Pop Will Eat Itself (PWEI, or the Poppies) was formed in Stourbridge, England and consisted of band members from Birmingham to the Black Country. An early version of the band formed in 1981 under the name From Eden. After changing the name to Wild and Wandering for a while, they evenutally became PWEI in 1986, taking the name from a quote in an NME article about band Jamie Wednesday (later to become better known as Carter USM).

The band initally mixed pop, rock, electronica, and rap together in a style known as grebo - a term invented by the band itself. Subsequent releases increased the rap elements, then later moved towards a more industrial sound, especially after Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails took an interest. They were one of the first bands outside the hip-hop genre to make extensive use of sampling.

Pop Will Eat Itself was composed of the following artists:

• Clint Mansell: Vocals/Guitarist
• Graham Crabb : Vocals (left in 1995)
• Adam Mole : Keyboards
• Richard March : Guitars/Bass
• Robert "Fuzz" Townsend : Drums

Despite having a number of successful singles and albums, the band never got on well with mainstream record labels. They were dumped by RCA in 1993, despite having just released their most successful single to date, which caused something of an outcry in the British music press. Subsequently, they signed to independent companies, including Reznor's Nothing label in the US. After the band split in 1996, March and Townsend went on to form Big Beat band Bentley Rhythm Ace. Mansell has written a number of acclaimed film scores.

The band reformed to play their first gigs in 8 years, scheduled for Nottingham, Birmingham and London in January 2005.

Discography

• The Poppies Say Grrr EP (1986)
• Box Frenzy (1987)
• Now for a Feast! (1988)
• This Is the Day... This Is the Hour... This Is This (1989)
• Cure for Sanity (1991)
• The Looks or the Lifestyle (1992)
• Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (1994)
• Two Fingers, My Friends (1995) (remix album of Dos Dedos material)
• Wise Up Suckers (Best of) (1986)
• Radio 1 Sessions 1986 - 1987 (1997)

External link

• Pop Will Eat Itself official site
• Photos from the 2005 Reformation tour