Chumbawamba | |
|---|---|
 Final lineup (2007-12) at the Rudolstadt-Festival, Thüringen, in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Skin Disease, Antidote (with the Ex), Scab Aid |
| Origin | Burnley, Lancashire, and Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1982–2012 |
| Labels |
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| Past members |
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| Website | chumba |
Chumbawamba (/ˌtʃʌmbəˈwɒmbə/) were an English anarcho-punk band who formed in 1982 and disbanded in 2012. They are best known for their 1997 single "Tubthumping", which was nominated for Best British Single at the Brit Awards 1998. Other singles include "Amnesia", "Enough Is Enough" (with Credit to the Nation), "Timebomb", "Top of the World (Olé, Olé, Olé)", and "Add Me". Their anarcho-communist political leanings led them to have an irreverent attitude toward authority, and to espouse a variety of political and social causes including animal rights and pacifism (early in their career) and later regarding class struggle, Marxism, feminism, and anti-fascism.
For most of their career, the band had a 7–8 piece lineup and drew from a wide range of musical styles, including punk rock, pop, and folk. While their first two albums were largely punk and pop-influenced, their third was an entirely a capella album of traditional songs. In 2004, several long-term members left the band, which continued with a 4-piece (later 5-piece) acoustic lineup, with more folk-influenced output.
In July 2012, Chumbawamba announced they were splitting up after 30 years. The band was joined by former members and collaborators for three final shows between 31 October and 3 November 2012, one of which was filmed and released as a live DVD.