Swamp Goblin
Emerging circa 1992, Swamp Goblin were originally Mark Courtney (vocals), Julian Baddie (guitar), Simon Nudds (bass), Rik O'Kane (drums) and Mike Bellay (guitar?). They released the song Bigfoot on Juice Extractor in 1992, apparently under the name of Dive.
Nudds (who became a psychologist) had been replaced on bass by Adrian Webclaw (previously of Pregnant Hippies and Cygnet Committee) in about 1993. Drummer O'Kane had also been a member of Cygnet Committee, whilst by this time Baddie was also a member of Thunder Monkey (concurrent with Swamp Goblin).
The band's sound, with an emphasis on rhythmic grinding, de-tuned guitar and bass riffs was generally described in terms such as "Sludge", "Grind", "Gore", "Swamp", "Doom", "Grunge" and so forth. They typically performed adorned with body paint.
They came to prominence when they won the inaugural 1993 Contact 89fm Battle of the Bands. The song Life Crashed On from a performance in the heats survives on the They came to take us alive compilation. In 1993 the track Mudflap also appeared on Discordia Concors, and they had four songs on the Inside the Wireless compilation. From their BoB prize money they recorded with Dave Whitehead of Theta Productions and released a six track cassette, Skin; their final release in 1994.
- Julian Baddie was later in Deep Six, The Baddies, Hell To Pay, Soul Eclipse (with Dolf de Borst) and MASOCHRIST - who (adding members of The Slit Family) in turn became RUIN, and later D'Maskus.
- Rik O'Kane and Adrian Webclaw later appeared together in Raleigh 20 with Chris Paki. Adrian was later in Sexual Chocolate, Trucker, Kaosphere Orchestra and a variety of collaborations with brother Martin Webclaw and Emit Snake Beings, including Wendyhouse, among others. O'Kane also performed with Tsunami Band, among others.
