Grebo (orgrebo rock)[1] was a short-lived subgenre of alternative rock[2] that incorporated influences from punk rock, electronic dance music, hip hop and psychedelia. The scene occupied the period in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the United Kingdom before the popularisation of Britpop and grunge.[3] The genre and its attributes were largely absorbed into industrial rock, which would emerge after the sub-genre's demise in the late 1980s, which then led to the development of industrial metal in the 1990s.
The word grebo was originally used as a slang term for bikers and rock music fans with long hair.[4][5] The word was re-fashioned by the group Pop Will Eat Itself that represented a brand of United Kingdomsubculture of the late 1980s and early 1990s, largely based in the English Midlands.[6][7][5] The scene particularly was centred on Birmingham.[8]
Although short-lived, the movement was a success and influenced several later bands. To a certain extent it was a music press invention, much like positive punk, a scene and style named by British indie magazines NME and the Melody Maker.[10] The music genre has declined rapidly since its popularity in the '90s, so the genre is only found in the underground scene.
Grebo bands drew influences from a diverse array of genres, including dance-rock, psychedelia,[13]pop, hip hop,[7]punk rock and electronica.[14] Pop Will Eat Itself adopted an industrial alternative rock style[15] that combined "heavy metal and hard rock guitar riffs, electro-dance rhythms, samples and rap vocals."[16] While Gaye Bykers on Acid's use of hip-hop and dance beats was considered as "a major innovation in mid-'80s alternative rock,"[17] Ned's Atomic Dustbin focused on "the hyper punk aspect" of the movement, relying on "catchy hooks and a dual-bass sound."[18]
Grebo artists and fans sported long hair, dreadlocks and baggy shorts.[8][13]
^ abVladimir Bogdanov (editor), All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide To Electronic Music, page 404 (Backbeat Books, 2001). ISBN0-87930-628-9. Quote: "Honing a fusion of rock, pop, and rap which they dubbed 'grebo', the Poppies kickstarted a small revolution."
^Wuelfing, Howard Jr. (February 1988). "Pop Will Eat Itself - Now For a Feast!". Spin. 3 (9): 33.
^ abStrong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. pp. 169, 711. ISBN0-86241-913-1. Lumped in with the media created "Grebo" scene along with Pop Will Eat Itself, Gaye Bykers on Acid and the early Wonder Stuff, Crazyhead.../[Wonder Stuff] initially lumped in with contemporaries like Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead under the music-press created 'grebo' banner/etc..
^Larkin, Colin (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music. Guinness Publishing. pp. 73–74. ISBN0-85112-579-4. In common with Gaye Bikers on Acid (sic), Bomb Party, and Pop Will Eat Itself, [Crazyhead] were linked with the media-fuelled 'biker' or 'grebo' rock genre.
