Pop Will Eat Itself

Pop Will Eat Itself
The 2012 incarnation of Pop Will Eat Itself performing live in Birmingham. Left to right: Davey Bennett (bass), Jason Bowld (drums), Graham Crabb (vocals), Mary Byker (vocals)
Background information
Origin	Stourbridge, West Midlands, England
Genres	Industrial rock indie rock grebo
Years active	1986–1996, 2005, 2010–present
Labels	RCA, Infectious, Nothing
Associated acts	From Eden, Wild and Wandering, Golden Claw Musics, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Vileevils
Members	Graham Crabb Mary Byker Tim Muddiman Davey Bennett Jason Bowld
Past members	Clint Mansell Adam Mole Richard March Fuzz Townshend Sam Higgins Kerry "The Buzzard" Hammond

Pop Will Eat Itself (also known as PWEI or The Poppies) are an English alternative rock band formed in Stourbridge in 1986 with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. Initially known as a grebo act, their style changed to incorporate sample-driven indie and industrial rock. Their highest charting single was the 1993 top ten hit, "Get The Girl! Kill The Baddies!". After initially disbanding in 1996, and having a brief reformation in 2005, they issued their first release in more than five years in 2010.

An early permutation of the band formed in 1981 under the name From Eden. Members included Clint Mansell, Adam Mole, Chris Fradgley, Malcolm Treece and Miles Hunt (Treece and Hunt went on to form The Wonder Stuff). From Eden recruited Graham Crabb to replace Hunt on drums before splitting up.

Crabb, Mole and Mansell recruited Richard March and changed their band name to Wild and Wandering (known locally as Blind and Blundering because they always performed in an intoxicated state). The name came from a Wasted Youth album under which one E.P. was released ('2,000 Light Ales From Home' on Iguana Records) before eventually becoming Pop Will Eat Itself in 1986. The new name was taken from a quotation in an NME article on Jamie Wednesday by David Quantick.

In 1986, the band released the "Poppies Say Grrr!" single which became the 'Single Of The Week' in the NME and playlisted by Janice Long BBC Radio 1. The single was sold in a brown paper bag and was made available for sale at Martins Newsagents in Stourbridge High Street as well as from the home of one of the band.