The Higsons

The Higsons
Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	Funk, punk
Years active	1980–1986
Labels	Romans in Britain, 2 Tone, Upright, Waap, R4
Website	The Higsons - artist profile
Past members	Charlie Higson - Lead vocals, harmonica, piano Terry Edwards - Guitar, trumpet, saxophone, piano, vocals Simon Charterton - Drums, vocals Colin Williams - Bass guitar, vocals Stuart McGeachin - Guitar, vocals Dave Cummings - Guitar, vocals

The Higsons were an English funk-punk band in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

Founded in 1980 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, The Higsons' first recording was on the Norwich - A Fine City compilation album. The band signed to the 2 Tone Records label, along with bands such as The Specials, The Beat and Madness. The Higsons' first single, "I Don't Want to Live with Monkeys", was released in 1981.

The band's blend of high-energy funk and groove brought them some chart success: their most remembered track was "Conspiracy", released in 1982, with the refrain "Who stole my bongos?; Did you steal my bongos?". The band played their last gig in March 1986, disbanding by mutual consent.

Charlie Higson found fame as a comedy writer and actor in The Fast Show. Terry Edwards joined Gallon Drunk in 1993, fronted his own band and became a session musician. Simon Charterton formed the bands The Aftershave, Zook, Nitwood and Simon & the Pope. Terry and Simon play together in the Near Jazz Experience. Stuart McGeachin and Colin Williams got full-time jobs.

Robyn Hitchcock paid tribute to the band with the song "Listening to the Higsons" which acknowledged their song "Got to Let This Heat Out" in the couplet, "I thought I heard them singing "Gotta let this hen out"." Hitchcock used this mishearing as the title of his 1985 live album with the Egyptians.

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Wikipedia