The Pork Dukes- Unmasked (original) (raw)

So what's the connection between folk rock band Steeleye Span, and progressive doodlers, Gnidrolog, who back in the late sixties/early seventies released albums with titles like Ten Man Mop or Mr Reservoir Butler Rides Again and In Spite Of Harry’s Toenail got to do with Punk 77, The Pork Dukes and songs like Telephone Masturbator? The answer, boys and girls, is members of these bands were responsible for the atrocity that was the Pork Dukes and should have known better.

For years the mystery of the Pork Dukes was a closely kept secret. Well sort of, because in the March/April '78 edition of the Fanzine 'Chainsaw' Charlie Chainsaw revealed that "The bassist is Nigel Pegram, who used to play in Steeleye Span. The rest played in a band called Gnidrolog who released a couple of albums a few years ago and then faded into obscurity."

And that my friends is the long and short of it. The main culprits were Colin and Stewart Goldring and Nigel Pegram all as stated from Gnidrolog and aided and abetted by Rick Kemp from Steeleye Span whom Nigel also later joined.

From a Gnidrolog Question and Answer page:
"Rick and Nigel were very helpful in working with us to publish the sublime works of the infamous Pork Dukes and indeed we have collaborated on several projects throughout the years but there involvement in the Pork Dukes as artists were strictly limited."

Strangely our sensitive boys were not ones to indulge in rock star sexual antics..." After all, who wants a quick liaison with a girl of dubious sexual morals and ‘health’ when we were actually sensitive, shy young guys looking for someone to love ... The truth is that being on the ‘road’ is a painful, lonely job with very few perks other than the hour and a half you get to play!"

Their lyrics in the Pork Dukes must obviously be therapy for all those lonely nights!

Rick Kemp