ESG
The legendary ESG return with their first new album in nearly five years on Soul Jazz Records. The new album features their trademark stripped down punk/funk style that has spawned a whole generation of fans and bands thirty years on from their first release, "Moody" EP on Factory Records (and the infamous 99 Records in America). First produced by Martin Hannett, ESG were instantly accepted into the worlds of punk/new wave, hip-hop and dance music – a unique position which still holds true today. From playing at the opening night of Manchester’s legendary Hacienda to the closing night of Larry Levan’s equally legendary Paradise Garage in New York, ESG have remained one of the all-time cult-bands. Their track "UFO" is one of the most sampled tracks in the history of hip-hop (Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Marley Marl) which lead them to record "Sample Credits Don’t Pay Our Bills" in the 1980s. Courted by the punk/new wave community they played with groups such as The Clash, A Certain Ratio, Public Image, Gang of Four. Through 99 Records in New York, they also became associated with the No Wave groups such as label-mates Liquid Liquid and others such as Mars, DNA, James Chance and The Contortions. The amazing history of ESG begins in the South Bronx where they grew up in the tenements. Four sisters, Renee, Valerie, Marie and Deborah Scroggins, encouraged by their mother, began playing music together as teenagers as a way to keep themselves out of trouble with neighbourhood gang life. Taking their name from their birthstones – Emerald, Sapphire and Gold – this was soon shortened to ESG. Thirty years on and ESG remains a family affair with sisters Rennee, Valerie and Marie along with Renee’s daughter Nicole and Valerie’s daughter Chistelle. In 2000 Soul Jazz Records released A South Bronx Story which brought their classic music to a new audience. This was followed by the critically acclaimed "Step Off" and now "Keep On Moving".
