Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants
Encyclopedia
Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants were a cult Glasgow
based band
, who have supported Debbie Harry
, Simple Minds
, The Fall and John Otway
.
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.
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.
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
.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
based band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, who have supported Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
, Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
, The Fall and John Otway
John Otway
John Otway, is an English singer-songwriter, who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona.-Biography:...
.
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 MacDonaldStewart MacDonald
Stewart MacDonald is a Scottish Labour Party local government councillor. He was elected to the East Kirkintilloch and Twechar Ward of East Dunbartonshire Council in the 2007 election...
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
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
, titles "Take a Walk on the Clydeside" and "Smells Like Troon
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
Harbour" being examples, and also, of course, the name of the band.
Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants lasted until Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
1998, but was later reborn as the Hugh Reed Explosion.
Song material would range from discussion of public perceptions of trainspotters
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
and descriptions of hangovers, to accounts of what can happen when you drink in Glasgow's east end during an Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
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
Primal scream
Primal Scream may refer to:* The Primal Scream, a psychology book by Dr. Arthur Janov about primal therapy* Primal Scream, a British rock band* Primal Scream , a 1989 album by the UK band Primal Scream...
presentation. However, underpinning this, was a tight backing band who could shift from punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
("Trainspotting") to scat
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
-funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
("Salt, Sperm, Saliva, Sweat").
Since 2009, Reed has been living on and off in China, playing gigs in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and played the first ever Rock gigs in the south, western city of Zunyi
Zunyi
Zunyi is a prefecture-level city in Guizhou province in southwestern China. Along with Guiyang and Liupanshui, it is one of the most important cities of the province...
, 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 1BBC 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...
as the theme to a series on Scottish rock music. O'Hagan and various band members also appeared on Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
'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
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
invited the band to support her eleven date 1993 UK tour.
Hugh O'Hagan also appearred in the 1996 film, Trainspotting
Trainspotting (film)
Trainspotting is a 1996 British satirical/drama film directed by Danny Boyle based on the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh. The movie follows a group of heroin addicts in a late 1980s economically depressed area of Edinburgh and their passage through life...
, as the man failing to chat up Renton's love interest, Dianne played by Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress, known for her role in the independent film Trainspotting and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park, Intermission, No Country for Old Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2...
.