Wat Tyler

Wat Tyler were an English punk/novelty band of the late 1980s and 1990s, fronted by Sean Forbes alongside Simon Tucker and Smithy. They also on occasion had Julie as the singer. The band were known for their eclectic style, political commentary, surreal humour, and inside jokes, and produced a number of EPs and albums on different labels, including their own Rugger Bugger imprint and Lookout! Records.
Wat Tyler evolved from early 1980s anarcho-punk band 4 Minute Warning, and were performing gigs by 1986. Debut EP Contemporary Farming Issues was released in 1989 and included "Hops and Barley", later covered by and a live favourite for Leatherface. In 1993 their Madonna-parodying EP "Sexless" was made single of the week in NME and Kerrang!.
1995's Tummy compilation was also released on Lookout! Records (US) and Gap Recordings (Netherlands). Its title and cover parodied Portishead's Dummy. Final album proper The Fat of the Band did the same for The Prodigy's 1997 album. Wat Tyler released their last record in 2002.
Forbes had earlier formed The Phantom Pregnancies with Karen Hill (Huggy Bear) and Delia Sparrow (Mambo Taxi); they released several singles and an album between 1994 and 1996. Forbes also formed mock Oi! band Hard Skin around this time, along with Ben Corrigan of Thatcher On Acid, and (initially) Chris Acland of Lush, and their debut 1996 album was followed by a second in 2004 and an acclaimed two-album release in 2013. Forbes curated compilation albums for Rough Trade Records, including Post Punk 01 (2003) and Indiepop (2004) and found internet fame as Record Shop Dude in 2012 with a series of videos for Vice magazine's Noisey.com YouTube channel.
==Links to Peel==
Peel played a track from the band's debut single, Contemporary Farming Issues, in 1989, and would play further material from the group well into the late 90's. After the 90's, the band never got played on his radio programmes.
==Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1989
*07 August 1989: No ID (EP - Contemporary Farming Issues) Rugger Bugger Discs 
;1992
*21 August 1992: Not Superstitious (split 2x7" with Leatherface - Hops And Barley / Discipline) Clawfist
;1993
*19 June 1993: ‘Justify Your Book (7 inch EP – Sexless)’ (Damaged Goods)
*18 December 1993: ‘What Shocks (Various Artists LP – Snakebite City Two)’ (Bluefire Records)
;1995
*27 May 1995: 'Played For And Got (split 7" with J Church-Extra Shite Poos Explosion)' (Suspect Device)
;1996
*20 April 1996: Big Girl's Blouse (v/a 7" - Stagedive Invites You To Waltz With...) Stagedive
*09 June 1996: Big Girls Blouse (v/a 7" - Stagedive Invites You To Waltz With...) Stagedive
;1997
*11 June 1997: Golden Age (v/a 7" - Strictly Ballroom) Caught Offside
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists