuring 12 tracks including "Dubstep Christmas" and "You'll Never Be Alone On Christmas Day".
GLC's next album will be out on the 17th October 2011 and is called "Blue Waffle", featuring new songs including "Biscuit", "I seen your mother", "K hole" and "If I told you".
Newport County
The group's association with their home city's football club stretches back to their inception as a group. They featured as a sponsor on the kit worn in the FAW Premier CupFAW Premier Cup
The FAW Premier Cup is a defunct Welsh football cup competition, organised annually by the Football Association of Wales from 1997 to 2008...
in the 2004–05 season
2004–05 Newport County A.F.C. season
The 2004–05 season was Newport County's first season in the newly formed Conference South. The club finished in 18th place.-League:There were high hopes that County could prosper in the newly formed division, but inconsistent early-season results led to the sacking of Peter Nicholas on September 13...
, and are often seen on stage in Newport County shirts. In Newport County's record-breaking 2009–10 season
2009–10 Newport County A.F.C. season
The 2009–10 season was Newport County's sixth consecutive season in the Conference South and they had been ever-present since the introduction of the Conference North & South in 2004....
, GLC members provided commentary for the club's popular internet radio service.
Full time
- Rhys from GLC aka P.Xain
- 2Hats
- MaggotMaggot (rapper)Andrew "Maggot" Junior, born 17 June 1976, from Newport, South Wales is a Welsh rapper and member of the band Goldie Lookin Chain.- Goldie Lookin Chain :Several Goldie Lookin Chain songs have been written about him...
- Billy Webb
- Eggsy
- Mystikal
- Mike Balls
- Adam Hussain
- Grayham the Bear
Occasional/part-time
- One Step Down
- DCI Burnside
- Dipper Nan
- Leeroy Fashions
- C.Live
- Rosco P
- M.C. Flatpress
- Stressed Armstrong
Albums
- Don't Blame the Chain (2001)
- Chain's Addiction (2001)
- The Return of the Red Eye (2002)
- The Party Album (2002)
- Adam Hussain's Truth and Slander (2002)
- The Manifesto (2003)
- Greatest Hits (USA: Straight Outta Newport) (2004) UK
- Safe as FuckSafe as FuckSafe As Fuck is the second studio album by Goldie Lookin Chain, released in 2005. The first single from it was "Your Missus is a Nutter", reached number 14 in the UK charts, and the second single, "RnB", got to number 26. The phrase "Safe as fuck" is one of the band's catchphrases, along with "You...
(2005) UK - Under the CounterUnder the CounterUnder the Counter is the third studio album by Welsh rap group Goldie Lookin Chain. It was released on March 17, 2008 under Shellshock Records, after the group were dropped from their previous label, Warner Music Group.-Track listing:...
(2008) - Asbo4LifeAsbo4LifeAsbo4Life is the fourth studio album by Welsh hip-hop/rap group Goldie Lookin Chain.-Track listing:#"Mister Faharenheit" - 2:52#"Everybody is a DJ"#"Disguise"#"By Any Means Necessary"#"Welcome To Germany"#"Apathy"#"3D"#"Nothing Ever Happens"...
(2009) - The Mix Tape Two (2010)
- It's a Goldie Lookin Christmas (the fairytale of Newport) (2010)
- Blue Waffle (2011)
Singles
- "Half Man Half MachineHalf Man Half Machine"Half Man Half Machine" is a song by the Welsh Rap act Goldie Lookin Chain from their Greatest Hits album. In May, 2004 the song reached #32 on the UK Singles Chart.-Track listing:*A1 Half Man Half Machine*A2 Half Man Half Machine...
" (Must Destroy) (2004) UK - "Guns Don't Kill People Rappers DoGuns Don't Kill People Rappers Do"Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do" is a song by the Welsh Rap act Goldie Lookin Chain from their Greatest Hits album. In August, 2004 the song reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart...
" (Must Destroy/Atlantic Records)(2004) UK - "Your Mother's Got a PenisYour Mother's Got a Penis"Your Mother's Got a Penis" is a song by the Welsh Rap act Goldie Lookin Chain from their Greatest Hits album, released In November 2004. The song reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart on 06/11/2004....
" (Atlantic Records)(2004) UK - "You Knows I Loves You" (Atlantic Records)(2004) UK
- "Your Missus Is a NutterYour Missus Is a Nutter"Your Missus is a Nutter" is a song by the Welsh satirical rap act Goldie Lookin' Chain . It has more of a "rock" sound than their previous records, heavily drawing on a sample taken from Serge Gainsbourg's song Cannabis....
" (Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) (2005) UK - "R'n'B" (Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) UK - "By Any Means Necessary" (Gold Dust Records)
- "Everybody is a DJ" (Gold Dust Records)
- "You'll Never Be Alone On Christmas Day" (Gold Dust Records)
YouTube Videos
- "apathy" (August 26, 2008)
- "by any means necessary" (February 16, 2009)
- "EVERYBODY IS A DJ" (August 11, 2009)
- "NEWPORT STATE OF MIND (YOU'RE NOT FROM NEWPORT)" (August 8, 2010)
- "(Heal the World) Join Hands and Sing" (October 1, 2010)
- "Dubstep Christmas" (November 23, 2010)
- "You'll Never Be Alone On Christmas Day" (November 29, 2010)
- "XBOX LOVE" (February 25, 2011)
- "EASTENDERS RAP" (March 19, 2011)
- "Fresh Prince of Cwmbran" (July 12, 2011)
- "Ghost Town featuring 2Rude" (August 12, 2011)
- "This Town (Stammer dubstep remix)" (September 22, 2011)
Mystikal
AKA The Druid, The Alchemist, Dr. Boris Gobshite.He is quite recognisable due to his green eyes and natural two-tone beard. He claims to have lived for 2000 years and contributes a blog-style record of his and the band's adventures both on tour and in their daily lives on the Goldie Lookin Chain website, known as Mysty's Musings.
One of the tracks featuring his rap is based on 'Englishman In New York' by Sting. Another track has samples from 'The Model' by German synth group Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
. In his rap for the record R'n'B, he name-checks Enya
Enya
Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
and the track Orinoco Flow. He has also rapped on the intro to a track called 'Paranoia' which is based musically on the track Walking in the Air
Walking in the Air
"Walking in the Air" is a song written by Howard Blake for the 1982 animated film of Raymond Briggs' 1978 children's book The Snowman. In the film the song was performed by St Paul's Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty...
, which was made famous by fellow Welsh warbler Aled Jones
Aled Jones
Aled Jones is a Welsh singer and television/radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter who first came to fame as a treble...
as a young chorister.
Eggsy
AKA Mr Love-Eggs, Rene La Loux, Chon Benwa Balls, Raphael de la Ghetto, Professor Doppelganger, Pele Maradona, Arther Zico, Fresh Prince Charles Of Cwmbran, His real name is John Rutledge.He is most famously known for pretending to be a robot on the track "Half Man, Half Machine". He has appeared on Irish radio station Q102 (presenter was Pete Wilson) talking about the song "Your Missus Is A Nutter" and the album "Safe as Fuck". It was also quoted in a podcast that his real-life name was Jonothan.
In the track "Professor Doppelganger", the Professor Doppelganger character interviews several of the other AKA characters under hypnosis, so Eggsy is actually speaking to himself in different voices. He is a big fan of the children's TV show The Moomins. Eggsy also Reviews horror films on Shonk Video with Rhys, which can be seen on You tube.
Adam Hussain
AKA Benny Blanco, Short Term, Draw Ambassador, Professor Bongo.He is the only member of The GLC to have an album (Adam Hussain's Truth & Slander) named after him. Adam's Nan features on one track (Nan Jam) and according to Adam's rap she's 84. The track "Charmschool" is based on the original theme tune for the 1980s TV show Grange Hill.
Adam is a fan of the TV show SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"...
. He has also featured on the show Doctor Who Confidential along with other members of the band displaying his large collection of over 250 Doctor Who videos and DVDs. Adam grew up in Leeds. He has often spoken of being bullied at school for being good at sports.
2Hats
AKA Hatsy, 2000AD, The Shotgun Surgeon, Rape Balaclava, Stand-By, Hate Society, Smack Boy, Knobber Cloutface.He is recognisable by his wearing of two hats (hence his nickname). His nickname is also a play on the British swear word Twats.
He fronts the track Shotgun Surgery.
Rhys from GLC
AKA Zardoz, P.Xain, Dwain Xain Zedong.He writes, produces and creates mixes for all of the tracks the band have made and also creates music for his own projects. Also known for his work in the kitchen and he has had several recipes published although he turned down an offer to appear on Celeb Master Chef. He is also a keen inventor and has several innovative products awaiting Patent.
Between 2007 and 2008 Rhys and Eggsy presented the week day drive time shows on XFM South Wales. Rhys also occasionally stands for comedian Rhod Gilbert on BBC Radio Wales with Eggsy. Rhys and Eggsy also introduce the shows on MTV UK on Sunday evenings. Rhys is also the manager of German techno band DIGITALsex. Rhys also DJs across the world with Eggsy.
Rhys is also one of eight celebrities chosen to participate in an intense week learning Welsh in an eco-friendly chic campsite in Pembrokeshire in the series cariad@iaith:love4language
Cariad@iaith:love4language
cariad@iaith:love4language is an S4C reality television series in which people attempt to learn the Welsh language.-History:Commissioned in 2002 from an idea by Fflic production staff, cariad@iaith:love4language originally involved members of the public who wished to learn Welsh, spending six weeks...
shown on S4C in July 2011.
Mike Balls
Claimed by many to be 'The Hardest Man in Soccer Violence, Mike is an avid supporter of Liverpool FC.He headlines on tracks such as "Dogporn" and "Mike Balls Unofficial World Cup Anthem". According to an interview for the online site for S4C (Welsh Channel 4), the animal Mike would most like to be is an octopus.
Billy Webb
AKA Tim Westcountry, DVS, The OpticianThe youngest member of the GLC crew. Billy has appeared on the Irish Radio show Q102 (presenter Pete Wilson) speaking about his relations in Ireland, Maggot in Celebrity Big Brother, and the band Sparks because he and Eggsy were pretending to be The Mael Brothers on Big Brother's Little Brother.
Billy is also a fully qualified landscape gardener. He is normally to be seen wearing leisurewear, and is most recognisable by his tennis-style head-bands.
DCI Burnside
He is the real life brother of Billy Webb. His nickname is taken from a character, Detective Chief InspectorChief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
Frank Burnside, in the ITV show The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
. He features on the intro to "Superhero".
Dipper Nan
He features on the hidden track "Bedsit" with fellow GLC member Maggot. His real name is Dan Tracey.Rosco P
His nickname comes from the 80s TV show "The Dukes Of Hazzard" after Sheriff Coltrane with the same name although the "P" apparently stands for pubes. He used to play for Sheffield United's youth team. His real name is Ross Craven and by day he works at Cassidian Systems Ltd. in Newport.MC Flatpress
MC Flatpress - (AKA Dave Cocaine). Conceived, co-wrote and performs on the track Soapbar. Flatpress is currently working on other projects under the name 'Flash Back Arrester'Grayham the Bear
Ex Newport Resident DJ ( he was sacked for playing Sit Down by James), Gray stepped in to pick up when 2Hats took some 'paternity leave' from the band and has joined the Chain full time recording many high quality raps since 2007. Grayham owns a dog called Eric that he lets sleep in his bed and lick his mouth. Eric also stars in the GLC video for the song (heal the world) Join hands and sing.Nicknamed 'the Bear' because of his impressive chest hair, Grayham also fronts The Tenant's Supermen (who have now split up) with Adam Hussain.
External links
- Goldie Lookin Chain website including mp3s
- Goldie Lookin Chain your blog GLC tour blog
- GLC biography from BBC Wales - GLC related pages and information from BBC Wales
- VexedMag.com - Band Interview - 20/03/09
- Interview with Rhys & Eggsy (including video 22/1/09)
- BBC interview with Dwain Xain Zedong